Vientiane - one of my new favourite cities
Vientiane doesn't seem like it is a capital city of a country, it is quiet, no traffic, and people smiling everywhere you turn. We easily spent 5 nights here, recovering from what was the worst 15 hour bus journey from Pakse with bags of rice at our feet, chickens squawking away in canvas bags, and the loudest Lao karaoke music throughout the ride. Oh the joys of bus travel, sometimes it would be worth it to just spend the extra money to get a flight.
But yes, Vientiane - a surprising mix of Buddhist temples and French Colonial style buildings all gracing themselves along the Mekong River. Noodles soup stalls next to French bakeries, delicious Lao coffee (which may possibly be the best coffee in the world - it tastes like chocolate!), and fresh fruit shake stalls abound. We easily got into a routine of having divine mango shakes around the corner from our hotel (which was a blender and a basket of fruit set up outside some one's house with a sign) and then stopping by a French Bakery for croissants....mmm.
I've become a bit of a fruit-junkie...the shakes are too good to be true and for 50 cents, you can't stop yourself. Who knew fruit could taste so good, its like candy here!
We realized it was Valentine's day when we received a free glass of champagne at a restaurant with our dinner, its great that it is not a commercialized holiday here. One Lao man we met that was out with his girlfriend that night said "Valentines day is every day of the year when you're with someone you love". Very true indeed.
We checked out the Morning Market (which lasts all day), and it had to be the most relaxing market experience in Asia I have ever had. No "lady lady! Look Look! Buy from me! Me lucky!", if you didn't want to buy, no problem! I am in love with Lao people, i feel like they don't even know what the word stress means. They are just genuinely happy - all the time.
I could have spent a while in this city, but it's time to move on! Off to Vang Vieng to go tubing down the river with the rest of the backpackers!
But yes, Vientiane - a surprising mix of Buddhist temples and French Colonial style buildings all gracing themselves along the Mekong River. Noodles soup stalls next to French bakeries, delicious Lao coffee (which may possibly be the best coffee in the world - it tastes like chocolate!), and fresh fruit shake stalls abound. We easily got into a routine of having divine mango shakes around the corner from our hotel (which was a blender and a basket of fruit set up outside some one's house with a sign) and then stopping by a French Bakery for croissants....mmm.
I've become a bit of a fruit-junkie...the shakes are too good to be true and for 50 cents, you can't stop yourself. Who knew fruit could taste so good, its like candy here!
We realized it was Valentine's day when we received a free glass of champagne at a restaurant with our dinner, its great that it is not a commercialized holiday here. One Lao man we met that was out with his girlfriend that night said "Valentines day is every day of the year when you're with someone you love". Very true indeed.
We checked out the Morning Market (which lasts all day), and it had to be the most relaxing market experience in Asia I have ever had. No "lady lady! Look Look! Buy from me! Me lucky!", if you didn't want to buy, no problem! I am in love with Lao people, i feel like they don't even know what the word stress means. They are just genuinely happy - all the time.
I could have spent a while in this city, but it's time to move on! Off to Vang Vieng to go tubing down the river with the rest of the backpackers!
posted by Mary at 6:05 a.m.
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