Champasak, Laos & Wat Phu

Champasak is a province in southern Laos. I took an overnight sleeper bus from Vientiane and woke up in Paske, the capital city of the province.

Bleary-eyed, two new friends and I caught a tuk tuk to the main market in hopes of a ride to Champasak village. The road was bumpy and dusty, and I occupied myself by watching the morning traffic navigate the potholes. With interest I eyed a motorcyclist reach over into his front basket and fiddle around in some bags. To my empty stomach's surprise, he fished out a couple of small fruit. Suddenly he broke out into a grin and sped up alongside the tuk tuk. He reached out his hand and carefully passed three of the fruit to my friend - all while driving in traffic! We laughed and thanked him quickly as he moved ahead.

The fruit - by the way - were delicious. My friend described them as like a cross between a grape and an apricot, but citrus and sweet/sour.

At the market, I ordered coffee and was delivered this thick mixture of coffee, sweetened condensed milk & sugar poured over ice in a bag. It was so rich I could barely drink it all, but the novelty of the bag tickled me. We also ordered these little baguettes with green onion and a salty meat soup mixture poured into the center - so good you forgave the fact you had no idea what you were eating.

Champasak village is really known for Wat Phu, the site of ancient pre-Angkorian Khmer ruins. After napping and relaxing a bit, we negotiated another tuk tuk ten kilometers to the ruins. I learned so much about Hindu inspired art and architecture. Wat Phu is built on a mountain sacred to locals
because its shape resembles the linga, or representation of the god Shiva. There's also a natural spring from the rock face that used to be channel towards the inner sanctuary to bathe a large linga. The ruins are truly impressive and I can't wait to apply what I learned to the Angkor ruins when I visit next week.