The trip to Vientiane was much more pleasant than the last one- roads weren't so windy this time thank goodness! Got a tuk tuk to our hotel (Vientiane garden hotel, really nice!) they have us a choice of rooms because it was our honeymoon! We then went for a walk into town, bumped into the kiwi couple again so another quick hello. Tried to sort out some postage and banking bit nothing open past 4pm so instead went to Pha that luang temple was pretty nice, all painted gold. We also walked past a big fountain and government buildings. The city is nice but not really a whole lot to do! We then walked to the river front, surprised to see a playground and outdoor gym, haven't seen these anywhere! Walked through the night markets then had dinner at another nice restaurant, one run by street kids. I can't remember the name if it but the logo was 2 chillies, it was delicious!!! The next day we went back to the post office and bank, then to COPE (stands for Cooperative orthotic and prosthetics enterprise) please go to http://www.copelaos.org/ to find out more. A really great centre to learn lots about Laos and its involvement (or lack of involvement) in the war. The centre is for people who have lost limbs or become disabled from un-exploded bombs used by the USA in the Vietnam war. You may have seen my rant about this on Facebook, I still cannot get over the lack of responsibility taken by the USA and the fact they are killing and injuring innocent people now, years after the war with the mess they left behind. In a nutshell, Laos was never at war with the USA but unlucky for them, they shred a border with Vietnam so the Vietnamese would sneak though Laos to get to different parts of Vietnam and not get caught by the USA. The USA figured this out so they bombed Laos to stop this (!). Also, the USA planes were not allowed to land their planes with any unexploded bombs on board so they had a 'free dumping ground' on Laos where they would dump their bombs before landing. How the hell this was ever allowed to happen to a country not at war I have no idea, and it was civilian farming land that got hit! And the worse thing is these bombs were cluster bombs which was an outer shell with hundreds of smaller round bombs inside made specifically for killing people, not actually damaging buildings etc. the small bombs inside called 'bombies' often did not explode. Now the farming land of some of the poorest people in the world is riddled with them. They have no other income so they have to risk farming every day in order for their families to survive. Children find the bombs and think its a toy because it is shaped like a ball. Others are so poor they purposely collect scrap metal to trade for money despite the huge risk. Every few months someone is killed or injured from these. It is devastating to the families even if they survive, being disabled means you can't work and there is no government support, and surprise surprise nothing in compensation from the USA- I wish someone would sue them for every innocent child or person they had injured!!! Program's now are being set up to help find these and clear them to make safe farm land but its really expensive. The COPE centre provides prosthetic limbs and therapy to those in need, if they are lucky to make it to that stage (many pass away due to no oxygen or blood at their local hospital and the family not being able to afford to get someone to drive them to a better hospital) it was just devastating to read the stories of these poor families, as if they are not poor enough and battling enough to begin with!!!! Please check out the cope website and also use the link to sign the petition to ban cluster numbs ever being used again. Surprise surprise the USA is one of the only countries that has not signed the agreement to never use them again. Sorry for the rant, I'm just shocked the United Nations aren't doing something to make the USA clean up their mess and compensate!!!! After that we just wandered around a bit and had dinner. We were sad to be leaving Laos, we both agreed we would love to come back and see more! The people are just so friendly and welcoming wherever you are, and truly are some of the poorest in the world. Despite that they just seem happy! They rarely beg and are always happy to help. The food was amazing and everything cheap. The countryside is spectacular and I really hope this country can continue to remain as beautiful as is continues to get busier and busier with more tourists.