We flew into Lao last night to find a very different culture, and overall way of life. We had a great couple of days biking around the city visiting the national museum, wats, monuments and trying out the noodle soup and fruit shakes. We even splashed out on a traditional dinner and show and I had my first ever foot massage.
Vientiane is a very quiet and clean laid back city in contrast to Cambodia, with nice developed buildings, mainly cars instead of motos, and you are left to yourself on the streets. You can definitely see the French influence of this city with the french backeries and some of the buildings.
We bused to Vang Vieng, arriving to an amazing sunset over the mountains.
I brought a flag from this lady to add to my collection
The COPE museum. I was shocked to discover that this country was littered with ca. 260 million bombies during the vietnam war from 1964 and 1973. Of these, 78 million bombies failed to explode and the 12,000 people who have lost their arms, legs and even their lives to unexploded ordance (UXO) since the war.
Patuxai (victory monument) is Vientiane's version of Arc de Triomphe.
It was built in 1969 with cement donated from the US intended for the construction of a new airport
From the top their was a panoramic view of Vientiane
Looking down Th Lan Xang to the river
A pyramid in the middle of the roundabout next to the Us Embassy
They gave us this massive platter of food at the show where we got to try deep fried banana leaves.
Traditonal dance and costume
Stopped for a break along the waterfront of the Mekong River
These guys played tradional music throughout the performances
The Pha That Luang is the most important national monument in Laos. The temple itself was very run down.
This surrounding temple was really nice
Large buddha at the monastery next to the Pha That Luang
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