Wat Phu

I had originally planned to do a 5 -7 day trek in southeastern Laos in a remote national protected area. I saw some prices for the trek and they were much more than I anticipated and I doubted if I could find anyone else to go. I couldn't justify spending more than double my daily budget for the trek. I had left days for the trek before I found this out and now found myself in the south with extra days. That is why I spent a few days camping on the plateau and why I went today to Wat Phu. This wat or temple is the only Ankgor era temple in Laos, though the original structure dates back to the 6th century. I had seen Ankgor Wat in Cambodia and Bagan in Myanmar but with this unseen extra time I decided to see Wat Phu as well.

I rented a motorbike for the journey. Wat Phu is 46km from Pakse. I left at 11.30 in the heat of the day. For the first time on the trip, my upper thighs and arms got burnt. I wore my pants for the second half of the trip. I had to cross the Mekong river to get to Champasak town near the temple. The Mekong is very wide here and I took a boat across. Well, actually it was 2 canoes lashed together with a wooden platform on them for carrying bikes. From town it was 8km to Wat Phu. There is a 5 day festival every year in Wat Phu and although I generally don't like festivals, the festival was going on now from January 25 to the 30th. I paid my entrance for the bike, parking for the bike and entrance fee for the temple and I was finally in. There were way too many people. The festival had become very commercial and was like a carnival with tons of vendors selling stuff and entertainment like boxing. I didn't like the atmosphere at all. The temple was great though and I'm glad I saw it, I just wish it was at a different time. I stayed a few hours and then started heading back. The sun was setting as I pulled into Pakse. It was a strong pink color and the suns rays became definitive beams over the clouds. I had to stop to take a photo. This would be my last night in Pakse. I had to start making my way towards Vietnam. My 45 day visa would be expiring in a few days.