Vientienne

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The Laos Experience continues....

Well after the great success of tubing in VanVieng (despite the injuries),
myself and Ruth went off tubing again the next day! No beer this time though,
just floating along. Weather was 'scorchio'.....plenty of factor 15 did
the trick though!

The next day (Thursday) we rented bikes and took a cycle to the local market
to make some minor purchases. Went to these bars down by the river that
night, was so cool as you can watch the sun set etc while grooving to some
tunes.
We drank quite a substantial amount of Lao Lao Whiskey that night which
is potent enough stuff.

This morning we left at 9:30am to go south to Vientienne, which is the capital
of Laos. Ruth was a little hungover on the bus, so luckily it only took
2.5 hours.
We had yet another crazy minivan driver for the journey. 30 kph speed limits
through villages were ignored. He seemed to think 80 kph was justified as
long as he kept beeping the horn like mad so that the people/animals could
jump out of the way......all the while he was laughing away to himself !!

Flying out to Hanoi, Vietnam on Sunday. I'm really going to miss Laos, the
scenery is amazing and the people are so relaxed and friendly. Looking back
I think we both agree we would like to have spent longer here, maybe gone
further south to places like Savanaket, Paksai, and the 4 Thousand Islands......maybe
we'll re-enter Laos from the south while we are in Cambodia in January.....we'll
see !!

We are staying in a GuestHouse called Orchad, $15 per night which is pricey
but we have Air Con, TV, and it includes breakfast. Vientienne looks pretty
BORING, not much to do besides the market so it's just as well we fly out
on Sunday.

Cash is still lasting which is just as well as there are no ATMs in this
country!

The currency is the legendary Kip. However all prices will be quoted to
you in US Dollars by the friendly/annoying (depending on your point of view)
locals eager to please/fleece you (viewpoint again) !!

Looks like we will be in Nah Trang in Vietnam for Xmas, and maybe Hoi Chi
Min City (Saigon) for New Years......maybe!


Slán libh,

Phil

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Photos

Beer Lao
I salute you, laced with ampthetimeens allegedly

Vientienne
A very boring city