Vientiane: Arcs, Museums, Parks and Tuk Tuks from Hell

Day 23
After waking roasting in our oven/cell, to find no water we hit the road in search of a new guesthouse, fortunately Mixay had a room and following the cell we were in luxury with a big room, own bathroom (with hot water) and 3 huge windows overlooking the city!
We hired some bikes and went exploring.. First stop the market for Carly to replace her sunnies from the misadventure tubing- hot $12 Diors that we got tired of haggling for but would do the job. We arrived back at our bikes only to realise Jez had lost the key to the lock, fortunately Carly's key also unlocked Jez's lock- top security!
Next stop Vientiane's Arc de Triophe replica (Patuxai). As Jez was not feeling 100% he decided against climbing the 3 flights of stairs and left Carly to explore the three levels of market type stalls and great views, despite the rain!

Given the rain we headed for the museum where we mozzied around for nearly two hours trying to get a grip on the political history of Laos. We were lucky enough to see a couple actual plain of jars which they had relocated since we has decided we didn't have enough time to see this trip.
Fortunately the rain eased and we set out to Pha That Luang, known as Vientiane and Laos most important national monument and a huge golden stupa and it was impressive. Anything that huge painted in gold is pretty awesome and apparently at some stage it enclosed a piece of the buddha's breast bone.
After a nap and freshen up we went to Vieng Sawan restaurant for the best make-it-yourself spring rolls and a couple beer lao! Afterwards we wandered around and stopped in for a beverage or two at the
BeerLao beatz pub and Hare and the Hound before returning to what seemed like our mansion!

Day 24
We checked out of Mixay and got a Tuk Tuk to the Beau Riverage Mekong Hotel our night in upper class awaiting Jez's mail. The first hour spent welling in its comforts of aircon, Aussie TV (naturally switching between the footy and Adam Scotts 48 foot putt which we later found out happened two weeks earlier). We hired a moto and headed to Buddha Park. Forgetting hour poor Lao are with directions, distance and time, we stopped three times to check we were still on track particularly after our first significant detour before arriving at the park filled with giant buddha's and statues over 52 years old.
And as a bonus a local soccer tournament was being played behind the park between the local villages, which we enjoyed watching both the crowd (run onto the ground and hug the nearest players, the squealing teens and middle aged ladies!?!), first aid and of course some quality soccer.
Back on the moto we stopped at Sengdara Fitness centre for a "relaxing" swim in the pool and spa except for the hundred kids. We did enjoy the hour massage included in the admission.
For Tea we headed for the night market in hope to pick up some tasty bargains however quickly left the ten stalls of cold food and compromised with some great Indian at the Taj Mahal restaurant, not Taj in statue as it was merely a tin shed but fantastic food.

Day 25 From Bad to Worse...
After one of the best sleeps traveling, we were disappointed to say the least that Jez's mail still hadn't arrived. After much thought we decided to get it forwarded on and we booked an over night sleeper bus to Pakse.
With little else to explore around Vientiane we spent the afternoon catching up on emails and blogs on what must have been the slowest computers in town.
We then went to pick up our laundry to find half it wasn't dry and the other half was pink!! Despite being previously washed drama free my maroon towel sent everything previously white--> pink! Only later did we realise they also didn't return our washing bag or belt!
After a quick tea and beer with Tony who had arrived in Vientiane, we got a tuk tuk to the bus station, first he took us to the wrong station, then he detoured to some "friends" who spoke better English to demand more money to be driven to the correct bus station, next he decided to go to the liquor store, and just when we thought we were on the road again he stops to fill up with petrol, meanwhile we've agreed to twice as much money and are 20 minutes past our bus departure time. Fortunately buses in Lao never leave in time and we made it easily however that didn't stop us ranting and raving and refusing to pay if we dare miss our bus. The sleeper bus quite snuggly and we were glad we weren't 6 foot or 16 stone but relatively comfortable. Despite being cooled to a chilling 16 degrees.

---

---