Laos - The country of Elephants ( Part I)

Laos

Laos - appear before me is the image of the most idyllic and familiar with the hospitable people.

• A trip to Laos

It is often said that young people like to go and explore new lands, to find themselves growing up and mature in their thinking. And go to go back... And I had a trip like that...

Laos - appear before me is the image of the most idyllic and familiar with the hospitable people.

A trip to Laos to experience Laos is a beautiful journey that I had planned before. And here, beautiful Laos welcomed me in the early days of November 2015.

• Vientiane is the destination I chose for this trip.

Through the Lao Bao border gate in Quang Tri, I set foot on the land I once had the desire to visit. Before my eyes is the image of the simple house floor, is the image of the barefooted baby with the clouds on the back of his mother to the field. These images are not the same as what I imagined before, but somehow in my heart more and more offer up the desire to learn, to discover more about this land.

And there are experiences like this to make me love country and people here more, the people are very cute and hospitable.

After nearly 10 hours in the car, I was in the capital Vientiane, not sure if it was the capital or not, but life here quite bustle in the early morning. Humans do not have the same astral features in the body as in the border.

• Talk about a little about Laos, brother country with Vietnam.

Vietnam and Laos are two countries in the Indochinese peninsula, two neighboring brothers, all leaning on the majestic Annamite mountains with longstanding friendship and tradition. With the spirit of "helping you to help yourself", the people of Vietnam and Laos have been shoulder-to-shoulder, fighting the French colonialists, leaving precious experiences of a friendship. Especially in the cause of liberation and development of each nation.

• Laos - Million Elephants

As I have learnt at school, Laos is formerly known as Wan Xang Kingdom, "Wan" is "million", "Xok" is elephant. Wan Xenu means Million Elephants. Dubbed the Millionaire Land of Laos, which lies at the confluence of two of Asia's greatest and most powerful civilizations, India and China, the Lao people have absorbed the customs and beliefs of two backgrounds. That civilization to form a unique culture of their own unique. Lao culture is a Buddhist culture. Buddhism is deeply ingrained in Lao thought, which is reflected in language and art, creating a very unique Lao people.

The Lao people have instilled within themselves the Buddha's teachings, a respect for the monks and nuns, monks in the temple. With a population of more than 6 million people and up to 1, 400 large and small temples, Laos is home to the highest percentage of pagodas in the world.

From Laos, I can see pagodas built everywhere, pagodas attached to schools, attached to life, monk eating as ordinary folk. Lao Buddhists often accumulate virtue through many activities called the merits. On the occasion of the festival, Laos attracts tourists and Buddhists to visit, learn Buddhism is no less the countryside yellow temple - neighboring country Thailand. Temples, temples and towers are places of life with Lao people, also the glue that connects the Lao tribes together - Buddhist cultural glue. The pagoda with its multi-facade bent roofs is also a manifestation of the development of Lao architectural, sculpture and aesthetic arts.

Moreover, according to my friend, festival associated with pagodas, temples associated with villages, is a place for people to meet, play and dance, contributing to the permanent cultural identity Laos. Shimmering and seductive.

• Vientiane with the sunsets

Vientiane is a place of tranquility when it comes to sunsets, where sanctuaries are the place of famous tourist attractions. The Patuxay Arc de Triomphe is where I chose to visit first when I came here.

I have not yet learned about the history of this scenery, but it struck me as a symbol of the culture and people of the country. This shows the patience of Patuxay, because when the sun goes out, there seems to be no distance between me and the locals. Everyone laughs happily, chatting together. There are couples in the gown of the bride and groom to save beautiful images for their big day.

• Vientiane and the Mekong River

Vientiane can not overlook the Mekong River, because it is an uninhabited country so the lives of the Lao people are attached to this river. The moment I go is dry season so the river is very small, the green grass grows on both sides of the river, and I think I am standing in front of the river.

One, two, three, four... are the image of the national heroes placed serenely along the mighty Mekong River.

Since then, I have learned more about the culture of the country of the Elephant.

• Festival Time in Vientiane

I arrived in Vientiane on the occasion of the festival so I was very lucky to be in the festive mood here.

The festival is fun, but they also prepare food more delicious than usual, especially indispensable wine. New Year's Day from early morning, the villagers have the most beautiful clothes, with colorful colors, gathered at the temple grounds for Buddha bathing. The bathing ceremony of Buddha, every home ceremony to tie the hand to the family in the house, the so-called ceremony is called praetoric or fattening, the soul call ceremony. On the occasion of the first year children descendants wish grandparents, parents, friends, relatives happy luck.

On the days of the festival, people visit each other blessing, eating, playing, dancing and praying for national security, happy homes, warm people... For Lao people, customs in festivals Bunpimay is meant to bring coolness, prosperity, happiness and prosperity to life, a chance to nurture and cultivate national art.

In our thinking, the Lao brothers are very close and hardly in a great deal of trouble in culture and communication. The more exposure, the more real it becomes, the Lao people and their belongings are great. It seems that in the Lao culture I also feel the similarities with my country.

People often say, you will not be able to understand the culture of a country if you have not yet savored the characteristic dish of that land. And I was fortunate to have that experience with the simple but very characteristic dish of this land - grilled fish served with steamed sticky rice. Delicious! And you want to know how good it is to go to Laos.

• I will come back to Laos

If you ask me, do I want to come back here? The sure answer is - yes. Come back to discover the cultural quintessence, come back to see the simplicity and peace of everyday life here. Back to feel the difficulties of Native people - one word shared with those living in the countryside. Come back to know that I have had a great experience to how. And that was the journey that I went and felt. How about you? Let's go balo and go... Let's go to know that I'm still alive...

( to be continued)

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