LAOS


The sleepy riverside city of Pakse is the starting point for any journey along the Mekong in southern Laos. Sitting high above the town is Wat Phou Salao, an impossibly picturesque hilltop temple dedicated to the life-giving river that meanders through the valley below. As dawn rises and the mist starts to


clear from the Mekong, the day begins with monks chanting a series of Buddhist prayers before they collect sticky rice and various sweet treats from the locals in their beautifully made alms bowls. The temple is dominated by rows of


golden Buddha statues, and the scenes within retain the comforting sense of mystery and timelessness synonymous with Buddhism in Southeast Asia.


130 NATIONALGEOGRAPHIC.COM/TRAVEL


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