Vientiane Walk - Presidential Palace
Walking eastward from the Brunei Darussalam Embassy on Setthathirat Road, this place is still on the right side, after crossing the alley connecting to the World Bank.
That alley has a tongue-twister name - Rue Chanthakoummane!
From there, I kept walking (excited) - it's already probably some 50 meters to this:
Walking direction right-to-left, that is the same big building at right, as in the last pic of the previous story, and I think that gate is the side entrance (for employees/staff).
Or maybe the 'real' gate - for workers, non-official and non-royal visitors like us!
Walk pa more and I saw this majestic, pang-dugong bughaw na entrance gate hehe!
Good it was still early morning, wala pang mga turistang nag-aagawan mag-posing!
Well, ahem.., not really good that there were no people. No one to take my picture!
Honestly, while I already know how to, most of the time I don't like my selfie photos.
But here's one clever shot that I like - without the steel grills getting in my photo!
You know the technique, right? Hawakan ang talepono sa isang kamay; ipasok ang kamay na yan sa loob ng grills; ipasok din ang isa pang kamay, if needed; then click!
After shooting that last picture above nasa gilid pa rin ako ng dambuhalang gate na yan, I turned around to view Lane Xang Ave., touted as the widest road in Vientiane.
Nothing much for my eyes. It looks just like any boulevard, though I knew it's a road of symbolic meanings, that the French made (to be like the Champs-Élysées in Paris).
I guessed: 'I don't see "the point" because I was not at dead center' of the road. True!
So ayan, I don't know if it is even allowed (siguro naman pwede), but good that it was early morning (few vehicles/humans passing), I went to the middle of Lane Xang Ave!
If you stare at the center island in that picture, you would get a hint that at its end is a structure. That is the Petuxai Monument. I intended to go there but wasn't able to!
That distance could be an easy walk - just about a kilometer. But my plan was to go walking eastward along Setthathirat Road (from Ibis), then just go there upon return.
Oy, some historians say that Petuxai Monument design & construction had nothing to do with France (no French was invloved). Yet, it still looks like the Arc de Triomphe in Paris - both in form and purpose. Pero huwag na natin basagin ang trip nila haha!
Anyway, still at the same spot on the flowery island, I turned around for this view:
Wow! Grand! Majestic! Plus all superlatives you may want to think of. Ganda talaga!
By the way and FYI, though not open to the curious public (local and foreign tourists), that 'Presidential Palace' is only more of a 'ceremonial venue' than a home or office.
Mahabang kwento, but ever since, no Lao president ruler king leader whatever lived in that grand lovely building. Not even to hold office in there. It looks like no one will.
Yet it is maintained for official receptions, diplomatic ceremonies and state events.
Bakit? 'Wag na nating pag-usapan, mahabang kwento nga kasi eh!
Let's go on with my walk instead... along Setthathirat Road (at times pronounced and written Setthathilat - parang mga Thai sila magpronounce/magsulat ng Roman letters).
That alley has a tongue-twister name - Rue Chanthakoummane!
From there, I kept walking (excited) - it's already probably some 50 meters to this:
Or maybe the 'real' gate - for workers, non-official and non-royal visitors like us!
Walk pa more and I saw this majestic, pang-dugong bughaw na entrance gate hehe!
Good it was still early morning, wala pang mga turistang nag-aagawan mag-posing!
Well, ahem.., not really good that there were no people. No one to take my picture!
But here's one clever shot that I like - without the steel grills getting in my photo!
After shooting that last picture above nasa gilid pa rin ako ng dambuhalang gate na yan, I turned around to view Lane Xang Ave., touted as the widest road in Vientiane.
I guessed: 'I don't see "the point" because I was not at dead center' of the road. True!
If you stare at the center island in that picture, you would get a hint that at its end is a structure. That is the Petuxai Monument. I intended to go there but wasn't able to!
That distance could be an easy walk - just about a kilometer. But my plan was to go walking eastward along Setthathirat Road (from Ibis), then just go there upon return.
Oy, some historians say that Petuxai Monument design & construction had nothing to do with France (no French was invloved). Yet, it still looks like the Arc de Triomphe in Paris - both in form and purpose. Pero huwag na natin basagin ang trip nila haha!
Anyway, still at the same spot on the flowery island, I turned around for this view:
By the way and FYI, though not open to the curious public (local and foreign tourists), that 'Presidential Palace' is only more of a 'ceremonial venue' than a home or office.
Mahabang kwento, but ever since, no Lao president ruler king leader whatever lived in that grand lovely building. Not even to hold office in there. It looks like no one will.
Yet it is maintained for official receptions, diplomatic ceremonies and state events.
Bakit? 'Wag na nating pag-usapan, mahabang kwento nga kasi eh!
Let's go on with my walk instead... along Setthathirat Road (at times pronounced and written Setthathilat - parang mga Thai sila magpronounce/magsulat ng Roman letters).
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