Vientiane - 20/ 21st Feb

had a long and interesting conversation over coffee with Prof David frm Florida who just rented a bungalow here in Vientiane for USD350/.. to spent time writin his book..

there are many small boutique hotels in the northwest of Vientiane.. (along Mekong, boundary to northeast of Thailand)

... and it's fully booked.

hotels are not cheap here.. even this 3 story, boutique hotel call Riverine is priced @USD70/..

I stayed at this old hotel called Lang Xang.. in the town by Mekong river.. at USD48/
Near-by Patuxai monument stands The Regal..

Thai owned Lao Plaza..

Don Chan Palace.. USD160/ for a standard room..

just to check out the airport.. about 5km away from the heart of town.. a glance at a few larger hotels as I entered Vientiane, it does tell you this is the capital city and a business center... (that's after comparing the slow and 'lazy' L. Prabang and V. Vieng..)

160km, Van Vieng to Vientian.. 20th Feb

160km in 4 hours.. reaching Vientiane the capital city..

road to Vientiane, about 160km of good roads.. though lots of 'greasy' spot...

.. this person is reluctant to move la.. complaining juz a night in Van Vieng isn't enough... yeah, it's far too short.. not even 24hrs here in this beautiful place.. arriving ysterday evening and leaving now at 1pm..

oohh.. damn tiring after spending the whole morning in the river.. but have to leave for Vientiane now..

.... all my bags are pack... i'm ready to go..

Van Vieng - 20th Feb

the hills here in Van Vieng here are mostly limestone hills and there are lots of caves to explore around the area..

if you are a person not wanting to get wet tubing or kayaking.. maybe you like to scale this limestone wall...

spiderman in action..

this part is pretty deep..

its awesome floating in the tube looking up the sky and the mountain view..

kayaking here can be quite interesting.. i guess they take only 1/3 of my time to reach town..

you can choose to do kayaking instead of tubing..

beautiful backdrop...

floating in this calm waters is so relaxing..
not an advertisement ok..

taking home my only souvenir.. a beerlao short glass found in the water..or have it at the 'serambi'.. this are actually pubs catering to passer by along this river..

haa.. how bout a cold beer with your legs in the cold water..

ohh... I juz love this set up.. though not a single soul now in the morning.. was told the crowd comes in btwn 3 to 6pm..

hey.. don't fall asleep.. as you will float all the way to the Mekong to Vientiane and into Thailand without clearing your passport.. haha

these long polls (about 6 to 8 meters) for you to do a trapeze.. you swing and plunge into the waters.. ofcoz the deeper sections of the river only..

nice clear waters.. mostly shallow waters..

ahhh.. it's 9am now and the water is too cold for me..

this is about 3 to 4 hours in the waters..

this include sending you 4km upstream and leave you to drift back to the town..

something one should do here.. there is a 'tubing shop'.. thats what they call here.. you rent a lorry tube for SG3/ each.. make sure rent a water proof bag to stuff your camera in..

breakfast at bout 7.30am...

food outlet starts pretty early..

what a colourful, relaxing, and a casual place here.

Van Vieng - 19/20th Feb

the not so rowdy crowd..

looks like a place to party..

drinking and walking on the streets singing clad in swim suit only..

likewise, mostly Caucasians..
younger crowd seen here in V.Vieng..

the character of this town defers frm L. Prabang

many Baja's running around.. mostly rented..

hmm, can actually ride across the shallow waters of Nam Xong river..

feel like riding in for a bike wash.. never did since left S'pore..

decided the river side chalet at bht500/

Checked in at Thavisouk Hotel.. two options, fronting the road hotel style or by the river chalet style..