Kaze Lavie Kaze Travel: Phou Si Hill, Ho Kham, Vat Xieng Thong @ Luang PraBang 龍坡邦

Luang PraBang (LPB) city is declared as UNESCO Wolrd Heritage site since year 1995. LPB was once the capital of the Lan Xang (Land of a Million Elephants) Kingdom that ruled Laos. Most of the traveler spots are in the old city area on the small peninsula surrounded by the Mekong river and Nam Khan river. Within the old city, there are quite a number of Buddhist temples. Every morning, there are many monks from different monastery walking along the main street collecting alms. Vat Chom Si on Phou Si hill is also an important landmark. I have spent a few days taking my own time exploring this beautiful ancient city.
Note : Most traveler spots have an entrance fee. Even walking across the bamboo bridge needs to pay for it. Nothing is free in here. Luckily the tickets are no expensive. There's no free map provided in LPB.

TRAVELER SPOTS :

a) Phou Si hill (Vat Chom Si)

b) Royal Palace Museum (Ho Kham)

c) Vat Xieng Thong

AROUND LUANG PRABANG :

a) Mekong River

b) Bamboo Bridge (hot/dry season only)

c) Kuang Si waterfall

THINGS TO DO HERE:

a) Alms-giving ceremony

b) The food in LPB
c) Morning market
d) Night market

PHOU SI HILL (VAT CHOM SI)

After a good sleep the next day, I decided to explore this city by foot.The guesthouse is located near to the landmark – Phou Si hill. On the peak on the hill sits a holy temple - Vat Chom Si. According to info, Vat Chom Si is regarded by Laotians to be one of the most sacred places in LPB. Hence, tourists should dress appropriately before walking up the hill.

TICKET : 20,000 KIP

TIME : 09:00 AM - 18:00 PM

I walked along the Nam Khan river, this is the view during the hot season.

This restaurant has ethnic group performance show at night.

To climb up Phou Si hill, there are 2 entrances, one the main entrance is facing the Royale Palace Museum at Sisawangwong road. Another back entrance is located somewhere towards the bamboo bridge along Kingkitsarath road. I just looked at my LP and slowly find my way to the back entrance at the hillside.

Two nagas along the staircase.

Ticket counter.

Some postcards, golden Buddha are selling here.

The landscape painting of the whole Phousi Mountain. Excellent art-piece by itself!

It is said to have Monday to Sunday Buddhas while climbing up the stairs.

Sunday Buddha?

Vat Tham Phu Si, a small cave shrine.

Half-way up to the peak, the view was great! It's really the hill of Buddhas.

Finally I have reached the top! Yea! Now I could have a panoramic view of the whole city. The view was truly breathtaking! From here I could also notice the airport and Nam Khan river bridge. My GH is located on the right somewhere between the mid of the main street and the bridge. It was quite a challenge to climb up this hill as the stairs up the hill were really steep.

For this view all I can say the climb was really worthwhile!

A young monk helped me took a photo.

The peak is the golden Vat Chom Si stupa.

The Buddhas inside Vat Chom Si.

I took a video shooting the panoramic view of LPB. Coincidently met a group of novice monks walking around and taking photo.

A canon launcher during the war time(?)

A smiling Lao lady is selling some offering and there’re birds within the small bamboo cages. You can buy the cage and set the bird free. But I think it isn’t a good idea to exploit small animals just for personal desires.

I just walked down the hill and came to the main entrance. The entrance is facing the Royale Palace Museum (Sisawangwong road).

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ROYALE PALACE MUSEUM (HO KHAM)

By the time walking down the hill to the main entrance, it was almost 12pm noon. I was about to visit the LPB Royale Palace Museum. I saw the signboard, sadly it was closed and I could only return at 1.30pm. They have a 2 hour lunch break and closes at 16:00pm.

TICKET : 30,000 KIP

TIME : 08:00 AM - 16:00 PM
11:30 AM - 13:30 PM

The golden temple beside the palace just looked stunning under the mid day sunlight.

I decided to walk around the city since I still have some time until they re-open. Outside the museum, I have a nice dessert ice-cream with some jelly beans added with chocolate cream. It is a perfect combination and tasted good too!

It is common to see some monks walking on the street.

My lunch baguette and fruit shake. A huge coconut beside but I didn't try.

Time's up and I was back to the museum.

No photo allowed within the palace(museum). The whole area is really well maintained and clean. Most importantly very few people during that time.

I was told to place my camera and bag at the locker facility provided beside the museum.

This is a royal palace built for King Sisavangvong and his family. It is known as Ho Kham(Golden Hall) by the locals. But after the Lao revolution the palace turned to a museum. It housed many royal religious antiques during the period. Also there's gifts and Buddhist sculptures from many countries. At the right corner there's a golden standing Buddha, Pra Bang, which the city is named after it. There're a group of Korean tourists which I found annoying cause they kept making noises in the museum.

The Royal Palace Car collection has a number of antique luxury cars. No photo inside.

The floating Buddha exhibition is closed. =.=

The king's throne.

The golden and red interior is so outstanding. The ornaments on the wooden doors and pillars are meticulously carved and painted in gold and red!

The rear side.

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On my way to Vat Xieng Thong, passed by a wat - Vat May.

A tourist information center.

Sisavangvong road, was named after the famous LPB king during 15th century.

Some French colonial-style buildings and hotels can be seen along the road.

Lao style stupa (chedi).

VAT XIENG THONG

It is the iconic symbol of LPB. One of the oldest temple, the most beautiful and the biggest Vat in town. What I did love the most are the paintings and artistic handmade glass mosaic on the outside walls. I visited this temple twice on separate days in the afternoon and evening. Both times have different atmosphere. I spent much time in there admiring the architecture and all of the artistic mosaic or paintings in the monastery even I don't really understand much about the history and its tradition behind.

Note : The word "Vat" (temple in Laotian) is used widely in Lao where as Thai uses "Wat". Both spellings are understood by Laotians. I used Vat mostly in my Lao journey blog.

During the afternoon, the heat may kill you! Some photo taken are over exposed!

The entrance of the temple.

TICKET : 20,000 KIP

TIME : 08:00 AM - 17:00 PM

DURING THE AFTERNOON

The wall features an impressively done tree-of-life mosaic at the rear.

A closer look.

From the eastern gate.

There are few small pink sanctuaries with glittering glass mosaic,which are very unique, one of its kind that I have never seen temple painted in pink before.

The wall mosaic displays the traditional lifestyle in LPB.

I was totally amazed by all these artistically assembled mosaic tile objects: displaying the traditional lifestyle of the local Laotians in Luang PraBang.

DURING THE EVENING

A good time to kill some film. The unique Lao architecture has many similarities with the Lanna style of Thai.

Some restoration works going-on.

A closer look.

The tree of life - two peacocks at left and right side, a monkey and few animals are below the tree.

This photo was taken by a local Lao kid.

I was fortunate to catch a group of monks who are performing chanting in the main monastery during the evening time.

The glittering royal funeral chapel, or the carriage house.

According to the book, it housed an impressive 12m high funeral chariot and some urns for each royal family.

Although there are some big standing Buddhas inside, it looked kind of creepy as there some royal family urns are kept here. I was the only person in it.