Heat Correlation

I've discovered there is a direct link between the temperature outside and the amount of chilli served in our food!

For breakfast I had some more noodle soup, that came with chilli paste as a condiment, it warmed me up ready to take on the outside heat!

We rented bikes, and like other asian experiences, this means you get a heap of junk that is far too small and my knees almost touch my elbows as I peddle, but for 10,000 kip a day (about 12,500 kip to the British pound) you cant really complain. About a 15 minute ride North-East took us to "That Luang" described as Laos'most important religious building. First built in the 16th century, and has been rebuilt many times since then. Next to it is a large golden stupa that is 45 meters tall.

Happy to report the Sprite is back to normal in Laos. Tash had some kind of strawberry drink that had bits of coconut in it, its very normal for drinks to have some kind of texture (balls/jelly) to them.

Another 10 minute cycle took us to Paris (or Lang Xang Avenue). They have built a victory gate that looks similar to the Arc de Triomphe and the wide roads either side (one that leads from the Royal Palace) are modeled on the Champs Ellysees. You can go up to the top of the Arc past various levels of stalls selling tourist tat. Tash read that the US gave Laos some concrete to build a airport but they built this gate instead, that was never finished because of the war. There are gardens around the gate that are quite nice, although we have passed 3 different water fountains in the city so far and none of them have been switched on.

We went looking for another market that was close by on the map, that turned out to be a night market that wasn't open so we were back in the same situation as the previous day, hot, hungry and needed some rest. An Asian coffee chain called Black Canyon (I've not seen this before) gave us our A/C fix. I had some Iced Matcha Green Tea, and a Tuna salad that had a lot of chilli with it (reminded me of something I would make back home), along with some lemongrass and peanuts. Tash ended up with the Asian equivalent of fish and chips (some kind of battered fish with black sesame seeds and a spicy dipping sauce).

I read a few reviews about a great Japanese run coffee shop thats easy to miss/hard to find. It just so happens it's on the same street as our hotel (I did walk past it 2 times before noticing it the day before). It's set back from the main street and looks more like a house. It's another place that roasts the beans on site, it was a great find - the ice coffee was great (you get to choose between medium and dark roast coffee) and the milk and liquid sugar come out in mini metal jugs (like the ones you use to steam milk with). We also tried a homemade chocolate orange truffle, Tash said it was the best one she's ever had.

Dinner was at a restaurant called Makphet, which employed former street children as trainees. Tash wanted to try the Lao sausage, which had a falafel texture but had lemongrass flavours (I'd go for a classic sausage over that though). I tried the Papaya salad, with aquatic water beetle and prickly flower pepper. This was by far the hottest dish I've had on the trip so far. The flower pepper is the from the plant that makes a Sichuan peppercorn. Now for the beetle, it was the size of two of my fingers put together, I tried 3 times to take a bite of it but it felt hollow and like plastic. I eventually got some of the eyes and head off but it wasn't good and the rest was left on the side of the plate. I reminded me that I think eating these things are a bit pointless and will probably be the last time I bother (I had salt and vinegar crickets a few years back, but without the flavour they were horrible too!).

We walked back through the night market, probably the biggest one I've seen and quite nice not to have someone pounce on you as soon as your eyes moved towards a item.

Sticky rice pots; 2
Lao coffees; 3
Lao temple count; 2