About a month ago, people gathered on the sand bar on the Mekong to make sand stupas. These stupas represent Mt. Meru, the center of the Buddhist universe. Some people make very elaborate stupas with stairways and decorations; others were just piles of sand. For any of the stupas, people incorporate representations of themselves - usually making small mounds representing ten years of life (if you're older). People place prayer flags on the stupas and cover them with sweet smelling talcum powder.And like the message of Buddhism - all compounded things are transient - the Mekong washes them away as the waters rise. The storm clouds over Thailand tell us that more way is on the way.
This picture is near my house in Vientiane, again on the bank of the Mekong River. On the other side is Sri Chieng Mai in Thailand.This is my contribution to Skywatch Friday which is hosted over at Wiggers World
21 comments:
Two very beautiful shots! The reflection is gorgeous.
Beautiful Clouds!
Your sky is beautiful and the information is most welcome. Thanks for your teaching.
Shalom from Jerusalem.
Very beautiful photo. Jerusalem Hills sent me over to you and I'm so glad she did. I especially like your Diabetes blog since I'm fighting that, too.
Wonderful cloud formation in the first shot, but I love the perspective in the second!
That first one is gorgeous!
The clouds are beautiful! I enjoyed your walking blog also!
Very very pretty. I love the reflection in the first one. Also very interesting information on the sand stupas.
You have taught me a beautiful lesson about Buddhism here. Thank you very much. Your photos are wonderful illustrations. The river is as important as the mounds as the sky. Perfect and complete!
Beautiful sky watches... thank you for sharing.
On your photos the river is as important as the mounds as the sky.
They are great.
Beautiful images, excellent.
Very beautiful. I enjoyed the photos as well as the Buddhist tradition story.
Great shots. Interesting information you have shared.
Thanks for your visit to Bodge's Bulletin!
Meant to visit just your SWF Post and ended up reading your entire postings for the month of May - addictive stuff and fantastic shots of an area of the world I haven't yet visited (and probably never will, sadly!)
Great blog and great SWF.
Gary
Beautiful - both of them!
Lovely scenes. Very nice framing on no. 2.
Great Sky Watch!
Terrific shot and insightful post. I love your thunderhead shot with the cumulus congestus showing a destabilized atmosphere. Might have been a nice lightning storm with that one. Great shot!
Beautiful shots again:)
Petunia's SWF
The firts pic is very good. There´s lot of interesting details, in the field and grass on the foreground.
Very nice photos! Well done!
Hi Changphen! Sorry for the speedy visit! I’ve been busy the whole last week and will be out in the next, so this is far less than your blog deserves… ;(( But I promise I’ll come back with more time after June 10th, at least…
Anyhow, the sky picture is lovely!
To avoid leaving you deserted, I published a last post on Marrakesh 2006 at Blogtrotter. Enjoy!
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