Return to Bangkok (August 2022)

It was strange returning to Thailand after nearly 10 years.  We needed to find rental accommodation and  were drawn to the same area of Bangkok as we had lived previously so we ended up in a condominium on Sukhumit Soi 19 called Ashton Asoke.  As we were going to be travelling a lot with Tony’s work, we rented a small bedsit style apartment.  The facilities are amazing with a spectacular swimming pool on the 35th floor, library and gym.  

The pool on the 35th floor of our apartment, Ashton Ashok

The gym at Ashton Asoke

The pool on the 35th floor of Ashton Asoke

Vientiane, Lao (Aug/Sept 2022)

Vientiane is the capital of Laos , located on the Mekong River.  It has a very relaxed atmosphere and life certainly seems to move slowly considering it is a capital city.  We visited centuries old buddhist temples, Patuxai Victory Gate (7-storey structure with beautiful walls, ceilings, paintings of gods, goddesses and elephants) and the Buddha Park (over 200 sculptures devoted to both Buddhism and Hinduism). The night market, located on the banks of the Mekong, was one of the highlights with many interesting stalls and food vendors cooking Lao cuisine.  We thoroughly enjoyed our visit to Vientiane.  

Patuxai Victory Gate

Buddha Park

Giant Reclining Buddha