Laos
We recently went to Laos, starting at Bangkok Train station you take the sleeper to Nong Khai then change to go over the Friendship Bridge into Laos from there it's a 20 minute drive to Vientiane. The purpose of the visit was to go to festival of Boun Awk Phansa (Buddhist Lent) and have a look round some of the more unusual temple sites that Laos has.
Boun Awk Phansa is possibly the maddest street party I've been to, the entire countryside arrives in Vientiane to make offerings (small flower boats made with banana leaves and a candle that they sail down the Mekong). They then top that off with a Massive street party/market/fair, where even the monks come out to play (the big fireworks, that will be the monks).
If you ever get the chance - take it, you wont regret it!
I've got more photos to come and I really should edit down some of these.
Boun Awk Phansa is possibly the maddest street party I've been to, the entire countryside arrives in Vientiane to make offerings (small flower boats made with banana leaves and a candle that they sail down the Mekong). They then top that off with a Massive street party/market/fair, where even the monks come out to play (the big fireworks, that will be the monks).
If you ever get the chance - take it, you wont regret it!
I've got more photos to come and I really should edit down some of these.