Ventiane 8th & 9th March

Sunday 8th - Vientienne day 1

Had a very lazy morning was feeling tired and we had a TV (luxury!) which even made watching bad movies a novelty..! Went to Stickeys cafe just around the corner to eat brunch and get the wireless number. To this day I regret not having the rather delicious eggs benedict Nath ordered. Eventually went for a walk along the river in a kind of we're-in-the-capital-of-Laos-we-really-should-do-something-cultural kind of way, but was rather uneventful so did a tuk tuk tour to see the main sights of Vientiane. Is one way to blitz it esp if one feels a wee bit lethargic. Was sunset by the time we got back and we gleefully sat with a beer on our rather nice balcony ah yes the joys of travelling, and did some internet stuff. Now I've just got to persuade Nathan to get on a local bus tomorrow rather than pay for the expensive VIP ones...Mmmmm. Also, dont really want to spend another day in Ventienne or do an overnight on a bus. I prefer rural places to cities, I guess that's when I really feel like I'm experiencing the culture although I wouldn't skip the cities, just spend less time there. Laos is improving as I'm going through it am getting less scams! I think it just takes me a bit of time to adjust to a new country. You just get used to one and then you move on,..but such are the joys and drawbacks of travelling.

Money spent: Breakfast 18,000 (1.50), tuk tuk tour 40,000 (3.34), water and beers 23,000 (1.92) earings 10,000 (84 p) admissions 10,000 (84p) dinner something (2.00) TOTAL: 9.20

Monday 9th - Vientienne day 2

Today we packed and checked out and had a really bad breakfast - gutted! Im really starting to rely on nice food here, one gets a bit (ok, VERY) spoiled eating out all the time. It was actually an 'english' bar ran by a real 'english'man serving supossedly 'english' food and I ordered an 'english' breakfast - but it was 'orrible!

Went to the National museum which the most interesting part for me was learning about UXO's - vast numbers of unexploded ordnances from the Indochinese war, a huge problem across Laos and I read on average, despite huge clean up operations, they still claim 2 victims a day. Usually children. Literally thousands of Laos people have been affected and victimised by UXOs as well as several hundred losing their lives. Because many experience severe economic hardship, many are putting themselves at risk by trying to make money out of it. Apparsantly there are 270 million ordnances left on Laos' soil, and at least 30% of them are unexploded bombs,

Fortunately no worries of that in the capital though..

I am liking Vientiane. I think it is because I came here with no expectations everyone said it was crap there was nothing to do, but I have chillled and am enjoying my travels now not being so manic pace, also is nice being with Nate.

We found ourselves at a shopping mall in the afternoon which was great - loads of market style stalls. I bought a new DV tape for my camcorder. Nate bought some combat shorts. Other than that I just really enjoyed wandering round. There were very few westerners there which I like. Laos is much less touristy than Thailands, but I feel I have yet to experience in properly ie the border was just a port, Luang Prabang while charming was essentially French, and Vang Vieng a backpackers piss up. Dont get me wrong, all fab places and to be fair could have stayed tubing got days and days but really craving some ruralness now.....

Moving swiftly on, we caught a tuk tuk to the bus station and got an 8 o'clock overnight bus to Pakse in the south of Laos. I really wanted a sleeper bus and in a moment of softness or just stupidity gave in to Nate who wanted a reclining bus. Never again! I can't do vertical! Watched a movie on my netbook though which was cool and maybe got 1 1/2 hours sleep once I could properly lie out on the back seat. Looking on the bright side, I'm also in line to win a 300,000 kip bet if we make it in less than 12 hours...I'm confident, easy money ;)

Money spent: Tuk tuk 25,000 (1.25) bus 30,000 (2.5) breakfast lunch dinner beer 9,000 (7.50) admission 20,000 (1.67) orange juice and water 22,000 (1.83). TOTAL: . 14.75