Lao Temple: Mural and Burial Stupas

Most of the temples we saw in the Buddhist nation of Laos were noticeably less ornate and decorated than the many I've seen in Thailand. I found them serene and appealing.

The first photo shows you the intricately carved door of a small unassuming neighborhood temple we walked by in Vientiane, the nation's capital. I failed to find out its name (and googling came up empty).

I also regret cutting off the bottom of the door in this photo; my focus back then in 2002 was clearly on the wonderful mural (better seen enlarged) painted directly onto dry stucco. I've learned since that this mural most likely depicts scenes from the ancient Jakata Tales that Buddhist monks tell to develop the moral values of their listeners.

Vientiane, 2002 

Near the temple were a cluster of typical burial stupas. We saw many of these in Laos; around temples, in nature along the road we traveled, and in the gardens of private homes. And yet I was not able to discover any information at all about them.

Upon death, Lao people are generally cremated following Buddhist rituals, and so these would not be graves for bodies in coffins the way we often bury our dead in the West. I conclude, until I learn otherwise, that these funerary stupas are memorials erected for loved ones.

The only view of the entire temple building I photographed was this one from the back.

I am linking with the blogging communities at Monday Mural and Taphophile Tragics.

Roadside Memorial in Laos

Today I may be stretching the definition of taphophilia. Yet I feel these Lao memorials on a narrow but well-traveled road somewhere up in the hills between Vang Vieng and Vientienne are a special enough tribute to the dear departed to include in the Taphophile Tragics meme.

Memorials beside the highway to those killed in auto accidents are sadly not uncommon.  But have you ever seen this many on one spot?

 Laos, 2002

While the place was some distance from any residential area, we can see there are regular visitors. The incense in the small memorial altar was burning.

I'm only guessing that this is the curve in the road that causes the fatalities.

(Again my 2002 digital photos are grainy and my photography skills unimpressive. Rather than rotate and crop out large areas of this last image, I wanted to keep the detail and only rotated for a straight view.)