Friday, January 09, 2009
So I am in Vientiane, the capital city of Laos. I decided to spend a few days in Laos since I had to cross the border for a visa run.
Vientiane is a rather quiet capital city, and the people here are much more laidback as compared to their thai neighbors. Here, tuk tuk drivers sleep in their tuk tuks, and if you need a ride you will then wake them up. And for those waiting by the sidewalks, if you say no they'll leave you alone, unlike the bangkok tuk tuk drivers who are relentless SOAB.
Vientiane is a rather modern city, certainly not third world looking. But of course this being the capital city.
But it still maintain its traditions such as the national costume, which everyone wears- to work, to school.
I met a fellow traveller on the same tuk tuk from the immigration to the city centre, an Aussie named Paul. He decided to join me in a search for a guesthouse. We found one by the name of Joe's Guest House, but unfortunately I took the last room.
Joe's Guesthouse was a cheap backpacker's place. Only 50,000kips (US$6) per night, a small prison-like room with a hard bed and shared toilets 3 steps away. But the location was great. Smacked right on the touristy strip of bars and restaurants next to the Mekong River, plus the receptionist was really nice. She even told me how much Lao people would pay to buy the trad. lao wraparound skirt so I wouldn't get cheated. And we watched Happy Feet together. Nice lady.
Vientiane is definitely not a place to go for really memorable tourist attractions. Many just felt rather boring. But what attractions don't offer, the food does.
At US$1, you can get a filling chicken or tuna french baguette, and for less than 50cents you can get a really fantastic banana shake.
The Patuxai
Stairways to heaven
View of Vientiane from the top of Patuxai- 7 floors high, may I add. Bloody climb to the top. Looks too modern to be Laos, I feel.
Laotian students outside a school.
I saw Laotian students watering their school grass, and now they even act as traffic marshalls! Things Singaporean students never hafta do, thank God! Imagine watering grass in primary school!
I got really bored when it was about dusk, and was thinking how great it would be to meet Paul so that I get some company. So I kept wandering around the streets hoping to see him. And when I didn't, after a while, I decided to head back to my guesthouse. By a weird decision to find a moneychanger, I decided to go out again, and that was when I met Paul! Haha.
So we decided that we'll head to the Night Market as recommended by his hotel receptionist, for local cuisine and more importantly, local price.
Kinda like a pasar malam, not unlike Singapore's. Difference? Singapore's market are much cleaner. Here, you can see flies on food, around food etc. But Paul managed to convince me to try some of the vietnamese Pho, which tasted great plus it was cheap (S$0.20).
After tasting all the food, we headed to a beach restaurant next to the Mekong River and had a chat while he had his Beer Lao.
Unfortunately, Paul was leaving the next morning to Luang Prabang so we decided to hit the sack and say our goodbyes. I would say so far my fondest experience while backpacking is the opportunity to meet people from all over. I've met Canadians, Danish and now an Aussie. Opens up your mind I'll say.