Today we had a long seven hour bus to take to the Laos capital Vientiane. Along the way we stopped off at a local Laos’ restaurant and enjoyed the view as we passed Wat Sisaket and Patouxai. Patouxai is Laos’ version of the Arc De Triomphe and is popularly known as “anusawali” (Lao for monument). It was built in the late 1950’s when the US government gave the Lao Government money to build an airport but instead they built Patouxai to commemorate casualties of war on the side of the Royal Lao Government.
First impressions of the city were good, the roads looked very clean and tidy and the main centre point of the city, the Nam Phou Fountain looked spectacular when in motion. After checking in we all headed down to the riverside and enjoyed a beer while waiting for the sunset. Unfortunately once again the clouds ruined our sunset but it didn’t dampen our spirits. While we were there Gary was in an internet café trying to sort out his visa for Australia.
First impressions of the city were good, the roads looked very clean and tidy and the main centre point of the city, the Nam Phou Fountain looked spectacular when in motion. After checking in we all headed down to the riverside and enjoyed a beer while waiting for the sunset. Unfortunately once again the clouds ruined our sunset but it didn’t dampen our spirits. While we were there Gary was in an internet café trying to sort out his visa for Australia.
That night we made our way to an awesome restaurant which was 3 floors high and served giraffes. Giraffes are basically 6 pints of Beer Lao (best beer around) in a keg you can pour yourself. I quickly ordered one and was delighted to find out it worked out at only 5USD for the giraffe!
After dinner we all headed to a local wine bar, the best in the town. Then the three of us, Dips and Phil crashed a local Lao music event in a hall just around the corner. The music was shocking so we didn’t last long in there, barely getting a beer in. We chilled out at the fountain instead drinking our beers. A great bit of banter was had! We were supposed to watch United against CSKA but none of us copped the time difference for Russian Champions League games and missed the whole game! Disaster!
The next morning we had little time before our bus to the tubing town of Vang Viang so we did nothing other than freestyle while waiting for the fountain to start (it never did), go on the net and have a great lunch at the “world famous” Jomo’s restaurant.Once we arrived in Vang Viang we went for dinner in The Rising Sun bar owned by an Irish lad from Kerry called Gary. We got a few giraffes in before playing a pool competition which was one suspiciously enough by the owner. He was sound though and gave us a free bucket between us. Sound man!
We met up with the other tour group in Q Bar and then headed down to the river to Sunset Bar for more drinks. We had good night even though a few idiots tried to spoil it!
On the way home Conor, Priya and Rachel somehow got lost and even entered a Lao hospital asking for directions. It took them over an hour to find the hotel in a tiny town!
Take it easy,
Mike
No comments:
Post a Comment