The tranquil Ho Hoan Kiem or Lake of the Returned Sword is just a stone throw away from the hustle and bustle of Hanoi Old Quarters. The lake gets its name from the legend that tells the returning of a magic sword by Emperor Le Loi back to the Golden Turtle God in the lake. Some have also suggested that the lake is the home of a rare distinct species of turtle. The scenic spot in Hanoi is popular among the locals and visitors (irrespective of interest in reptiles) and a welcoming retreat from the sea of motorbikes that fills the city streets.


Hoan Kiem Lake: day and night, Hanoi (11/2009)

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Tags: Vietnam

Motorbikes rule the streets in Vietnam and this is especially true in big cities such as Hanoi and Saigon. Busy streets are filled with relentless flow of honking motorbikes and cars. Street crossing can be daunting at places where zebra crossings and traffic lights are scarce. It is almost impossible to wait till a halt in traffic before crossing. The common advice is to start crossing when there is a reasonable gap in the traffic and walk predictably across the streets so that the vehicles can avoid you. It works!


Traffic in the Old Quarter of Hanoi (11/2009)



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Related link:

• Wikitravel: Crossing the Road in Vietnam

Tags: Vietnam, Video

You sometimes lose the sense of time without the seasonal change in the tropics but the festive season is not easy to miss, thanks to the faithful reminders by commercial decorations and displays :-P

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!


Saigon Centre, Ho Chi Minh City (11/2009)


Pavilion, Kuala Lumpur (12/2009)

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Tags: Christmas, Vietnam, Malaysia

No trip to Vientiane can be complete without a visit to the Pha That Luang, a majestic monument with great religious and historical importance to the Lao people. Images of the national symbol can be found on the banknotes, coat of arms and more recently on the logo of the 25th Southeast Asia Games which will be held for the first time in Laos this coming December. The construction of Pha That Luang began in 1566 by the order of King Setthatthirat when he moved the capital from Luang Prabang to Vientiane. The monument suffered extensive damage during the Thai invasion in 1828. It was later brought back to its former glory by two major restorations conducted by the French in 1900 and between 1931-1935.







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Related links:

• Wikipedia: Pha That Luang
  
• Lonely Planet: Pha That Luang

Tags: Laos

The Patuxay or Victory Gate of Vientiane was built in 1962 and commemorates those who lost their lives in wars. It is the Arc de Triomphe of the East to many people. Some also refer to it as the vertical runway because the monument is said to be built with the US fund meant for airport construction. Most unexpectedly, the official signboard (scroll down for Picture 3) actually compares the prominent landmark in the Laotian capital to a Monster of Concrete. This level of modesty is unusual and it certainly does not do justice to the Patuxay. The Victory Gate was formerly known as the Anaosavali, which apparently means “memory” or “monument”, before 1975 during the monarchy era.







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Related links:

• Wikipedia: Patuxay
  
• LaoVoices: Patuxay Monument is expected to draw big crowds
  
• Vientiane Life: Vientiane Attractions

Tags: Laos, Sign