' Prohibited to move around any furniture's and put up any nude picture on the wall without obtain permission from hotel manager'
Priceless.....
Today is a day of relaxation, there are only a couple of things I want to see. Then I will just sit in cafes and watch the world go by. I was really looking forward to Vientiane. It is painted in the lonely planet as a 'special destination' it does go on to say 'only rivalled by Luang Prabang'.
I was speaking to an Aussie couple in Luang Prabang and to an extent they have managed my expectations. Although it has tree lined avenues there are only certain parts that have that smell of sandalwood chippings (Vientiane translates as Sandalwood City) and freshly baked baguettes. The rest seems to be busy and very very dusty.
For the first time since I started my trip I had a lie in, 9.30 am. My hotel was on the main road. As my first attraction was the 'Patuxai' it was within easy walking distance. It is Vientiane's replica of the Arc de Triomphe which sits at the end of Th Lan Xang, the main avenue. The pictures I have seen depict a grand Napolionic type building sitting in area of manicured lawns and fountains. In reality it is not like that at all. It was built in 1969 with cement that was donated by the USA for the construction of a new airport. It is known by the local expats as the 'vertical runway'
It is in a sorry state of disrepair. Climbing up to the top it was rather like going up the stairs of a block of 1970 concrete flats. Once at the top it is crumbling and quite frankly a bit of a mess. You do get a great view over the city and up the. Ain avenue though.
For breakfast I headed to the Nam Phu area of town, this is quite nice, the Scandinavian Bakery did an excellent omelette, fresh fruits, croissants, coffee and fruit juice. Just the job. Once again it was baking hot (forgive the pun!)
I'm having difficulty with the Lao people, after Singapore ,Malaysia and Thailand they are just fealty difficult to engage with. I will keep trying.
Making my was around the are of Nam Phu there are loads of Buddhist monks wandering around in their saffron robes, all shapes and sizes.
There was a rather entrepreneurial chap who had set up a stall just opposite one of the temples selling fresh fruit shakes. They were not the type we have at home with milk, more a type of frappé. I tried a mixed fruit one first, then was going to go with a lemon and mint but he was out of mint. The Pineapple and melon was a good substitute. I headed back to my hotel for an afternoon snooze. My plan was to head back to Nam Phu this evening for a bite to eat and a drink.
Being as it was a Saturday night and my last evening in Laos, I decided to push the boat out so ate in a little Parisian bistro (it wasn't really) in Nam Phu. This was followed by a Lao leg and foot massage....
Loverly
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Location:Khun Bu Lom Rd,Vientiane,Laos
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