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Published: August 7th 2007
Pha That Luang
A photo of a monk taking a photo of a buddha...Wednesday 9th May
Hi all! Well, time to try and catch up on our blogs! We have had a heap of tips come through to us from some of you re things to do in Laos - well, we have actually been here over a week already so thanks anyway!! We have spent 1 night in Vientiane, 4 nights in Vang Vieng and so far 3 nights in Luang Prabang. We will be here another 3 nights until we take a luxury!! boat up the Mekong for two days to the border of Northern Thailand (yes luxury for all those that have done this trip before in the painful hard seat backpacker slow boats. And, we are only paying $270usd between us to do it! ) We are loving it here - hopefully a few blogs will get sent through today and tomorrow to get us right up to date!
Cheers!!
Tuesday 1st May
We arrived at Vientiane airport in Laos in the morning to what was one of the easiest international arrivals we have ever had. Our guesthouse in Hanoi had tried to push us into arranging our Laos visas for us at
Streets of Vientiane
Is this the sleepiest looking capital city, or what? $42usd each for 30 days. We had read that we could actually get them on arrival at the airport for around $30usd, but weren't sure if they were only for 15 days (as per lonely planet). Decided to wait for the airport and just try our luck - good decision - $30usd each for 30 day visa - saving us a total of $36usd - nice!
Our plane had been small and not even full, so we arrived at the airport to having almost no other passengers around. Straight up to the visa desk and 5 minutes later we had them. 5 more minutes through customs (no queues!) and we were out of the airport. If only all arrivals were like this!
We caught an airport taxi ito travel the mere 4km into town for $6 usd - set fee - it was either this or walk with our bags for 500 metres to hail a 'jumbo' (like a songthaew). Couldn't be bothered with the walk so paid out the $6. We're not lazy, are we?
We checked out a place with a pool (Lane Xang Hotel) but it was pretty average for $40 and not really
the kind of place we like to stay. So...off to do the usual walk around and find a better place. We ended up at a little guesthouse called 'Chantra'. $12usd a night - pretty basic, old rooms, but friendly place, huge comfortable bed, own bathroom air co, tv and large fantastic balcony overlooking Wat Mixay. We could sit on the balcony and watch the monks chanting etc. The guesthouse is actually a converted french era shophouse and pretty cool! Just lovely!
Vientiane is not at all how we imagined it to be. (As per a lot of the places we have been to). We pictured a mini Bangkok or Hanoi being the capital, but no - very quiet, half the roads are dirt roads and the whole place has a very country, rural feel about it. Not at all like any other capital city we have been to.
After we arrived and settled in, we went out to lunch at a local eatery/beer garden for our first taste of Laos food (and Beer Lao of course!). We had pork laap (a spicy, minced pork salad served with heaps of chili and fresh herbs), sticky rice and papaya salad.
Breakfast Laos style
Delicious 'fer' (like 'pho' in Vietnam) Our staple breakfast these days - even Mia likes it Very delicious 'fer' (like 'pho' in Vietnam) Our staple breakfast these days - even Mia likes itexcept the papaya salad was a little too fishy for me (they use a laos stle of fish sauce - I think I prefer the thai/vietnamese varieties!)
Back to the room for a nap before walking around town and heading down to the Mekong river (200 metres away) for dinner at one of the local restaurants set up on the riverbank.
Beautiful setting, very local and fun. The music they play here is a real crack up. Real oldies that are great to hear WHEN YOU ARE ON HOLIDAYS (ie, you would never [probably choose to listen to them on your ipod on the way to work!) SOngs such as 'Season in the Sun', ABBA etc. A couple of beer laos and it sounds really good! We tried another famous Laos beer called Dark Beer Laos - I think nicer than the normal one - tastes a nit like a mixture of beer, rum and coke...well, I think so anyway!!
For dinner we had veg and egg pad thai (Gav), stir fried morning glory with chilli and garlic, 'Ping Kai' (bbq marinated
chicken) and bbq pork ribs and rice. Once again, great food.
Back to our room for the night to sit out watching the monks! Even though welike Vientiane from what we have seen, we are moving on tomorrow to Vang Vieng - a 3 1/2 hour bus ride away, as there is little to do here (we are not into Wats!)
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Brad
non-member comment
One of the best secrets in asia
Hey guys, glad to hear your in Laos. I think it's one of the best places in Asia and your quite right about the pace, it's pretty relaxed. If you get the chance in Vang Vieng go down the river on inner tubes, its huge fun. Your doing a good job at making us all envious and getting out the passports. Hope you have a great time in Laos and don't forget your seat cushions for the slow boat ride up the Mekong. I chickened out and got a cheapy flight to Chang Mai. Ha Ha. Your photos are great. Tell Gav his bum looks big in those shorts, only joking I still love him. Have fun Brad G