Destination, Vientiane Laos
It was a long bus ride from Hanoi, Vietnam to Vientiane, Laos. We shared it with packaged lobsters, 8 other travelers, some rice and other produce. What do you expect for peanuts? I don’t know if I could handle the ride today, but a few years ago, armed with leftover sleeping pills prescribed from my doctor for an overactive thyroid, we managed to make it through many epic bus journeys.
When we arrived to the nations capital city, it was Sunday and everything was closed. That didn’t matter to us, we were starving after over 24 hours on the bus.
A great place to look for cheap food is at an outdoor stall along the Mekong River. Thailand is right across the water and in the dry season, you can almost walk there.
Vientiane is easy to get around. Guest houses and shops rent bicycles for a dollar a day and it is a great way to see the Pagoda’s and Wat’s. The most prominent being That Luang. It is the national symbol and it is even pictured on their currency. The Lao people hold it in high esteem even though it has undergone several reconstructions due to war and ruins over the centuries.
Another Notable place is Patuxai. It looks like the Arc De Triomphe. It was built after French rule, but goes to show how Laos has embraced its history. I am not sure what the people think of it however as the money was supposed to be used for an airport runway. Hmm, receive money from America to improve infrastructure, but instead build a giant monument?
They had their hearts in the right places though, it was built to commemorate the fight for independence from France. Interesting choice to model it after one of France’s most famous structures.
In all of Lao there is a fusion of contrasting culture. Enjoy a baguette and egg for breakfast and then have Laap Chicken for lunch. I enjoyed the blend of French Culture with Asian tradition.
To walk into a temple filled with Golden Buddhas one minute and then to be out in the sunshine riding a bicycle on a busy street heading towards a replica (with Buddhist elements) of the Arc de Triomph is pretty cool.
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