Vientiane is the capital of Laos. It is on the banks of the Mekong river. If you ever get the chance to visit, don't bother!!! Everything is expensive, and it seems that the belief is that if you are a tourist the you must be rich.... So give some to me, and me, and me!!!
Tuk tuk drivers will want to charge a ridiculous amount for the shortest of journey's. Its a good job both of us are quite happy to walk.
Found a nice guest house, one of the few wooden buildings in this concrete jungle.
At the moment it is the end of the Buddhist lent. The monks are let out of the monastery's where they have been locked in for contemplation, etc. (see picture of happy monk/statue).
Big event, with miniature boats sent floating down river at night, lit with candles. Then come the dragon boat races....
During this time there is a market where vendors out shout each other to sell stuff. To be louder than the next person it is an advantage to have powerful amplifiers, and speakers the size of doors.
It is impossible to hear someone who is shouting next to you. The level of noise is absolutely deafening.
Then at 11.30 is suddenly stops. The silence rings in the ears.
Both Yvonne and Mike do not like this place very much and so are leaving after only two days.
However, did go to the 'Cope' foundation. A rehabilitation, prosthetic manufacturing/fitting facility, for people who have lost limbs, mostly in accidents involving munitions still around after the Vietnam war.
Leave you with some photos. Yvonne has mastered chop sticks.
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