Blogs from Vientiane, West, Laos, Asia
May 21st 2012
Tired of catching bus after bus on the dusty, bumpy, windy roads of Lao, I headed down river to Vientiane on kayak. Despite the dry season we paddled down rapids and jumped off a cliff face. Covered in dust from the tuk tuk ride (my white tshirt now brown from the dust picked up on the road), we decided to spend the extra 2 dollars and checked into a really nice hotel. I was soo greatful for the clean white sheets, aircon and my first hot shower in just over a month. I spent the next day going from airconditioned cafe to cafe siping ice-coffee, reading and planning my next travel move. In the afternoon I walked along the river front and chatted to another travelor eager for a talk.... read more
May 13th 2012
1545, Vientienne was once known as the administrative city, The Kingdom of Lan Xang (millions of elephants). Believe to be 1000AD. The Siamese colonised and ransacked them in 1828 and the french helped Laos to regain their capital after that. Todate, the population in the city is about 210,000. Population of Laos is 6.5 million. Language spoken: Lao, Thai and French(majority) Some said Vientienne is a sleepy city, some said Laos is a communist country. I said it is a peaceful country. Vientienne is a dragon awaken from his dream. No highrise, rambling collections of villages, modern houses and walk-up apartments, people tend to their own daily activities, no traffic congestions. Vientienne is moving on its own pace. Slow and Steady. They do not have to rush for modernisation. I think this is good. It was ... read more
May 13th 2012
One of the first things we notice in Laos is that time flows differently. It doesn't seem to progress linearly any longer but stays frozen for most of the day except for brief infrequent intervals when through the accumulated static energy the time bursts through the wall of inaction and things somehow come about. We learn very fast that L.P.D.R. doesn't only stand for Laos People's Democratic Republic but also for Laos Please Don't Rush. The Laotians are probably the most horizontally inclined nation out there. As a local saying goes too much work is not good for your brain. Everywhere you look at, there's always somebody lying low in a hammock. We in the west have so much to learn from these people. If you miss your bus, take it easy for a day and ... read more
May 11th 2012
Na "the loop" hebben we een bus gepakt naar Vientiane. Hier heb ik een fiets gehuurd en lekker rond gefietst! Omdat mijn keel nog steeds ontstoken was (en de vorige antibiotica kuur niet had geholpen) werd het tijd om naar de clinic te gaan. In Vientiane hebben ze een internationale clinic en inderdaad de keel was nog ontstoken dus met een lading medicijnen weer weg gegaan. Ik had echt een super Gym ondekt in Vientiane. Eindelijk weer is een normale barbell in plaats van een holle buis. Wat ook natuurlijk zijn charme heeft. De kosten van de Gym waren 45.000 kip dan mocht je gebruik maken van het zwembad en de Gym. Als je 65.000 kip (6,50 Euro) betaalde kreeg je een uur massage erbij! Dus eerst lekker trainen om vervolgens een duik in het zwembad ... read more
Two days in Paris and an in-Seine Valentine's on the Mekong
Published: May 9th 2012Asia » Laos » West » Vientiane
May 7th 2012
We travelled on with Sam and Matt to Vientiane, the capital. We had heard there wasn’t much going on there, and after spendingtwo days there we would have to agree. We spent our time, for a change, you guessed it, checking out temples and sites. The main street is reputedly modelled on France’s Champs Elysees with the Patouxi monument, at its end, inspired by the Arc de Triomphe, however, the similarities to Paris stop there. Before catching our night bus to 4000 Islands in the very south of Laos, we took a day trip to Buddha Park, about 27km from Vientiane. This is a collection of massive concrete sculptures of Hindu and Buddhist deities created by a self-proclaimed holy man as a means to spread his views on life and the cosmos. The sculptures were interesting, ... read more
Vientiane - Journey to Buddha Park (Xieng Khuan)
Published: May 13th 2012Asia » Laos » West » Vientiane
April 19th 2012
Thursday, 19th April 2012 (Day 05) I knew that I wouldn't be able to climb on board Bus #14 for my journey to Buddha Park (Xieng Khuan), about 25km from Vientiane. The 12,000 kip (USD 1.50 return) local bus was jam-packed with people when I passed by the Talat Sao Bus Station on Wednesday. Even the reception at my hotel advised me against using public transport since none of the guys at the bus station spoke English. I probably wouldn't know where to alight - it seemed. After having a fair idea of the on-going tuk-tuk rate, I walked down a couple of streets to find the right fit for my budget. In fact, the rate was a standard 200,000 kip flat (USD 25) no matter how far I walked. There seemed to be an unwritten ... read more
COPE Laos @ Vientiane - Coping with Summer Heat (Part I)
Published: May 11th 2012Asia » Laos » West » Vientiane
April 18th 2012
Wednesday, 18th April 2012 Day 04 of my trip in Indochina. The sweltering heat in the Laos capital was something quite unlike I had experienced back in Singapore. The weather was scorching hot right from the start of the morning. To a certain extent, the leafy boulevards in the city helped to provide a much needed relief from the sun. However, the heat in summer was simply too much for an average human being to bear. For the most part of the day, I had my brolly put into good use. This was partly inspired by the tangerine-cladded monks along the streets doing the same. After a healthy breakfast consisting of croissant, yogurt, banana shake with honey and plenty of fruits to kick-start my day, I began my morning walk from Hotel Khamvongsa, passing through numerous ... read more
April 18th 2012
Wednesday, 18th April 2012 Yes, the heat in the capital was unbearable at times during the day. But there were several cooling spots in the city worth checking out to combat from the sheer aggression of the sun. A perfect spot was hidden beneath the Patuxai (Victory Gate), Vientiane's best answer to the Arc De Triomphe of Paris. Located at the far end of Lang Xang Avenue, construction of the Patuxai spanned 10 years between 1957 - 1968 to commemorate Lao's victory against the French colonialism. With a small fee, visitors were allowed to climb up to the top of Patuxai which guaranteed a great view of the city across Lang Xang Avenue. This was one of the highlights of my trip in Laos and worth the extra efforts of getting to the top. On my ... read more
Vientiane ~ Where Old World Charm is the Order of the Day
Published: May 6th 2012Asia » Laos » West » Vientiane
April 17th 2012
Tuesday, 17th April 2012 Day 03 of my vacation in Indochina. It was breakfast as usual for me in the earlier part of the day. And of course, being rewarded with the same breathtaking view of the city from one of the vantage points in Pham Ngu Lao district. In the afternoon, it was time for me to say goodbye to Vietnam as I caught my 4.10pm flight VN920 out of Saigon to Lao PDR. Enroute, the plane stopped for a 50-minute transit at the Cambodian capital before making its way to Vientiane. Dinner was served on board and it gave my body a much needed boost from the long day of travelling. I proceeded to finish the whole lot in front of me even though it was a simple serving of cold cuts and salads. ... read more
