Set in the lush riverside meadows of the Mekong just outside of Vientiane is the fascinating and eccentric Buddha Park. Founded in the 1950s by a priest-shaman who merged the teachings of Hinduism and Buddhism, the park features statues and sculptures of gods, demons, humans and animals, some beautifully ornate, some downright bizarre, depict the main myths of the two religions. There are around 200 in total, all set picturesquely amongst the greenery.