Wat Phia Wat, a photo from Xiangkhoang, North

Photographer's Note

The Secret War
This photo needs context – please read the note.
Until the overthrow of the royal family in 1975 Laos was a monarchy. In 1950 a Vietnamese supported communist movement was started, which became known as the Pathet Lao. Over time they gained more support and power and, supplied by the USSR, they made their base in Xieng Kuang, holding control of most of Northern and Eastern Laos. US president JF Kennedy threatened to intervene to prevent communist takeover of Laos. To try and prevent this, in 1962 the Geneva Accord recognized Laos’ neutrality and specifically forbade foreign intervention into Lao affairs.
However, in direct contravention of the Geneva Accord, between 1964 and 1973, during the Vietnam War (or American War to Southeast Asians), Laos became the most bombed country on earth. The CIA organised air force officers turned civilians, to fly bombing missions primarily over Northeast Laos, Xieng Kuang in particular. The war was so secret that not only did most of the rest of the world not know about it, but American Congress was kept in ignorance. In any communications the location was referred to as “The Other Theatre”. In 1968 when US President Lyndon Johnson halted bombing in Vietnam, the increased availability of air power served to increase the bombing missions over Laos, and in 1970 US President Nixon authorised the use of the much larger B-52 bombers. By 1973 the average rate of bombing was one planeload of bombs every 8 minutes, 24 hours a day, for 9 years. In weight that amounted to 1.9 million metric tonnes of bombs, which equates to ½ tonne for every man, woman and child living in Laos. It cost the US taxpayers US$2 million per day and they didn’t even know about it.
Most information is from our guide – Pet, and confirmed by the Lonely Planet. For more information just google “secret war”.

Day 9
The original capital of Xieng Kuang province was Xieng Kuang town. It was practically razed to the ground during the Secret War, so in 1975 the capital was moved to Phonsavan. Now old Xieng Kuang is being re-built and re-named Muang Khoun. This photo is of the bombed ruins of Wat Phia Wat in Muang Khoun. The Rules of Engagement that had to be adhered to during the Vietnam War forbade bombing in Vietnam within 500m of a temple or hospital. These rules were ignored in Laos; this temple is one of the results. I don’t know the history of this Buddha Image; whether or not it was in this Wat pre-war, but ironically, the position is the one where Buddha is appealing for help from the Earth Goddess to save him from the evil Mara. There are 2 WSs to supplement this information

coco, Paolo, besnard, efigesta, devimeuxbe, siolaw, Tue, plimrn, Fixfocus, weswang, peck, singuanti, Dakota55, lappino, eza1701, anavazao, Cliffy, Didi, cherubin, sergio1, Flavia, pitai, cam, droonsta, BigBen212, Mistral, axiotea, ChrisJ, Wandering_Dan, magiqa, Arturia has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

david (3992) 2006-03-22 4:03

hi kath

thanks for sharing this great buddha. i've been to laos, but i didn't get a chance to go there. having seen your shot, i'm a little disappointed too. this buddha and the modern ruins would have been great to shoot.

coco (30439) 2006-03-22 4:07

Hi Kath.
A really interesting note and also an impressive shot.
Your POV and composition are good, and with this light and this sky looks a magic and far place (really is far).
I like very much.

Carlos.

Paolo (41254) 2006-03-22 4:17

Hi Kath, great shot.
that small temple remember the one of Sukothay in Thailand.
excellent POV and focus and beautiful background.
excellent note too.
thanks, ciao

eco (112) 2006-03-22 4:23

Hi Kath

very intresting place, I like this view
good quality and crops,
nice coloring
best regards, rafal

avista (0) 2006-03-22 4:29

Hi Kath
Amazing picture nice POV and beautiful note.
Thanks for sharing.
Best regards.

besnard (59036) 2006-03-22 4:32

Bonjour Kath
Très intéréssante photo de ce boudha qui trone au milieu des petites colonnes en ruine.
Merci pour le partage.
Bravo pour la note
Amitiés
Nicole

efigesta (12188) 2006-03-22 4:57

Hi Kath
interesting culture art here, the pov and great colors
regards
manuel

rbcy1974 (20758) 2006-03-22 5:24

Hello Kath
>Very nice point of view, I like the setting of the place, it looks so quite, mystical,
really nicely ccaptured
Regards
Daniel

Gerrit (56589) 2006-03-22 5:48

Hi Feather,
Fine composition of the homeless Buddha and the ruin. Good dark weather that illustrates the gloomy atmosphere of the place.
Thanks and regards, Gerrit

devimeuxbe (58557) 2006-03-22 6:12

Hi Kath
I never seen this place. Interesting architecture in a beautifull landscape.
Thanks for your note also
Bertrand

Tue (71822) 2006-03-22 6:40

Hej Kath,
Thank you for the very informative note about this picture. The ruins look impressive, especially with the mood here that is created by the grey clouds. I find the composition also good. Well done and thanks for sharing!
Hilsner,
Lars

[2] +

hdl (7035) 2006-03-22 7:34

Hi Kath... talk about an instructive note! What you are telling here is completely new to me; I never heard about a war of the usa in Laos. Good thing of you to mention that; I assume presently it would be impossible to keep this a secret (with internet and so). It's indeed ironical that of all buddha's this one is one praying from help to save him from evil. Well done, and thanks for the education

[2] +

carper (96) 2006-03-22 10:53

it looks a nice place to me Kath,
you had by this shot no luck with the light, but even that you captured it in a good composition with a nice perspective, very good job Kath and thank you.
gr. jaap

plimrn (21344) 2006-03-22 11:37

It breaks my heart that we are still doing the same things. I used to think that the German people silently supported Hilter's actions but the five years of this administration have humbled me. I have done everything in my power to change this awful course and I know of no person who supporrts the actions of this administration; not even my Ronald-Reagan-loving, ultraconservative father. But when the axis of evil that is the Bush Adminstration and his terrorist fundamentalist 'Christian' buddies own the voting machines and all the media except the internet, I am powerless. All the plans to limit highspeed access to big providers are an attack on this last bastion of freedom. Sorry about the Rant. Pat

rosaline (0) 2006-03-22 13:53

Hi Kath
What an amazing story. I know of this incident and is absolutely horrific in modern times. What's amazing about this picture is that the Buddha seems undamaged. The scene you present is well framed and constructed. The grey sky in the background, to me, is an added bonous as it contributes to the scene and colour.
Cheers
Aubrey

Fixfocus (9385) 2006-03-22 15:47

Hi Kath,
I like the dark sky above the ruins,the framing is spot on too with the steps leading into the scenery.It comes along with a interesting note.
Greetings,
Hermann

Stepan (27210) 2006-03-22 15:53

These are the kind of atmosphere I enjoy the most in Asia. The light, th loneliness, the peace of the Buddha, the ruins... Everything is OK here.
Very good composition.
Stéphane

weswang (18223) 2006-03-22 16:42

Hi Kath, In contrast to the well decorated temples you have posted a few days ago, this picture makes a clear contrast to have the Buddha sitting in the ruin. I hope someone could build a building there soon to have a protection to the statue. A nice shot to have a good view of the environment and nice contrast to the background. Good sharpness and nice clarity.

peck (2779) 2006-03-22 20:16

Hello Kath,
I think, that I'm behind with your photos ;)I had very hard week...
I like this photo and atmosphere there :)) well done :)
thanks and regards
Gregory

singuanti (15250) 2006-03-22 22:28

Hi Kath. The note was a most interesting read. That was all new to me as well. The rate at which they dropped the bombs is astounding. Oh I just got the 18-200 Nikkor VR and it's super nice. Great shot Kath!

Dakota55 (392) 2006-03-22 22:54

Hi Kath
Very interesting note! It is fascinating how the Buddha sits apparently nearly completely unharmed with the ruins all around it. If it was made after the bombing then i think that sends a nice message of regrowth. The gray sky creates appropriate atmosphere but the colors are still vibrant.
Thank you
Rob

Angshu (56760) 2006-03-23 3:32

Hi Kath
An extremely poignant picture Kath. I came to know of the secret war in Nong Khiaw where similar craters & cave hideouts exist. The buddha image here is a symbol of the torment faced by the hapless Lao people. Very well captured indeed
Rgds
Angshu

lukie (0) 2006-03-23 8:27

Hello Kath,

the threatening sky goes very well with your story, Kath.

regards,

Luc.

eza1701 (3345) 2006-03-23 17:41

What a wonderful photo Kath and a thought provoking note to go with it. I was drawn to the photo by the thumbnail size image, enjoyed looking at it and then had to look at it again after reading the note.

anavazao (5592) 2006-03-23 19:28

wow,
great place with very clever perspective! Nice details, composition and idea!
Thanks Ana:)

Cliffy (590) 2006-03-25 2:51

Well exposed and pretty sharp but I would have cropped tighter and had the statue framed by the pillars as the shot and cropped out the rather extraneous areas around it.

Didi (61569) 2006-03-25 7:23

Hi Kath
Nice foreground who guides the glance until the statue.
Good control of exposure balance even if you have done a light PP.
Cheers.

cherubin (1971) 2006-03-25 14:32

Hi Kath,
very nice photo of this bombed temple... I red the note, and I found it the most important part of your photo... because we MUST remember history... these ruins are stil here to remind to everuone the disasters of the war,
thank you
cherubin

sleon (9402) 2006-03-25 15:57

Hi Kath
The moody sky complements well the scene here, and the diffuse light gives us a good view of the stonework. The compo is well considered with the steps leading us up to the Buddha - good informative note too!
Susanna

john_c (24666) 2006-03-26 11:45

Hi Kath,
A well composed shot that captures this Buddha image with good clarity. I especially like your POV here and how the ancient steps lead the eye upward to the statue. Despite the destruction, the red columns on the left add colour, drama and even a touch of dignity to the Buddha, which seems to survive despite the folly of mankind. Very well done, Kath.
John

sergio1 (12152) 2006-03-27 4:33

Hi Kath

Very interesting note and place. The great buda is wonderfull. I like the lights and compo with the stairs.
Well done.,
PD: The sky is espectacular.
Thanks for share.
Sergio

Flavia (10352) 2006-03-29 19:25

Hi Kate,

Thanks for showing me a reality that I ignored. Your note is really well done and the WS add to to understand the destruction power of the war on this place. Nice composition and contrast. The gray sky add to the dramatic-sad feeling of this destroyed monument.

Regards,

Flavia

PixelTerror (0) 2006-03-30 19:11

Hi Kath, cloudy conditions but you did great work on the exposure, very nice result and a somewhat decayed but very nice temple, currently busy too shooting the budhas, JY

pitai (3985) 2006-04-01 12:31

Hello Kath, the note was really very informative. Really shocking. I really enjoyed this composition. The perspective is very good, I like that you had the sky as your background. It does look so calm, can't imagine what was that on the time of the conflict. Thanks for sharing. Gabriel

cam (9043) 2006-04-03 8:35

hello Kath
I learned something ugly today,and it makes me sad.I just hope that this kind of stupidity will dissappear one of these days,hopefully not whith the disparition of mankind.
Good use of the stairs to bring us to the statue.
A heavy sky,in harmony withthe mood of the note.
Have a good week.
Charles

Mistral (15402) 2006-04-15 7:28

Hi Kath,
I like your composition and dramatic background of clouds and green hills.
Your note and travelogue are really interesting.
A smile
Luca

axiotea (21651) 2006-05-01 3:20

Hi Kath, very sad, scary and informative note..
beautiful compo and good POV...great colors too.. TFS..
All the best.
Marilyn

t0mmm1 (5442) 2006-07-26 6:53

Hi Kath,
seems that I have missed the whole Laos series. Well it's never too late I guess...
Excellent composition -decompo... after all that bombs ;(( and nicely captured the evening (?) colours. Really informative note. Well done.
Tomi

guillaumejm (0) 2006-08-19 3:51

hello,
Very nice composition. I like the contrast of colours (red versus grey and black). Your note is very interresting and I think you did a great job to collect all these informations. Thank you for the picture and for the information you give to us.
Kind regards
JMarc

ChrisJ (152324) 2006-11-03 2:42

This one popped up in the home page random picks. I have been to Phonsavan, but didn't relish the 40 km rough road to get to this Wat, so tfs.

sacavem (18620) 2007-05-15 17:10

Amazing picture and beautiful note,Kath
I envy this wonderful place.Excellent compo and POV, very nice colours, and light.The blue of the sky is strong, very well!

Thank you for sharing,
Filipe

magiqa (1292) 2007-12-07 9:16

Fascinating photo of a fascinating place, for me completely unknown.