Vientiane

When our backpacks were taken of the roof of the bus, we left for some serious hostelsearching. As the high season is starting (stupid short-term travellers), we are having a harder time every week to find accomodation. But no worries, we were dropped of in a street full of hotels and guesthouses. Everything nice was full, leaving us with one option: a dodgy room with no electricity outlets and shared bathroom. Think money!!! It was only 4$.

The rest of the day was mainly lost in hanging around and eating a delicious sandwich filled with a local pate (khao jii pate). The food in South-East Asia is excellent. We didn't have any complaints about China, but here, it's just great.

The next day, we did the obligatory Lonely Planet walking tour, taking us past temples and monuments. The most remarkeable monument was Patuxai, which means "Arch of Triumph". Where do you think their inspiration came from?

Yes indeed.
It is only fully made of concrete, with Lao influences, and it is a "double arch", looking like indoor crossroads. Moreover, there's also a wide boulevard leading into town, resembling the Champs Ellysees. On one side of the tower is a description, where one sentence reads:

From a closer distance, it appears even less impressive, like a monster of concrete

Quite honest, those Laotians. Funny historic detail about Patuxai is that it was built with US-bought cement which was given to build an airport, resulting in the nickname "Vertical Runway".

In the evening we met Wessel and Fiona, the Dutch couple we shared a tour with in Mongolia. Time for some impressive stories, useful tips, sweet memories and plenty of Beerlao.

The next morning we rented motorbikes (something we were craving for) and drove off to Buddha Park, where some crazy fanatic built heaps of concrete statues of religious stories and myths. "Buddhist Efteling", someone called it (identity will not be reveiled). On the way back, we tried to visit the Beerlao brewery, but they were closed. They should put this visit in Lonely Planet!!! The trip with the motorbikes was excellent!!! We enjoyed so much, and really want one.
In the evening we visited the Bun Pha That Luang festival, which happens once every year. It is the largest festival in Laos, and ,to Lao standards, a heck of a party. It is all about That Luang, the golden stupa which is seen as the symbol of Laos. There people prey, donate flower bouquets (which are then recycled every day) and just enjoy the temple fair outside the temple walls. Monks from all over the country come to Vientiane and participate in ceremonial parades. To visit the stupa, Eline and Fiona had to rent a Lao skirt (sarong), just as the Lao women wearing jeans or shorts. It was beautiful, especially during sunset.

Tonight we leave for Pakse by bus. We'll try to start a last discovery spree, so we can see all sights on our agenda and still have enough beach time to recover from our heavy trip (hehe). The tips we got will surely be useful. Now we're of for lunch, for a third 'khao jii' pate sandwich.