LAOS ~ Le Calao - Luang Prabang - UNESCO ~

... Pretty evening view of a unique building that now hosts Le Calao restaurant located on the Mekong Riverside... one of the first hotels in Luang Prabang opened in 1996... it was originally built in 1904 by a Chinese trader from Macau, for use as a private house... the building was originally constructed with a strong Portugese influence in its architecture during the French Colonial Period... by the 1990s, the abandoned building had fallen into a derelict condition and was almost destroyed... but now it's beautifully renovated... this former house has been declared as one of the protected World Heritage buildings in Luang Prabang.... Le Calao offers a top quality Laotian, ethnic and international dishes, but with a signature focus on Laotian cuisine... Thank you Jobbo!【ツ】No comments about the food in this restaurant??? that surprises me!😉😃

Luang Prabang is located in north central Laos, on the Mekong River. Until the communist takeover in 1975, it was the royal capital and seat of government of the Kingdom of Laos.

Luang Prabang originated as a defended royal administrative complex, with adjacent temples and monasteries. The Town is noticed for its special form of urban development, partly traditional Lao and partly colonial.

In 1995 Luang Prabang was designated a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Stamp:

National Vaccination Day
(Issued 03-01-1997)

LAOS ~ Wat Xieng Thong - Luang Prabang - UNESCO ~

... Great view of probably the most popular Budhist temple in the city... also the most beautiful and complex... not only is the temple itself covered in intricate golden detail but there are also buildings surrounding the temple that create one completely magnificent masterpiece... Luang Prabang is the spiritual center of all of Laos... it has 34 UNESCO-protected temples within the small city... most wats here are living, breathing structures and social institutions... monks live, pray, meditate and study at them...  important ceremonies are still performed, devotees visit and pay respect... here you get a glimpses of real monastic life... Heel erg bedankt Benny!!【ツ】

Photo: Jatupom Rutnin
Wat Xieng Thong, once known as “The Temple of the Golden City”, holds great cultural, historic and architectural importance. It is situated near the tip of the peninsula at the confluence of two rivers, with a grand staircase leading up from the Mekong.

For centuries it was considered the ceremonial gateway to the town, with visiting dignitaries and soon-to-be-crowned kings arriving via these steps.

King Setthathirat, who ruled from 1548 till 1571, built Wat Xieng Thong in 1559. Over the years it has survived war and raids including the sacking of the city in 1887 by the Black Flag Army. Up until 1975, it was the site of coronation ceremonies for Lao kings.

Stamps:

Bananas
(Issued 01-11-2006)

LAOS ~ Huay Xai - Bokeo ~

... Nice views of a typical small town with local people ... because this town sits on the border between Thailand and Laos it often operates as a simple entry and exit point... another reason why people pass through Huay Xai is to cruise along the Mekong River... this is one of the main activities on offer and one of the best activities available in the region...  other come here to use Huay Xai as a base to visit the neighboring Bokeo Nature Reserve, home of the famous Laotian gibbons... Thanks a lot Ravindra!!【ツ】

Photo: Song Phonepaseuth
Houay Xai (also Huay xai, Houei Sai, etc) is the capital of the Laos province of Bokeo. It lies on the banks of the Mekong river, which forms the border to Thailand.

The town lies on the Mekong River opposite Chiang Khong in Thailand. The Fourth Thai–Lao Friendship Bridge ( on the stamp) at Ban Houayxay, which opened in December 2013 and replaced ferry service across the river, is now the northernmost border crossing between the two countries

Stamp:
The 4th International Mekong Bridge

(Issued 11-12-2013)

LAOS ~ Nang Sangkhan (Miss New Year) at Pii Mai Festival

... And postcard nr2 shows beautiful Laos girls dressed in very luxery traditional clothing... no Lao festival would be complete without its beauty contest, of which Nang Sangkhan (Miss New Year) is the most famous of all... there are seven contestants, each one symbolizing one of King Kabinlaphom's seven daughters... the procession of the beauty queen is spectacular and hugely popular... with great exactly matching girls on stamp... Big Thanks Jobbo!! \_(♥‿♥)_/

Photo: Song Phonepaseuth
Lao people have celebrated Lao New Year for thousands of years. This festive occasion is held each year from April 13 to 15 in the old capital Luang Prabang . As well as being a time of celebration and endless fun, It has also become synonymous with holiday, the celebration of Lao identity, the reinforcement of family bonds and an opportunity to reflect on the year ahead.

According to a Lao legend, the Pii May celebration started after Thao Kabinlaphrom lost his life in a bet to a man named Thammaban Khuman. Thao Kabinlaphrom was not able to solve a three-part riddle. Per his request, his seven daughters (representing each day of the week) took great care not to let his severed head touch the ground or there would be great destruction throughout the world. The head was kept at Mt. Sumeru until Pii Mai of each year when each daughter would take turns cleansing it.

Stamps:
UNESCO WHS Luangprabang
(Issued 02-12-2010)

The 40th Anniversary of National Day of Laos
(Issued 02-12-2015)

LAOS ~ Wat Xieng Thong - Luang Prabang ~

... Two more great Laos postcards for my collection thanks to travelling Jobbo... (just noticed I have now 7 Laos postcards and they were all sent by you ♥) it's the most historically significant and impressive of Luang Prabang’s many wats and a perfect example of Laos’ iconic religious architecture.... .for me the most beautiful off the temple is that low elegant flowing roof that almost touches the ground...it continues to be a favorite place for Buddhist festivals and celebrations, often center to honoring folk spirits and the Buddha himself.... Thanks a lot dear Jobbo!!❁◕ ‿ ◕❁

Photo: Jatupom Rutnin
Wat Xieng Thong is a small temple built in the year 1560 and whose literal translation means Temple of the Golden City. I's situated  along the banks of the Mekong River and the Nam Khan River in the city of Luang Prabang, the ancient capital of the Kingdom of Laos.

This temple was used from its origins as a Royal Temple where are they crowned the Kings of Laos and also as monastery. The temple is known as the gate of the city as the official Royal departed and arrived at this place. After the fall of the monarchy in Laos at the hands of the party communist Pathet Lao in 1975, Temple Wat Xieng Thong was used as a Royal Temple.

Stamps:
 Days of the Week - Buddha Figures
(15- 05-2005)

The 40th Anniversary of ASEAN
(Issued 08-08-2007)

LAOS ~ Ho Phra Kheo - Vientiane ~

....Postcard nr3 shows a lovely view of one of the capital's oldest temples...it is no longer a place of worship, but still a very sacred place in Laos... set in beautifully kept gardens... because Laos is regarded as one of the lesser-known Asian countries I could hardly believe your story about the Belgian Bar (I googled it) and yep it's true ʘ͜͡ʘ...congrats with your dutch and knowledge of our cuisine....Big Thanks Jobbo!!  ❣◕ ‿ ◕❣

photo: Michel Huteau
This 1565-built temple built by King Setthathirat is named after the sacred image it once housed, the Phra Kaew or Emerald Buddha, a 66 centimetre statue carved from a single jade stone. It was the  former royal temple of the Lao monarchy.

The temple is now a museum and is no longer used as a place of worship.The museum contains a gilded throne, Khmer Buddhist stelae, bronze frog drums, wooden carvings and palm-leaf manuscripts.

Stamps:
Rocket Festival
(01-06-1995)

The 48th Anniversary of ASEAN- Joint Community Issue
(Issued 08-08-2015)

LAOS ~ Statue of King sethathirath - Pha That Luang - Vientiane~

...Great impressive statue view...The Pha That Luang Temple is one of the most representative places of Buddhism... a major national monument in Laos and a national symbol...as extra bonus with nice matching stamps... Thank you Jobbo!!¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Photo: Apinan Buahapakdee
The statue depicts King Sethathirath at the Pha That Luang, which was originally built by him in 1566. The statue is located in the Saysettha gardens on the way to the main entrance to the interior of the stupa.

Setthathirath is considered to be one of the great leaders in Lao history. Throughout the 1560s until his death, he successfully defended his kingdom. He was a prolific builder and erected many Buddhist monuments including Wat Xieng Thong and the Pha That Luang.

Stamps:

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

Millennium
(Issued 01-01-2000)

Monuments
(01-12-2014)

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)

LAOS ~Luang Prabang -Royale Palace - UNESCO~

... Great Laos postcard nr2....view of Laos' past....the old name of Laos is Lan Xang "the land of a million elephants and the white parasol" (the dynasty coat of arms is shown on the front porch)... all your "accidentally" bought postcards are more than welcome here Jobbo✈...with nice matching Unesco stamps...Thanks a lot!!

Photo: Michel Huteau The former Royal Palace, now turned into a museum is situated on the banks of the Mekong river, facing the sacred Mount Phousi. Locally the Palace is known as the Haw Kham or Ho Kham, which translates to “Golden Palace”. The Palace was built between 1904 and 1909 during the time of French colonial occupation as the residence of the Laos Royal Family.

When the communists came to power in 1975, they took over the palace and sent the royal family to re-education camps. The museum that was opened to the public in 1995 after careful renovation.

Stamps:

World Heritage Site - Wat Phou Temple, Champasak
(Issued 14-02-2003)

UNESCO World Heritage - Luangprabang
(Issued 02-12-2010)

LAOS ~Luang Prabang from Mt Phou Si ~

...It is so great to add once more a new country to my collection...as written above my blog "you get in touch with lots of nice people worldwide" is so true...I'm so lucky that you found my blog and send me wonderful postcards from all your travels, Jobbo...with so interesting and funny (◕‿-) writing on...you always make me smile...Thanks a million!! (and I must say Ananda Everigham is a really good looking guy ㋡)

Photo: Jatupom Rutnin Laos  officially the Lao People's Democratic Republic is a landlocked country sharing borders with China to the North , Myanmar to Northwest, Thailand to the West, Cambodia to the South  and Vietnam to the East. Since 1975, it has been ruled by a Marxist and communist government.

Luang Prabang, literally: "Royal Buddha Image", is the capital city of Luang Prabang Province in north central Laos. The city is located at the confluence of the Nam Khan and Mekong River.

Mount Phou Si is a 100m high hill in the centre of the old town of Luang Prabang and is bordered on one side by the Mekong River and on the other side by the Nam Khan River. The hill is a local religious site, and houses several Buddhist shrines.

Stamps:
Laos - Russia joint issue- the 55th anniversary of diplomatic relationship
(Issued 11-112015)

 Antiquity of Laos
(Issued 11-11-2014)