While I was planning this trip to Asia, I decided I wanted to find some hidden gems, places that are really special, but not very well known. Nong Khai is one of those places. It's right on the Mekong River across from Vientiane, Laos. The people here are great, very friendly. And there's lots of interesting things to do and see.

Like riding a bike out to Sala Keoku today, one of the most surreal things I've ever seen. It's a big garden of fantastic concrete sculptures inspired by Buddhist and Hindu deities. Some of the sculptures are HUGE, like 25 meters high. Some are funny, some almost frightening, and some just very bizarre.

The story goes that Leua, a Laotian artist and mystic, went hiking in the mountains of Laos when he fell in a hole, landing directly in the lap of Keoku, a cave hermit. Leua lived with the hermit for several years where he learned about the Buddha, and many of the deities found in Buddhist and Hindu mythology. Leua was so moved that he dedicated the rest of his life constructing a park that embodied the source of his inspiration. Leua died in 1996, but over 100 volunteers live at the park and maintain it. Crazy!

See yas in mid March!