Links to posts in main blog about Asia Holiday 2005

(1) At the airport in the UK, waiting to fly to Singapore
(2) Singapore
(3) Luang Prabang, Laos
(4) Massage in Laos
(5) Hoi An, Vietnam
(6) En route to Cambodia
(7) Waiting to fly back to London
(8) Has my relationship with boyfriend number 1 broken down?

And below are the best pictures which I took on this holiday:

Laos, Luang Prabang

View over trees to centre of Luang Prabang

Wat Xieng Thong temple

Boats by the side of the Mekong river in Luang Prabang

A view across the Mekong river, upstream from Luang Prabang

View from the Royal Palace

Market along the main street in Luang Prabang around 6pm

Country view near Luang Prabang

Laos, Phonsavan (Plain of Jars)

Scenery en route to Phonsavan

Scenery en route to Phonsavan

Rice fields en route to Phonsavan

Presents from USA to Laos dropped from planes in 1960's and 1970's

View of one of the Plane of Jars sites

Close-up of some jars

Remnants of a temple bombed by USA in 1960's or 1970's

Meat covered with flies in main Phonsavan market

Laos, Vientiene

The Patuxay, or Victory Gate

A sign on one of the walls inside this gate clearly dates from the communist era because it describes this arch in the following disapproving way: "At the northeastern end of the LaneXang Ave arises a huge structure resembling the Arc de Triomphe. It is the Patuxay or Victory Gate of Vientiane, built in 1962 (B.E 2505), but never complete due to the country's turbulent history. From a closer distance, it appears even less impressive, like a monster of concrete.

That Luang Stupa

Wat Si Saket buddhist temple, built 1818.

At rear of Wat Si Saket temple, one end of a háang song nâm pha (“image watering rail”), carved to resemble a serpent deity. This is used during Lao new year to pour water over Buddha images for ceremonial cleansing.

Vietnam, Hanoi

Palace built by French when they were the colonial power in Vietnam

One pillar pagoda

Fishing pots in the Museum of Ethnology

Ethnic carvings in the grounds of the Museum of Ethnology

Wood hut in the grounds of the Museum of Ethnology. Many tribes from different parts of Vietnam were invited to build authentic examples of their hut building style for the museum.

Students touch turtle heads in the Temple of Literature for good luck in their exams.

(Wouldn't it be better if they spent more time revising?)

Inside the Temple of Literature

Busy street. I've never seen so many motorbikes as I did in Hanoi!

Water puppetry

Vietnam, Halong bay

Scenic view of Halong Bay

Inside a cave on one of the small islands in Halong Bay

Scenic view of Halong Bay

Scenic view of Halong Bay

Scenic view of Halong Bay with flag flying

Vietnam, Hué

Honour courtyard at Khai Dinh’s tomb

Stela pavilion at Tu Duc’s tomb

Xung Khiem pavilion at Tu Duc’s tomb

On the Huong Giang (Perfume River)

Thien Mu pagoda

On the Huong Giang (Perfume River)

View towards tomb of Emperor Minh Mang

Flag tower, seem from Ngo Mon (Royal Gate) of the imperial city

Ngo Mon (Royal Gate) of the imperial city

Vietnam, Hoi An

On the Thu Bon river

Inside the Fukien Assembly Hall (Phuc Kien Hoi Quan)

Sweeping up in Hoi An

Late afternoon in Hoi An

Entrance to the Japanese Covered Bridge (Cau Nhat Ban) as seen from the first floor of Phung Hung house

Bridge across the Tho Bon river near the Japanese Covered Bridge

Lone fisherman on the Tho Bon river

Boat painted with eyes to scare off the sea demons