Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Good Morning Dubai!
This is the view outside my hotel window at about 6 am this morning. After discovering oil in the 1960s, the city has become a mecca of modern architecture and a million ways for the very wealthy to spend their money. I didn't realize what a shock it would be to go from the extremely inexpensive southeast asia to the opposite extreme of Dubai, but I'm starting to worry that my 2 weeks here may be a week and a half more than my budget can take.
Leaving Southeast Asia
After travelling all over the Mekong Delta to see Laos, Cambodia and Viet Nam, I spent a last night in Bangkok Thailand before flying off to Dubai in the United Arab Emerates. Even though the Thai King's Birthday was Dec 5, the outside windows of the Bangkok airport continue to have Birthday good wishes for him.
Buddhist Park Stuppa Outside of Vientienne, Laos
You can actually go into the structure through the mouth and climb inside to exit at the opening of the tree-like top - that is if you aren't as claustrophobic as I am.
If Walt Disney had been Buddhist
Outside of Vientienne Laos is a Buddhist park: the product
of an architect who had a long and unusual dream one night and decided to build everything he dreamed.
of an architect who had a long and unusual dream one night and decided to build everything he dreamed.Vientienne Monk
Buddhist Monks are an important part of the city life. They depend on the money and food given them by the people of the town to survive and giving to the monks is a good work that counts toward coming back as a human in your next life. Also in most instances, when you give the monk something, he will offer a chant to bless you. I was fortunate in the northern Laos city of Luang Prabang to participate in giving food to a parade of monks. At 6 am over 100 monks 
filed quickly past a 3 block area and the people kneel by the road side to give them handfuls of rice in order to receive "merit." It was a moving experience to be a part of the ceremony.
filed quickly past a 3 block area and the people kneel by the road side to give them handfuls of rice in order to receive "merit." It was a moving experience to be a part of the ceremony.1000 Buddhas
One temple in Vientienne is famous for having over 1000 Buddhas. Each of the niches you see contains 2 small Buddhas
and all of the walls in the temple look like this. Buddhists believe in reincarnation and your good works are one of the factors that determine if you will come back as a human in your next life. I think this is why you see so many variations on the greatest number of Buddhas or the largest Buddha, or the most valuable Buddha (solid gold, emerald, etc.). It's part of your insurance for your next life. Anyone who willfully hurts an animal will come back as that animal and be hurt in the same way.
and all of the walls in the temple look like this. Buddhists believe in reincarnation and your good works are one of the factors that determine if you will come back as a human in your next life. I think this is why you see so many variations on the greatest number of Buddhas or the largest Buddha, or the most valuable Buddha (solid gold, emerald, etc.). It's part of your insurance for your next life. Anyone who willfully hurts an animal will come back as that animal and be hurt in the same way.The Flag of Communism
The communist flag flies side by side with the flag of Laos throughout the country. Viet Nam also displays the communist flag next to their own.
Old Palace, New Palace
The large building on the right is the new Presidetial Palace, the one on the left is the old one. This is just one of the many signs that Vientienne is going through a lot of growth and expansion. Laos actually looked prosperous compared to the other countries in Asia tht I visited.
Buddhist Symbolism
The posture and especially the location of the Buddha's hands are all symbolic. There is a posture for each day of the week, and the reclining Buddha pictured, is Wednesday. The fact that it is lying on its' right side means death. If it is lying the other way it means sleep.
My favorite position is the Buddha standing with hands by the side and fingers pointing down. It means falling rain and is important when the land is suffering from drought.
My favorite position is the Buddha standing with hands by the side and fingers pointing down. It means falling rain and is important when the land is suffering from drought.
Vintienne, Laos Stuppa
Throughout all of the Buddhist countries you can find the spires of stuppas like the one in this photo. Inside the stuppa, multiple statues of Buddha and other religious relics are incased. One stuppa in Vientienne was said to actually contain a rib of Buddha at one time in history.
Vientienne, Laos
Vientienne is the capital of Laos. The roof on this temple is typical of the Laos style with the roof extending almost to the ground.
Hanoi at Night
The city was decked out in colored lights and streets filled with flower beds, especially designed
to celebrate the western New Year.
to celebrate the western New Year.Cruising Hanoi's Alleys
Thankfully, our guide was from Hanoi and knew how to navigate through the crowded specialty alleys of the city.
Hanoi's Alleys
The last stop on the Viet Nam tour was the northern city of Hanoi. Hold-overs from its' early history are the alleys - small backstreets where the local vendors are gathered, based on their special
ty, like rug alley, vegetable alley, or furniture alley. The streets have since been given modern names, but the locals continue to call them by their specialties.
Wedding doweries from the bride's family to the groom's family are often red colored symbolic gifts like those at this shop.
ty, like rug alley, vegetable alley, or furniture alley. The streets have since been given modern names, but the locals continue to call them by their specialties.Wedding doweries from the bride's family to the groom's family are often red colored symbolic gifts like those at this shop.
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