Vientiane, Laos

Vientiane Central Map

  

We had breakfast of porridge, Lucyriver love their porridge especially with 'you tiao', at one of the shop along the same street of our guesthouse. This time, it was chicken porridge with egg. And of course, 'you tiao'. Slurppp! Lucyriver still crave for it when returning home.

After that. we waited at the lobby of the guesthouse for our minivan to Vientiane. Yes, we decided to proceed with our original plan, which later we regretted. While waiting, we saw the ancient liquid paper. Wink wink, Sylviaorange. We had a laugh out of it.

When the owner of the guesthouse told us the van was ready at the back of the guesthouse, we made a dash for it. Several people mostly tourists like us were already waiting there. All our backpack were hauled up to the top of the van. Then, we scrambled for seats. Having seen once, we do not want to end up with VIP seats. True enough, the van was packed to the fullest, with four people in a row. The pull-out seats to the aisle are the most uncomfortable as there are no headrest and one would not be able to fully lay back to rest but to sit upright the whole journey.

Along the journey, we stopped a couple of time for a tourist boy to vomit. No complaint though, it was enjoying seeing people suffering. We were given one toilet stop, which we had to dig into our purse again everytime we need to answer the nature's call. Lucyriver wonder, is there something that we can take to stop peeing for a period of time?

The van dropped us at the town centre after letting off some at the airport. We were checking the map when another tourist who was in the same van suggested that it would not be far to walk after taking just a glace at our map. This is an art that Lucyriver must master somewhere in the future, reading a map.

We ended up in Youth Inn after a few asking. Initially, Sylviaorange planned to stay in Saysouly but they have no attached bathroom for triple room. Sorry, girls, Lucyriver really want attached bathroom, for some reason. Some do not have triple room and most of them do not allow adding another bed in double room. Thus, Youth Inn was where we stayed put till we left.

 We had not had anything since the morning so we headed to Joma Bakery for afternoon tea. Then, we walked over to the tourist information centre for free internet. No free maps, though. But free internet, WOW! Checked the mail. After five days of no connection. Reports. Soon-to-be submitted assignments. Term papers. Arrrgggghhhh! This is going to be a mind-bugging trip.

For dinner, we pampered ourselves by indulging in the sushi war. Sylviaorange said since our accommodation is less than what have been budgeted, we can afford to eat good, which we agreed to. FOOD is more important.

After dinner, we ventured to the night market which is at the park along the Mekong River. 

The next morning, we walked to the Patuxay, on the route passing That Dam, the not so impressive stupa in the middle of a small roundabout and embassies. We even made a stop at the Malaysia embassy to use the toilet smell the home feel soap and Monkey discovered the distinguish 'duckie' in the toilet.

We then sat at the bench at the Patuxay enjoying our spicy mango which we bought earlier on from a peddler near That Dam.

That Luang doesn't seem far in the map. Yeah, right. The visible spiral from where we were seemed to beckon us to it but it was like playing the police and thief. We ran to it, it also ran. After draining out every bit of our energy, we finally make it to the gate. The weather was quite hot compared to the northern parts. No more cool wind blowing. There were stalls selling souvenirs at the left side of the stupa. We even saw one selling ice-cream, with cones, on his motorcycle. Lucyriver screamed, Monkey screamed, Sylviaorange screamed, we all screamed for ice-cream. Sylviaorange said later, after we finish touring the site.

There are different entrance fees for locals and foreigners. Sylviaorange jokingly suggested that Monkey stepped forward and say 'Sabaidee' to buy the local entrance fee which Monkey reiterated strongly. The ticket seller called out to Lucyriver and handed out the foreigner price. So much of dreaming passing off as the locals.

One would need to cover oneself in order to come in. There are 'sarongs' for take if one is wearing above the knees. We went anti-clockwise around the golden stupa. We met a group of local tour group where most of them were more interested in Sylviaorange taking their pictures than listening to their tour guide.

The attraction of That Luang is most probably the colour.

Passing presumably locals holding the praying stick of orange flowers. A kind of marigold. While taking photographs, a woman approached Sylviaorange and spoke to her in a non-stop unintelligible language while pointing and signalling. Only after seeing Syviaorange's confusion then she said, 'Oh, you are not Thai.'  and left. Poor Sylviaorange, last time when we were in Hanoi standing outside a cloth shop, she was mistaken as a Vietnamese and spoke to non-stop in Vietnamese.

Coming out of That Luang, we went looking for the ice-cream man. To our disappointment, he was not there anymore. Really, ice-cream waits for no one. Ice-cream knocks only once.

We left but our eyes were still scouting for the ice-cream man. Well, we did see him later but still we did not get the ice-cream.

By this time, we were actually quite tired so when a tuk tuk driver called out to us, we stopped and discussed if we want to take tuk tuk. After price negotiation, we hopped onto the tuk tuk. The driver took another route which is the next street to the road we came just now. It was then we saw the ice-cream man at the roadside. Yeah.

We stopped at the Morning Market and walked to the Talat Sao bus station to take bus number 14 to Buddha Park. It was the most adventurous bus journey of about an hour. It's more like a roller coaster ride minus the spin around. We felt like the bus would tear apart anytime. It was loaded to maximum people and stuff likewise. We could be the only foreigners in it.

The park requires entrance fee and camera fee as well. The park was full of religious sculptures. It was like walking among weird but interesting figures. The three of us broke apart and went our way. The whole time there was spent in taking photographs. In the end, we climbed up to one of the sculpture which is round and according to one website, it resembles a giant pumpkin. We entered through the opening mouth and climbed the concrete stairs up to the top. Inside there stored other sculptures.

Lucyriver interpretation: Here come the candidates of Miss Universe with offerings.

Lucyriver interpretation: The Jungle Book

Lucyriver interpretation: It's a bird, it's a plane, it's a ???

Lucyriver interpretation: The Carousel

Lucyriver interpretation:
He: I can see your future. The crystal ball is telling me that you'll be back next year.
Lucyriver: Oh, really.

Lucyriver interpretation:
He: Oh, how long do we have to hold this position? My muscles are aching.
She: Shut up and smile, the beautiful lady is taking our picture.

Lucyriver interpretation:
He: Nice weather. Let's sail for Kuching.
He: Aye, aye, Captain Sparrow. 

It reminds Lucyriver of the Transformer. It wouldn't be so surprising if it suddenly crouches down and turns into a Proton.

One of the visiting monks posing for Lucyriver.

Another one.
Lucyriver: Thank you.
The monk: You're welcome.

View from the top of the pumpkin.

From the window of the pumpkin. Definitely a room with a view.

Sticky rice on the stick. Yummy.

The next morning when we were due to leave Vientiane we went to the Scandinavian Bakery for breakfast. Sigh, still miss that porridge in Luang Prabang and Vang Vieng. When Lucyriver said that we regretted leaving Vang Vieng early is we missed all the fun things we did there especially the bicycle ride. Perhaps we were coming to the end of the trip but we do indeed find Vientiane is dull different. How Lucyriver miss the cool weather.

We even bumped into the Chinese guy we met at the Vang Vieng chalet who also had the same opinion of Vientiane thus propelling him to leave Vientiane early as well.

We still went cycling in the morning under the killing hot sun at the park along the river. There were no paddy fields or hills but the river. After returning the bicycles, we went for noddle soup lunch. That's when Sylviaorange discovered the secret of the tastiness of the noodle soup. Not the aim to ruin one's appetite though, just amusing. And our last fruit shake before saying temporary goodbye to Laos. We will be back.