Wats

Yesterday, Mon & Jiam (our Lao friends) took us to see three wats (temples). Some were almost 500 years old! The first one we went to had over 6000 Buddhas in it. In the walls of the courtyard, there were thousands of tiny Buddhas all lined up. Each of the holes in the wall had two statues in it.

The Thai came in 1800 something and destroyed much of the temple and the statues. It's hard to comprehend believing in and worshiping images that are mass produced (even if by hand) out of wood and stone and can so easily be destroyed by weapons or hammers or even rain and wind over time. Mon and Jiam answered many of our questions about Buddhism and religion in Laos. Seeing all of these idols made some of the writings of Isaiah and others seem more real. How comforting to know and see and feel the power of One King and not of thousands of images made from stone or wood.

A group of Thai tourist entered the temple just before we got there; here's their pile of shoes! Jiam (in the back in black) wore her jacket and hood all day so that the sun wouldn't darken her skin at all!

Inside the wat is usually a big image of Buddha. Many people leave money, fruit, Pepsi and light candles to worship (?) Buddha. I don't think they actually worship Buddha, I think it has more to do with ancestors and self-fulfillment...  but I don't know for sure. I wanna find a book or something so I can be a little more informed, sorry!

Jiam, me, Mon, and Julia by one of the wats.

Tomorrow they're taking us to Buddha park, which is an hourish long bus ride out of Vientiane. Buddhism is such a huge part of Lao culture. I heard some of the images are kinda creepy looking.... but also that it's a really pretty park - with trees and flowers and such!