Lao - check!

Already the fact that the streets of Vientiane get quiet around midnight speaks of a capital unheard of. It is very laid back capital. Still, one can see it is a capital with all its embassies, presidential palace, restaurants with cuisine around the world, more neon-light advertisements of some big corporations, they even sell computers (in LP or VV there were nowhere computer – or such advanced technology selling – shops). The Mekong flows past Vientiane.

As there is more people in Vientiane than in any other Lao city, there is some traffic. It is in a way as unregulated as in Hanoi, but here people generally seem to be more cautious about hurting themselves or other people. So yesterday it was easy task for Silja and me to rent a motorcycle to be used twosome and drive around. We visited a place called Buddha Park, some 30 km north-east from Vientiane. On the way there, we took some weird route which was quite bumpy and having driven quite long time we asked some locals where we were and they assured us we were on the right track. And so were we, we got into this park which was erected and carved by using very queer humour. The park contained hilarious statues of Buddhism and Hinduism, some of them were massive in size. I wish I could now upload some pictures…. Anyway, we had a little mishap at the end of the day. As a result we went to some locals and fixed our motorbike with 4 euros. So no biggie, although Silja got minor scratches and I got few more plus a hole into my left knee. The locals were very friendly.

Yesterday we also visited the Lao National Museum, which was very.. Lao-like :). In a way it was organized but at some points it seemed they did not know what and how much they wanted to show stuff to the public. Photos here and there in crappy frames, some dinosaur bones found in Lao, millions of pictures from the French occupation and “the U.S. capitalist” hostilities, always depicted in a propagandistic way, making everything Lao-people did very heroic and something to be proud of. But I think I now understand Lao history a bit better.

The day before yesterday was as well tourism, but now the “must-sees”. Some stupas, temples, the golden Pha That Luang, the morning market… The most interesting place, however, was this “COPE” which Silja found from an ad. It was an asylum for people with physical restrictions. Mostly, it was the people who have been seriously injured by the UXO (unexploded ordnance), which were sown by the U.S. in the 1960s. There’s still unbelievable amount of these mines, mortar shells, normal bombs hidden in the bushes, underground in central Lao. And now people, especially uneducated (in this matter) small children die of these things. We heard many heart-breaking stories of how somebody’s son died because of a mine and because the hospital’s did not have either oxygen or blood for them.. The atrocities commited by the U.S. is something I think every other nation should try to acknowledge and make the U.S. government clean up the mess they did. And they did these bombings without actually telling it to the public, so evidently there was no rules of engagement, and so they could basically (and did) bomb whatever the fuck they wanted. That’s sick! So many people suffering from this idiotism.. We donated some small amount of kips (Lao currency) for the upholding of this place and bought some best ice-cream I’ve eaten in ages from there (to support the place as well). A very good visit and very thoughtfully designed exhibition. E.g. I could check out how I look like with a prosthetic leg or what it means to have “ghost pain”.

On that evening we went to chill out on the shore of Mekong-river, having some pussikalja (beer from the store in a bag) and watching the red big sun slowly set and disappear to the mist far away.

The best food we here have had is definitely from a restaurant called Taj Mahal :). The Indian food there is extremely good and cheap, I highly recommend. It’s not one of those basic-tourist places that are near Mekong, at least I and Silja cannot afford them. So we settled for this place, which is terrific. The food from the noodle shops is good as well but it’s getting a little bit boring, the soup. Even though they usually bring tons of vegetables along it, like peppermint, sitruunamelissa, green salad, bean sprouts. Evidently it’s so cheap here they can afford to bring it. Go to Finland and you pay millions for these basic herbs and vegetables.

Now Vientiane, and with it the Lao for our part, is seen and today we will take a propeller-plane by Lao Airlines to Bangkok, where we have a private double room in a hostel reserved for us until Tuesday.

All in all I would say Lao people are among the friendliest I have met in my life (in general). This is a bit controversial, taking into account they have been mistreated and had terrible experiences in the past. Maybe they still believe in good that is in people and get their energy from there. Maybe they appreciate other people as much as their own. The food has taken lot of influences from the French and the baguettes here that I’ve eaten are among the best ones I’ve had (especially in LP).

As an end remark I would like to say the Vietnamese chicks are the best-looking around here ;). Some traveler just mentioned this on our way and so far I have to concur with this opinion.

Catch u laters!