Spying The Kayson Phomvihane Memorial, Part Two

Time to check out some of the many intriguing details seen at the Kayson Phomvihane Memorial. A great leader's life distilled down to objects.

Living room trophies. Killed, stuffed, varnished, mounted.

All shoes belong here. In the nightstand for polishing, on the floor for exercising and lounging. Stationary bike.

Phomvihane's closet. Winter coats for the big visit to Moscow.

Colognes and telephones.

At the nearby meeting hall, key props for a successful conference. Board for info, clock for expediency, Lenin statue for ideology. "Let's get down to building a nation."

Spying The Kayson Phomvihane Memorial, Part One

Starting in 1955, Kayson Phomvihane was the leader of the Communist Lao People's Revolutionary Party and he became the first leader of an independent Laos in 1975. He led the country until his death in 1992.

His post civil war offices and residence were part of a large former compound for CIA/USAID, affectionally labeled "Six Klicks City" because it was located six kilometers from the center of Vientiane. When civil war broke out, the Americans fled and easy, new digs were available.

Today, the house and nearby offices are a memorial. Much of Six Klicks City still exists and is part of the Lao military campus. Past and present history around the area is heavy.

View of one of the humble, cinder block houses. One can imagine the Americans quickly building a U.S. style, suburban neighborhood. Ranch design and cheap, a lawn, a bucolic headquarters as a base for havoc in Southeast Asia.

Front entrance and a library. Strictly utilitarian. Consider it Linoleum Floor Provincial.

Blue living room. Shag for groovy '70s, tusks for power.

Desk and bedroom. Are we in Vientiane, Texas? It's hard to tell by the interior.

Super important meeting room. The fate of a nation, decided in an American box kit sunporch.

Buddhas Everywhere At Wat Sisaket

About 2,000 worshippers could be at Wat Sisaket at the same time and still have their own personal Buddha statue to which to pray. There's a nice cloister surrounding the main temple and the cloister is lined with little alcoves filled with mini Buddha statues. And more Buddhas inside the temple itself. Everywhere a Buddha.

The temple, built in 1818, in the traditional style of the time.

The big Buddha, inside the temple hall. The surrounding wall, looking like a beehive filled with little Buddha statue honey.

One can take a breather and stroll the regal white stupas out on the lawn.

Back along the cloister, layers, levels of Buddhas.

Making room for more Buddhas. Construction and expansion at the complex.