Laos Simply Beautiful

LDB Bank Pakse Half Marathon 24 September 2023

Khao Chi Pate One of the legacies from the time the French were in Indochina is a love of bagettes and sandwiches. Like most things here, it has been given a distinctive Lao slant, inspired by the Vietnamese Banh Mi. First the bagette is heated over hot coals to make it warm and crusty, then cut open and spread with mayonnaise, and chilli sauce. On this goes a generous helping of pork pate, cooked pork, processed pork, shredded papaya, coriander, shredded pork floss, pickled veggies, green onions, more chilli sauce, and of course, chillis. Wrapped in paper and held together with rubber bands, this sandwich will keep you going right through to tea time! #laossimplybeautiful #laos_simplybeautiful #unseenlaos #VisitSoutheastAsia #ລາວທ່ຽວລາວ #ປະເທດລາວສວຍງາມແທ້ໆ

Don Daeng, Champasak Sitting in the Mekong facing Champasak town, Don Daeng is large enough to contain several villages and many farms. There are homestays available or a luxury hotel to get a taste of the slow pace of island life. The island is easily traveled by bicycle. Don't be surprised when charming local children shout "Sabaidee" as you pass by! #laossimplybeautiful #laos_simplybeautiful #unseenlaos #VisitSoutheastAsia #ລາວທ່ຽວລາວ #ປະເທດລາວສວຍງາມແທ້ໆ

Or Lam One of the most ubiquitous of Luang Prabang foods, Or Lam is a kind of stew made from eggplants, lemongrass, dried buffalo skin, meat, mushrooms, and a special kind of spicy wood called Sakhan. This wood gives it a slightly mouth-numbing effect. #laossimplybeautiful #laos_simplybeautiful #unseenlaos #VisitSoutheastAsia #ລາວທ່ຽວລາວ #ປະເທດລາວສວຍງາມແທ້ໆ

The Buddhist Council Hall The Buddhist Council Hall is the seat of the highest monk in all of Laos and the center of Buddhist administration. It is also used in certain Buddhist ceremonies, as well as to receive visiting religious dignitaries. It is a notworthy and grand building with traditional Lao motifs. #laossimplybeautiful #laos_simplybeautiful #unseenlaos #VisitSoutheastAsia #ລາວທ່ຽວລາວ #ປະເທດລາວສວຍງາມແທ້ໆ

Laap Laap is the national dish of Laos. Although generally a meat dish, it takes its name from the mint that is generously mixed with chopped meat or fish, banana flower, onions, coriander, dry fried rice powder, lime juice, and, of course, those two staples of Lao cuisine, padaek – the fermented fish used in most Lao dishes, and chilli. Nowadays you can also find vegetarian versions, made with tofu or mushrooms, and like most Lao food it uses very little, if any oil. It is served with a range of raw vegetables, from salad leaves and cucumber chunks, to small eggplants which are bitten into alongside the laap. Eaten with balls of sticky rice or wrapped in leaves, laap is a wonderful introduction to Lao food. #laossimplybeautiful #laos_simplybeautiful #unseenlaos #VisitSoutheastAsia #ລາວທ່ຽວລາວ #ປະເທດລາວສວຍງາມແທ້ໆ

Wat Inpeng Wat Inpeng is one of the more colourful temples in Vientiane. With a sparkling gold and green façade incorporating a Dharma Wheel on the Sim, golden lions and green, seven-headed Nagas protecting the temple, Wat Inpeng glitters in the sunlight. Once inside, the Sim is decorated with colourful murals depicting the Jataka Tales, telling of the Buddha’s previous lives, beneath a bright red and gold ceiling. The name Wat Inpeng comes from a legend that the King of the Gods transformed himself into an old monk and helped to create a Buddha image for the temple. Because of this, the temple became known as Wat Inpeng, or Transformation Temple. #laossimplybeautiful #laos_simplybeautiful #unseenlaos #VisitSoutheastAsia #ລາວທ່ຽວລາວ #ປະເທດລາວສວຍງາມແທ້ໆ

Hmong New Year During December, the Hmong people celebrate their traditional new year. They dress in very colorful clothing and gather together to play games and carry out traditional rituals. One of the games is played by single men and women who toss a ball back and forth to each other until one drops it. The person who drops the ball must give a gift to the other player. The gift giver can reclaim their gift if he or she sings a love song to the other player, making this a courting ritual. #laossimplybeautiful #laos_simplybeautiful #unseenlaos #VisitSoutheastAsia #ລາວທ່ຽວລາວ #ປະເທດລາວສວຍງາມແທ້ໆ

Khao Poun When rice dough is dropped through a sieve into boiling water, the resulting noodles are known as Khao Poun. These are served fresh and a meaty broth is poured over them before shredded cabbage, banana blossom, and fresh herbs are added. This is a common dish at family or religious gatherings, but can even be found at roadside stalls, so try a bowl on your next visit! #laossimplybeautiful #laos_simplybeautiful #unseenlaos #VisitSoutheastAsia #ລາວທ່ຽວລາວ #ປະເທດລາວສວຍງາມແທ້ໆ

Wax Castle Procession, Vientiane During the full moon in November, That Luang Festival occurs, marking the end of the Lao festival calendar. For several days, a large market fair and carnival set up attracting visitors from all over the country as they come to make merit at the great stupa and national symbol of Laos. Locals carry offerings resembling spires of castles made of beeswax as an offering to the holy site as they walk around the stupa three times in honor of the Buddha, the Dharma, and the brotherhood of monks. #laossimplybeautiful #laos_simplybeautiful #unseenlaos #VisitSoutheastAsia #ລາວທ່ຽວລາວ #ປະເທດລາວສວຍງາມແທ້ໆ

That Sikhottabong Festival Khammouane's most holy site, That Sikhottabong, sits just a few kilometers south of Thakhek and is over 500 years old. It is located in an ancient city, where ruins are still be discovered and excavated to this day. There is a large festival at this stupa during the full moon in February where entertainment and a market are held, and thousands of worshippers will visit. #laossimplybeautiful #laos_simplybeautiful #unseenlaos #VisitSoutheastAsia #ລາວທ່ຽວລາວ #ປະເທດລາວສວຍງາມແທ້ໆ

That Luang Festival During the full moon in November, That Luang Festival occurs, marking the end of the Lao festival calendar. For several days, a large market fair and carnival set up attracting visitors from all over the country as they come to make merit at the great stupa and national symbol of Laos. Locals carry offerings resembling spires of castles made of beeswax as an offering to the holy site as they walk around the stupa three times in honor of the Buddha, the Dharma, and the brotherhood of monks. #laossimplybeautiful #laos_simplybeautiful #unseenlaos #VisitSoutheastAsia #ລາວທ່ຽວລາວ #ປະເທດລາວສວຍງາມແທ້ໆ