Sao Darly

After spending enough time taking photos of Vientiane from the top of Patouxay Monument, it was time to get down to the ground and enjoy the view of the Patouxay Fountain. It was 10:30 AM and more Thai tourists were coming by the bus load. I was getting too tired and ready to go home.

As I stood there, so much memories kept flushing back and I fought so hard to fight off the tears. It would have been perfect if my Grandmother would have been there standing next to me. I was even on her bicycle a few times when she took me to visit my mother at Talat Sao. Back then my Grandmother could only visit me during the time she was allowed to be out from the “Re-Education Camp”.

I only knew my Grandmother for a few years before we left for the Thai refugee camps. She was the world to me and the only one I had a connection with next to her parents (my great-grandparents). The only dream I ever had was to graduate and go back to Laos to visit my Great-grandmother and my Grandmother. I pushed myself all those years just so they can be proud of me. When they both passed away before I could go back to Laos in the year 2000, part of me died too.

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As silly as it sounds, Patouxay was the center of my life as a little kid in Laos. It was a marker of where to go and where I took a rest before going on to the next destination. I often walked to Patouxay from my old house which is right behind where Nam Theun II building is currently located. Then after having enough rest under the arch, I would either walk to the National Library of Laos, or to visit my mother at Mahosot Hospital, or to my Grandmother’s house.

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After spending enough time at the souvenir shop and doing our little shopping it was time for a great view of Vientiane at the top of Patouxay monument. It might not be as stunning as the view from the Eiffel Tower but it was a great view, especially when I was looking for my old house. After all these years, here I was standing above my old little playground, looking at all the roads leading from Patouxay. These roads lead to various special places that I hold so dear, one leading to my Grandmother’s house, the other to my mother’s former work place, then to my uncle’s house, and to the night market.

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Patouxay is my former playground. I used to walk and bike from my old house up the street from the monument. All those years of playing under the arch I didn’t get a chance to go up to the top of the monument due to safety reason. My parents didn’t think it was safe enough for us to climb the not so stable stairs back in the late 80′s. Back then the area is not as clean and it is today and with no water fountains and nice bench chairs to sit on. When I came back to Laos in 2007, I only visited Patouxay during the night time.

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It was October 24, 2008 and day 19 of my two months in Laos. I was slowing getting better from my sickness since October 19th. There was no breakfast for me again and only hot tea and more cold/flu medication to start off the day. I was exhausted with hardly any sleep since I’ve been to Laos. I thought about coming back to the Netherlands but decided to tough it out since so much money has been spent on this trip already.

Aunt Kian had to go pick up some stuff at the main bus station in Vientiane. It’s usual for people in Laos to send goods and food with a bus company. We were getting some food from a relative in Ban Ling Xan and Aunt Kian asked me if I wanted to go with her. I thought it would be a good opportunity to take some photos. Wen we got to the bus station across Talat Sao I was too tired from chasing the right bus and found out in the end the package has been picked up by someone else.

We left the bus station and Aunt Kian was heading toward Patouxay Park. She thought since we were in the area it would be a good idea to go check out Patouxay and for me to go to the top of the monument for the first time.

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