Arrived into Vientiane at 6am, found a hostel. Slightly amusing we went into one hostel (close to the one we wanted to check out) and asked where the one we wanted was.. he said it was just up the road and would telephone to see if there was space.
Funnily enough, there was no space.. we decided to go check out the hostel we wanted anyway.. The guy at the reception also told us there was no space (funnily enough) but that there might be in an hours time.. slightly deciding to call their bluff we sat down to wait .. and then, magically, there *Was* a room available. Dunno why the receptionist of a hotel would want to pretend there was no space.
No, actually I can make a small guess as to why he’d tell us there was no space… laziness!! I think most of Laos was out getting pissed the night before at the festival!! That and the fact that they have ‘happy meals’ here… you can get ‘happy pizzia’ (I almost did in Phnom Penh)… It’s happy because it has a large amount of marijuana on it! So not *quite* the same as a McDonalds happy meal… And I think perhaps it is the fact that 3/4 of the population are permanently stoned gives Laos a wonderfully laid back feel. Everyone is super cheerful and don’t hassle you at all. Loving it so far.
Anyway – had a look around town – walked up the Arch of Triumph (Patouaxi), a massive concrete arch (made from concrete the US donated to make an airport!), still decent views over the city.
Then walked on to That Louang, the most important religious symbol in Laos. Originally built in the mid sixteenth century, but was plundered for gold, rebuilt and rebuilt again.
The highlight however has to be the Massage and Herbal Sauna at Wat Sok Pa Louang. This is a must do if you come to Vientiane. For $4 you get a really great herbal steam Sauna, and then the best (damn!) massage I’ve ever had. The guy knew exactly where needed work (I think he cracked every bone in my body, twice) and it was just amazingly amazing. Really really worth checking out. (in fact I’m tempted to get a bus to Chiang Mai from Vientiane just so as I can have another massage)
Met up with Chris and Emily who we’d met in Saigon, and had a few cocktails and some food (and fun with helium balloons) down by the river, all in all an excellent day.
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