They sell baguettes everywhere in Laos – in restaurants, at street vendors, at market stalls… good for breakfast, lunch, or a snack whenever one is needed. Said baguettes always come with the option of Laughing Cow cheese (or a whole swag of other delicious treasures). So the French presence in Laos was not without its benefits, as the baguettes are good.
The overnight bus was an experience. We’re still too used to being in Australia, and are alarmed when they haul a moped onto the roof of the bus by hand, and tie it on (along with the rest of our luggage). I gain an appreciation of Thai and Laos karaoke, and am enthralled by Thai kung fu movies with tuk-tuk chases. The 5am arrival in Luang Prabang lets us watch the sunrise … if we could be bothered… Most of the first day is spent asleep, and then watching locals play bocce by the side of the road. This is followed up by a careful surveillance of the night market
Bikes are hired the next day, and we ride around town on our sweet Chinese style single-speeds. I am shocked and apalled when I realise our 1000kip/10min internet (US$0.10/10min) is faster than my internet connection at home.
As we cross the Friendship Bridge, we switch from the left side of the road to the right (damned French), and the well-paved highway turns into potholed ragged asphalt, which turns into dirt road, which turns into a new road… and we’re in Vientiane. Fed up with the place quite quickly, we jump on the bus to Luang Prabang that night.
As of February 10th I’ll be doing this:
For a month. (Travelling around the countries that is, not badly drawing on maps). Hopefully I don’t get eaten by killer chickens, or sucked into the internets and converted into some sort of virus. The plan is to wander around, posing as tourists, and taking photos (perhaps of high-tech military installations). No climbing due to the injured finger.