Day 5, Sunday 23 October - Champasak

Buddhists, Hindus, and Restoration....... We take breakfast on the terrace overlooking the mighty Mekong. Sadly, I miss the sunrise which arrives early here. So what to do today? I could rent a motorbike but it's a comparable price to hire a skylap or samlor (three wheeled motorized transport) for the afternoon. Options seem limited, the only site of real interest being Vat (Wat) Phu. I choose three wheels and head there. Wat Phu is a ruined Khmer temple complex found at the base of mount Phu Kao, some 6 km from the Mekong River and about 13 km from the town. There was a temple on the site as early as the 5th century, but the surviving structures date from the 11th to 13th centuries. The temple has a unique structure of terraces which lead to a shrine where a linga was bathed in water from a mountain spring which is still in use. The site later became a centre of Theravada Buddhist worship, which remains to this day. The recent addition of a visitor centre really brings this place to life. Archaeological work here in ongoing with international guidance and training.
Prosperous life........ I need a good two hours and sufficient drinking water to compensate for the heat and quite challenging climb over the terraces. You can however drink from the spring for a happy and prosperous long life! I'm done for today as we return to Champasak.