Vientiane Heat Wave

Trip Start Mar 27, 2007
1
7
17
Trip End Jun 10, 2007


Loading Map
Map your own trip!
Map Options
Show trip route
Hide lines
shadow

Flag of Lao Peoples Dem Rep  ,
Tuesday, April 24, 2007

The bus ride to Vientiane was uneventful. It curved through mountains for a while, weaving in and out of locals carrying lots of stuff on their heads or backs or whatever. The mountains there were gorgeous and the villages quaint thatched buildings. I had little sleep the previous night, so I was thankful when the curves stopped and I could finally catch some rest. Unfortunately, this is about the time the bus driver also decided to rest. I remained on the bus and fell asleep for a few minutes. When I awoke, there was no one else on the bus. Oh well. Eventually, they all got back on and we resumed the trip. Only now, the A/C of the bus was failing and it was beginning to get very hot. This was only the start.

In Vientiane, we (i.e. a few Euro travelers and some locals who had done some serious shopping) loaded into pickup and drove to town. The guesthouse that had caught my attention in my guide was full, as were many others. Just up the road was another recommended guesthouse, so despite there being only a fan in the room and no window, I took it. It was $6/night. It had a great hangout area and the rooms were clean and neat, but I would've been better off at a $15 place because for the next few nights there would be no sleep.

The room had wooden floors, wooden walls, wooden shudders. It kept the heat like a sauna, which the fan only served to stir around. And with days over 100 degrees Fahrenheit, where everything in the room was hot to the touch, I found myself sleeping with a freshly bought cold water bottle and periodically dousing myself with it. 3000 Buddhas
3000 Buddhas
 In between slipping into air conditioned cafes, I toured the city. I walked from riverfront to the big golden temple and back. There is a huge monument there that is nicknamed the vertical runway. Apparently, the US donated a whole lot of cement for a new runway and the Lao people built a big gate with it. (Photos coming later).

At dinner one night (I had a wonderful Lap- i.e. a kind of chicken salad), I met an ex-pat who runs a magazine in Bangkok and his Thai friend, who works at a police station in Bangkok. They are both members of a group called the Hash House Harriers, who apparently enjoy running and then drinking beer. The ex-pat went his own way, but the Thai friend, Lin, was very nice and was set about showing me around the town. So we toured a bit and had a pleasant evening of it. She invited me to call her once I returned to Bangkok.

Also in Vientiane, I went to the Museum. It was full of interesting ancient history as well as recent history. The most interesting part was the narration of what happened in the 70's. It went something like this: The imperialist US and it's puppet soldiers invaded and killed many villagers. Nice people, but the phrasing was a little harsh... though I suppose a little true. Needless to say Laos is a communist country that frowns upon any kind of dissent. However, it is open and more relaxed than you think. Despite curfews (12:00) and this type of rule, I think the rules are more often broken than not.

On my last night, the weather cooled after a downpour. And I was disappointed to go. Laos is a beautiful and relaxing country, but my travels beckoned and with a vow that I would seek refuge in an a/c room, I left on a plane to Phnom Penh.
Slideshow Print this entry Vientiane hotels