Travel Day to Vientiane

Today was another travel day. We got up early and went to the nearby street market where I had regularly bought sandwiches from a very kind and matronly Lao woman the past few days (delicious chicken baguettes for $1.50). We both ordered a double round of sandwiches (for breakfast and lunch). She asked us what we were doing today, and we said we were leaving. She then came around her stall and gave us a farewell hug and kiss! It was truly touching.

After breakfast, we were picked up by our minivan for our trip to Vientiane. This driver was was a lot more typical of Asian bus drivers, as we went screaming around the corners of a windy road as fast as the laws of physics would allow, arriving in Vientiane around noon.

We found ourselves a place to stay, and proceeded to explore the town. We wandered around the town a bit, exploring it, then walked over to Patuxai, a fairly gaudy miniature version of Arc de Triomphe that the French built. We ascended it to the observation deck - Vientiane's skyline is nothing to write home about. And once again, we were approached by talkative monks eager to practice their English. Much as we enjoy talking with them, sometimes they don't know when to stop, and after half an hour we find ourselves trying as tactfully as possible to extricate ourselves from the situation.

Afterwards, Carole went for a snooze, and I watched the sun set on the Mekong; it was a glorious sight watching its fiery crash into the distant river bank. Following that, Carole and I met up with Steve and Tracey at 6:30, and we went to a Chinese restaurant, which featured do-it-yourself spring rolls. Quite a feast. We then wandered around some more before calling it a night.

Bus driver's crazy
No choice but to hope there is
Reincarnation