Tuesday, August 5, 2008

Colonial-era Savannakhet

A colonial-era building awaiting its eventual make-over in Savannakhet
The crumbling colonial-era buildings of Savannakhet in southern Laos are reminders of the importance the French attached to what was their largest trading and administrative centre south of Vientiane. Around the Spanish-looking plaza, which features St Theresa's Catholic Church at one end, the cream of the town's colonial-era buildings are being renovated and brought back to life. On my recent visit I didn't have time to see much of the town including its Dinosaur Museum, but I saw enough of its colonial heritage and Mekong River frontage to be charmed by its slow and peaceful ambience.
The peaceful plaza at the heart of Savannakhet
Attractive colonial-era buildings jostle for space around the plaza
This renovated colonial building is now a trendy restaurant
This nicely renovated 1926 building is now the Sala Savan guesthouse
Another ochre-coloured colonial building awaiting its spruce-up
This street could be anywhere in Savannakhet - empty and peaceful

1 Comments:

Blogger eye in the sky said...

you've successfully captured the eerie atmosphere of Savannakhet. beautiful photos... exactly as I remembered them.

September 19, 2008 4:42 PM  

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