Is this the worst capital city in the world?

Trip Start Sep 18, 2006
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Trip End Mar 19, 2008


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Flag of Lao Peoples Dem Rep  ,
Saturday, February 24, 2007

Upon getting out of the jungle and back to Luang Prabang, I found Mani had sent me a stream of emails, each more frantic than the last, demanding to know where I was and what I was doing. Oops. Should have told her to expect me to be out of contact for a few days really. Still, I think calling the British Embassy to report me missing was a tad excessive. And so I headed straight down to the capital, Vientiane, to meet her.
What a dump! Seemingly without any redeeming features whatsoever, apart from one or two nice cafes and restaurants, I can't believe this place is a capital city. Ridiculously small, it is a fair indication of the lack of capital in this impoverished country. I saw one building, no larger than the office of my previous employment where around 70 people worked, with a large sign outside which denoted it as 'The Department for the Promotion and Management of Foreign and Domestic Investment.' I couldn't believe such small resources were afforded to such an enormous array of tasks. Still a closed economy, the impression is very firmly that Laotians do not understand the mechanics of the market. This does make it incredibly laid-back with a much-reduced 'hassle factor' than other countries in the region, but is detrimental to financial progress.
I desperately needed to unwind after my trek and subsequent bus journeys so spent a few days sat on my arse in said cafes, trying to fatten myself up.
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