Vientaine

Down to earth with a bump. After a night on the bouncy train 2 nights in our hotel. Laos service is renowned for being non- service and that's what we got. The people are very pleasant but service culture is not embedded. Our room was small and basic and the bed was as hard as they come but you could feel every spring.

 

Vientaine has changed a lot since we were here last. It's the smallest capital city in Asia and certainly the centre is very small. There are plenty of temples ( Wats) to see - which we didn't . Overexposure to Wats is a dangerous tourist disease which we are trying to avoid - when we visit Myanmar we will get our fill so until then...

The city is receiving significant investment , mainly from China - there are Chinese flags everywhere, and the river front areas are a bit gentrified , you can have a lovely stroll across the front, browse the night market and sip cold BeerLao - which we did. Food choices are much wider than before with any number of coffee shops, bakeries and western restaurants . Prices are higher than local cafes but its still pretty cheap to eat out.

A monk and a bike on the riverfront - my attempt at art.

Tuesdays trip was to the Budha Park which is situated 20km south of the city. It costs £20 each for an organised trip but around £3 to go by local bus. So local bus it was. Off to the bus station to catch no. 14 bus - a teeming mass of humanity living life- onto our bus. All of the big buses were donated by Japan. It's a bit of a theme in a poor country like this buses from Japan, the riverside park funded by South Korea , huge developments by China etc... Anyway bus 14 took us to the friendship bridge - funded by Thailand a bridge over the Mekong- and the bus driver kicked us out and told us to get on another smaller bus which was to take us the 4km to the park. The bus was basic and a bit knack erred and had no suspension. We found out why soon enough as the road was shite and full oh potholes- we bounced our way to the park , quite a funny experience.

Monks getting of our bus

I thought the Buddha park was a bit tatty but Ang loved it. Basically some guy was inspired to create a park full of statues inspired by Budhism. So the statues are a little over the top and there are loads of them. But it's different and is a tourist attraction- I don't think the authorities have got it though as the surroundings are basic, the road is full of potholes and they should put the prices up to western tourists.

Me looking at the statues

Wednesday morning we left Vientaine for the 100mile bus journey to Vang Vieng. Cost £3 each. They should put the fares up and give you a bit more comfort. There were 15 seats on our bus and 15 sets of luggage so it was cramped, but a good experience. Driving through the country is always entertaining. Oh and we stopped for fuel, ok, and to replace the back wheel, as you do. First of all they tried to jack it up with us in , then wisely decided to get us out.

 

Posted with Blogsy