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  Vientiane, Lao Peoples Dem Rep
Sunday, February 19, 2006

I'm quite pleased that it has taken 8 weeks of travel, but I have succombed to a mild dose of the flu... and the runs. I was reading in my medical kit that most travellers get the flu at least once in their first four weeks due to their close proximity to such a large number of people. So I'm rather glad that it has taken this long. I'm also pleased that it has happened when I'm in a low key destination. Hopefully things will clear up before I get into my tour through Vietnam. Friday night was particularly awful but things got better yesterday... luckily, because I wanted to experience Vientiane's nightlife.

Vientiane isn't anything spectacular... very much a city in a state of development. The city reminds me of a laid back country town. Lots of dust, very few facilities for travellers but an eclectic abundance of international food. During the last 2 days I've had mexican, italian, french and danish... no asian. From what I've seen so far, the people are a lot more reserved to that of the Thais, and very few people speak English. They are nevertheless friendly and try to be accommodating. I've resorted to body language on many occasions.

I walked and walked and walked yesterday until I had a burning desire to relieve myself of the runs. I visited numerous 'must see' sights of Vientiane including Laos' replica of France's Arc De Triomphe (called the Putuxai... the building commemorates the Lao who died in prerevolutionary wars) and a rather spectacular buddhist temple called Pha That Luang. Unfortunately, the building was closed when I arrived at 5pm so I could only enjoy it from the outside walls which was still pretty good.

Everywhere you go, you hear the word 'tuk tuk... you want tuk tuk'. Along with the ladies who are dressed up in beads etc, these guys are the most persistant I've ever come across. I think tuk tuks are rather expensive, charging about 30,000 kip for a 15 minute ride ($5)... a far lot more than the taxi rides in Bangkok. A tuk tuk is a decorated, very noisy and uncomfortable motorised vehicle - kind of like a motorbike but with a section at the back for the passenger. I'll try to post a photo of it soon.

As I was walking through one of the temples here in Vientiane, I had a child call out 'money' to me... as though it was my name. One of the drawbacks of SE Asia is that many of the locals have the perception that every white person is a walking ATM full of cash. Everywhere I go I am being asked to buy services or products... I was kind of interested that the child called me 'money'. I forgot to write in my Bangkok entry that I basically got attacked by two 8 year old (or so) girls whilst walking on Sukomvit Road with Game... a perfect opportunity for the girls to empty my pocket where my wallet was - it was kind of disturbing that I had to defend myself against two little girls. I couldn't believe how aggressive they were... one girl smacked me hard on the arm because I said 'neow kharp' to one of her requests for money which means no thanks in Thai... I was told that by saying this, people trying to sell you stuff instantly back away from you. On the second occasion of her attacking me, I had to revert to pushing the girl away because she wouldn't stop. After a while I saw the girls being dragged away by some woman - goes to show how desperate some of the most poverished locals are. Also goes to show how aware I need to remain.

I'm rather disappointed at the visa situation. In Thailand, you are only allowed a 30 day visa before having to leave the country if you want to stay longer. Laos is more difficult... with 15 day visas allowed. The cost of visiting the countries is also quite expensive. I had to pay $20 departure tax for Thailand, $50 entry tax for Laos and probably a whole lot of little payments await me! But... the flights are very cheap. I've scored a very cheap $5 flight from Phnom Penh to Bangkok on the 17th March with Air Asia (plus taxes of $20). If you know of your itinerary in advance you can score some spectacular deals like I have on this particular leg of the journey. The 1 hour flight from Cambodia back to Thailand sure beats 9 hours on the bus and having to go through border controls etc.

I'm writing this a few hours before I fly to Hanoi. I'm rather looking forward to visiting Vietnam.

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