I circle my choice on the small breakfast menu, French toast and honey with a coffee. Comes with a banana, a great coffee and a big smile from the chef.
We hire mopeds for 70000 (£5.50) and head to Buddha Park 25k away. Vientiane is the quietest and most relaxed city I have ever been to. Not a lot of traffic and most buildings not extending above 2 storeys. The city breaks to fields and small buildings with the Mekong river on my right. Thailand is close enough to touch. In the dry season the river is low and narrow at this point in Laos. A stark contrast to the mighty Mekong in Cambodia. Hundreds of butterflies cross over the road as I ride. I get slapped by one in the face. We get there about 10:30am and I'm cooked. The power of the sun is ruthless. We pay 6000 kip to park the bikes and a further 8000 kip to enter the park. The park was built in 1959 and is one mans vision of Buddhism and Hinduism combined. Like a battlefield from Clash of the Titans, Medusa, 7 headed hydra's, monkey warriors dot the landscape. A giant pumpkin stands out in the odd assortment of statues. We walk round passing a huge Buddha lying down. At the back of the area a tower with narrow steps is stationed. We take turns to climb and photograph the area. Heading towards the entrance, we enter the pumpkin. Narrow stairs allow a climb to the top and inside the middle are more statues on the 2 internal levels. Reaching the top requires us to squeeze through a small hole. A good viewpoint to see the eccentricity in full. Nuttier than a bag of cashews, but worth the trip.
Back on the bikes, my drenched shirt cooling on the skin as I accelerate. We head back to the hostel to hide from the midday sun. Body temperature slightly lower after a freezing coke(LT). Back on the bikes we head to the waterside to find lunch. Craig's bike is semi automatic and hits the accelerator by accident when parking. Slipping off his bike, no damage done other than his favourite shorts being ripped to shreds. A small cafe with uninspiring pork and rice to regain some energy. Craig's slightly savoury sweet and sour chicken the better choice. Sitting at the hostel, I type some of my notes. I've not had a chance to upload anything recently but hopefully in the next few days.
The further I go on my trip, the more cracks in the sky start to appear. The rainy season is close and the thunder brings a little rain.
Not that much to do here, so we book the morning bus to Vang Vieng
We find a small Indian restaurant and get a selection of dishes, washed down with a mango lasse.
We find a small Belgian bar decked out with Tintin and Asterix memorabilia. The Belgian beers here range from £7 to £40. We opt for the local Lao beer for a pound. Belgian beer is overrated and leave the fools to part with their money. I am tired after last night but I take Craig back to Bor Penny Ang which is where I ended up last night. We play pool on the worst table in the world. Plasters stuck everywhere, odd dips and swerves making it more akin to crazy golf. We play with a South African guy who let's us know the Man U / Arsenal game will be shown here. We grab a couple of seats to watch it. Perfect location at the bar allows us to people watch as well. The same mix as last night but I have more time to study the place. Hookers slowly filter in but they never approach anyone. This frustrates the old sex tourists, who are probably used to the forwardness in Thailand. The Lao people seem to be shyer than their neighbouring countries. Even when someone does approach they are not always successful. I get the impression that there is not the desperation for money, or the motivation. Some of the lady boys in here are a cross between Eddie Izzard in drag and an Urik kai. Terrifying but amusing to watch. The football ends in a draw and the bar starts shutting up after 11pm