LAOS ~Xieng Khuan Buddha Park - Vientiane ~

...Great!! Friend Yobbo is traveling again ㋡... and thanks to him I can enlarge my collection once more with three postcards coming from a so called "rare" country, officially named "the Lao People's Democratic Republic"... this first one shows the iconic Buddha Park in the capital...it is one of the strangest sculpture gardens in the world... Thanks a lot Jobbo!! (I'm always looking forward to all your writing on the postcards, they give me a feeeling how it must be wandering around in these places and make me smile)!! (✿◠‿◠)

Photo: Jatupom Rutnin
Vientiane is the capital and largest city in Laos. Located on the banks of the Mekong River, near the border with Thailand. It is a city steeped in legend and history.

The park looks very ancient but in reality it’s only a little over 50 years old. Luang Pu Bunela Sulilat, a priest-shaman who integrated Hinduism and Buddhism started this park in 1958.

The statues are made of reinforced concrete and sometimes look very bizarre in their design. This sculpture park contains over more than  200 strange forms that were created in both Buddhist and Hindu style.

The postcard shows a pumpkin-shaped monument in the park with three levels that represent hell, earth and heaven. It is the tallest structure in the park and after climbing on the top of it, the view of the park from there is just breath-taking.

Stamps:

National Day
Previous Issued Stamps Surcharged
(Issued 26-02-2015)

Honey Bees
(Issued 23-06-2008)