Vientiane – Wat Si Saket and co.
My legs have been getting such a workout these past few months thanks to all the walking and cycling i’ve been doing – they have almost stopped resembling knitting needles with apples spiked halfway down (my knees). Almost.
Vientiane is such a small capital that most of the sites can be tackled on foot or bike. We chose the latter because at least it provides some modicum of relief from the sweltering heat.
On our first day of sightseeing we visited Wat Si Saket. Built in 1818 this is surprisingly the oldest temple in the city. In 1788 Vientiane became a Siamese vassal state, pledging loyalty to its stronger neighbour to the south-west. 1827 witnessed a failed rebellion against Siam led by King Chou Anouvong. The uprising was crushed with impunity, effectively razing the city to the ground. Thanks to an architectural similarity to early Thai temples Wat Si Saket was spared whilst all around it was levelled.
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Tags: Asia, Laos, Travel, Vientiane
andrewlegon
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