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| Buddhas in front of glass mosaic wall at Wat Xiang Thong temple |
Monday, February 26 Laos
Today, after almsgiving and visiting the market, we were touring various sites in Luang Prabang. Our first stop was the Wat Xiang Thong temple complex, where our guide, Mr. Fanh, had served as a monk for more than 10 years. 80% of the boys in Laos become monks - some primarily for the education, but only 10% stay for whole life. He said life was hard - a novice starts out with 10 rules, but the time you become an adult, there are over 200 to follow.
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| The sim - main building in a temple complex - where the ordination of monks and other ceremonies happen |
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| Gold leaved decoration of doors to carriage house |
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| This buddha muddra (position) is unique to Laso - arms down while standing means bring rain to earth |
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| Small buddhas in cartouche are for offering prayers for health or other special problems |
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| The number of buddhas represents the persons age when this request was made |
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| Nagas - multi headed snakes - guard the funerary carriage of the last King of Laos |
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| Face of a spirit guardian |
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| Side entrance to sim building |
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| Our guide, Mr. Fanh, was a monk for 10 years in this complex |
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| Most recent abbot of the monastery, who was well revered, passed away in 2005 |
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| Inside of the sim, the walls are gilded with scenes - including this one of "going to hell" |
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| And this scene of "heaven with spirit angels" according to our guide |
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| Carriage house with gilded facade |
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| Glass mosaics line the walls of the carriage house, built by the crown prince in the 1950s |
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| Stupa on the grounds of the Wat |
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| Beautiful Tree of Life mosaic on the back of the main temple building |
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| External decorations include silver mosaic elephants and turquoise mosaics, along with gold leaf gilding |
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| Two giant animals guard the Mekong River entrance to the temple |
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