We arrived in the capital of Laos, Vientiane, just before lunch, after a four hour drive from Veng Vieng. Never a dull minute!
A few observations along the way:
- gas here costs about $1.50 Canadian. Don't know how people afford it. Perhaps that explains why so many drive scooters, more often than not without helmets;
- wish I had more pictures of the homes people live in here. Such a range. I read that Laos is one of the 10 poorest countries in the world. The homes of the poorest have thatched walls and corregated metal roofs. Those with means are more likely to have homes made of brick covered in stucco, with roofs that give them the look of something you might see in Spain, or Mexico. That was surprisng to me.
- the exchange rate for the Kip (the currency in Laos) is about 8000 for one US dollar. A meal costing 60,000 kip seems like a small fortune, until you realize it is about $7.50!
Our 3 stops in Laos have been so different: Luang Prabang, the Unesco world heritage site, Veng Vieng, a small town only recently affected by tourism, and Vientiane, the capital. Quite a modern city. Relatively small (about 250,000) but very lively and full of tourists.
Before reaching the hotel we climbed the Patouxay Monument for a view of the city. Our hotel, the Sabaidee @Lao (sabaidee means hello), is very nice, and centrally located. The hotels have been very well selected. After lunch, we visited:
- Wat (temple) Sisaket, built 1818-1824. The exterior walls have small niches containing thousands of buddhas;
- Haw Pra Keow, originally built around 1565, the former temple of the monarchy.
Both are now museums. Laos is about 2/3 buddist.
Perhaps the highlight of the afternoon was a visit to COPE (Cooperative Orthotic and Prosthetic Enterprise). The mission of that organization is to help the many people who have lost limbs as a result of the unexploded bombs dropped on Laos during the 1960s and 70s. They have been devastating for the rural areas.
We had supper at an incredible restaurant, called the Makphet. It is run by Friends-International, an organization that gives street kids the skills to find employment. The dishes were so creative, and at the same time we were supporting a very worthwhile cause.
Tomorrow we leave Laos for Vietnam.
Market on road to Vientiane
View from Patouxay Monument
Haw Phra Kaew
