Today we chilled and took our time as bus (our compromise between local bus and posh minibus!!) wasn't until 1.30pm so made the use of my half price english breakfast which was very big and very nice (!) and got the 3 1/2 hour bus to the capital, Ventienne. Unless you go posh, the buses here are always hot and sticky but it was nice to pass the time with Nathan and we had the spaciousness of the back seat (result!) and listening to his i-pod.
Upon arriving I realised that it is Sunday tomorrow so if I want to get my visa here I'll have to hang around another day. Its good to see the capital city but their aint much else to do here.
We went out for dinner on the Mekong, in a little bamboo hut like platform. It was funny because as we had walked past copious times checking out the riverfront one lady had probably said hello to us and gigggled on a handful of occassions in an effort to get us into her restaraunt but once we were there it took ages to order food! This place although every nice to eat in had offically the worst loo I had seen in all my travels thus far, it was a space sectioned off by bamboo walls with no fourth wall so anyone passing by could see you awkwardly squatting on the floor, and there was literally no hole in the ground so I didn't fancy that very much so went next door which was a definate improvement! I ate a very nice green thai chicken soup with some rice which I didnt finish which is like a miracle.
Nathan found us some good accomodation for 100,000 although everything here is more expensive than anywhere else in Laos. Of course it helps a lot to share though. Room has a little TV and is clean, and there is a huge sunny shared sunny balcony overlooking the Mekong which is very pleasant to pass time.
We headed to the rooftop bar that David had told me about (who I have seen in just about every major city since Chang Mai and lo and behold came strolling around the corner here too when I was sitting with my backpack!.) It was very different to the rooftop bar in chang mai, you sat on tables instead of the floor for a start and i retained my footwear! We had met this Irish guy on the bus who we kept bumping into when we were traipsing around trying ot find accomodation, and we went for a drink together. He - no joke- on a good day could pass for someone in his late 20's even though he is 40 and a grandad! He didn't stop for breath and was absoutely hilarious! Regaling us with tales of his adventures I struggled to follow due to his quickness of speach and my ever increasing tiredness. A right character though.
We chatted about what we are going to to or go next. We have decided to go down to the 4000 islands then through cambodia and work up through Vietnam once weve checked a couple of things out on the internet namely can Nathan get his visa extended (its starts from the date of issue not entry which is a pain) and a couple of other things. I am going to find out if I can change my flight or whether I have to ditch it and if so how much it would be to get a single back to england. I will feel more relaxed if I am not in such a rush and under less pressure to be doing and seeing things all the time.
Money spent Breakfast 35,000 (3 quid) Accomodation 75,00 (3 nights Vang Vieng) (6.30) accomodation Ventianne 50,000 (4.20) bus 50,000 (4.20) Dinner 30,000 (2.50) coke 5000 (42p) beer 12000 (1 quid) TOTAL: 21.62
Best thing: Eating on the Mekong.
Worst thing: Best part of a day travelling.
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