On the road to recovery (well actually, Pakse) - UPDATED

Took the bandage off my burn today and was very pleased to see it's healing nicely, my leg should be fully grown back in no time. The old motorbike tailpipe burn is affectionately called the Asian Tattoo in this part of the world, and it's kind of like a badge of honour - I've met a few people with matching ones and swapped stories. Some scars are worse than others - hopefully mine will be minimal!

(no I'm not going to post a photo of it, it's gross)

Spent the last 2 days in Vientiane, the Lao capital. I sum this place up in 1 word: "meh". It's not just nondescript, it's rather ugly. It's not an offensive place, it's just nothing special, particularly for a capital. There are some cool boutiques here though, lots of tailors that can whip up anything you want. Lots of Lao textiles and fabrics (look out!!), but there's no tourist area/scene like there was in Luang Prabang and no food alley! They're doing construction on the riverfront so the promenade and local evening outdoor food market has been replaced with bulldozers and trucks. It has a LOT of French influence, we had a fabulous breakfast at the Cafe Croissant d'Or, and there is a boulevard with a French-inspired Lao style monument at the end that looks very much like the Champs-Elysees and Arc de Triomphe (I will post a photo of this later - keep an eye out)

We watched the football at a restaurant last night that had dubbed itself the Vientiane Home of World Cup 2010 - South Africa in SE Asia. They even have a special SA menu while the cup is on (incl hoender pastei but no boerewors?)

Have been hanging out with a Dutch guy I met in Muang Ngoi and today we rented a motorbike and drove 20km out to the Buddha Park, it turned out to be a bit crap (crep hehe) but the bike ride out there was fun, had some noodle soup at a roadside stand and talked to some chatty monks at the Buddha park.

I'm taking a sleeping bus to Pakse, apparently they have beds in them. Let's see if I can get some decent sleep! Once in Pakse I'll be headed to the Bolaven Plateau on a bike, can't wait :)

UPDATE - Here's a photo of me meeting some monks at the Buddha park, and the sleeping bus to Vientiane. It actually had beds instead of seats!!



Until next time
ML x