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Published: February 5th 2009
We arrived to Vientiane (Viang Chan in Lao), the capitol city of Laos late in the afternoon and we were immediately relieved to finally see industry and businesses. Throughout the majority of Laos, we could understand how this country is considered a 3rd World nation, however seeing Vientiane as a thriving city with major automobile and financial industries having offices here was exciting to see for future of Laos. Also, the city is thriving with tourism, which unfortunately meant that guesthouses were very expensive (on our budget anyways) and often full. We had to settle for a very dodgy room for the first night where we were pretty sure we were sleeping on a sagging boxspring. But, it was cheap at only $7/night, as opposed to others that were starting at $20 US. However, after waking up sore and grumpy from a lack of sleep we went searching for a new one.
We explored part of the city the next day, relaxing and enjoying more French inspired cuisine and went down to the river front for the sunset. We found a bar on the roof which gave a great view up and down the river and watched the sun disappear
while enjoying a 3L tower of Beer Lao!
The next day we rented bikes to explore the rest of they city which, like Luang Prabang, has been very much influenced by the French architecturally. Big colonial style buildings line the main roads, and they even have their own version of the Arc de Triumphe from Paris. The 'vertical runway' as they call it actually started out as concrete donated by the US to build an airport runway, but instead they built a French replica monument. Take that! We climbed the stairs up to the top and it gave great views overlooking the entire city. We biked around admiring the many temples throughout the city, and enjoying the mode of transportation. We met some friends from Thailand, Greg and Katie, on the street and they let us know about a public pool which we went to for the afternoon. We met up with them and friends of theirs, Dave and Amy, for dinner at our favourite restaurant in the city, the Taj Mahal (we went there a total of 5 times it was sooo good)! After fabulous chicken masala we found the local bowling alley and the 6 of us
enjoyed a couple of games.
We met up with Greg and Katie the next morning again and we made our way out of the city to a Buddah park that we had read and heard about. In this park where hundreds of giant concrete Buddhas, Vishnus', and other dieties all carved into giant statues. It was really cool to wander around and check out the detail of the art. It was getting very hot out and from our views of the city the day before from the top of the Arc de Triumphe building we had seen waterslides. We hopped in a tuk tuk and he brought us to the cities waterpark! We spent the afternoon hitting the slides and lounging by the pool. What a great way to spend an afternoon! We met up with Greg and Katie again for a happy hour beer tower special, then dinner and drinks at a bar that was having a beach party.
Back at our guest house Matt was too excited to sleep as we were about to embark on our next adventure!
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Maureen Pluthero
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You two sound like you are having the time of your lives. I love reading about your adventures but am jealous I cannot do the same. Keep safe and enjoy yourselves. Maureen