Vientiane, Laos

We found Vientiane, the capital of Laos, to be blissfully quiet (no honking horns! no "lady want to buy something from me") and relaxing. We were pleasantly surprised to arrive at the airport and to have to ask three or four people to locate a taxi driver to take us to our hotel (as compared other places where you have to run away from the taxi, tuk-tuk, motorcyle and bicycle rickshaw drivers who want to transport you). We enjoyed strolling the wide streets & sidewalks (another treasure--sidewalks in other cities are often motorbike parking lots), visiting the impressive wats (temples) and eating by the river.

Llegamos a Vientiane, la capital de Laos. Esta es la ciudad de la tranquilidad donde no hay mas vendedores ambulantes persiguiendote todo el tiempo y en donde para tomar un taxi tienes que emplear algo de tiempo para encontrar a uno y que te lleven. Esta vez no hubo mas claxon y motocicletas andando por las banquetas.

Patuxai, a memorial to commemorate Lao who died in pre-revoluntionary wars. You can climb to the top for great views of the city.

Views of the city from the top of Patuxai.

Presidential Palace.

Wat Haw Pha Kaew

Buddha statue at Haw Pha Kaew.

Pha That Luange, the most important national monument in Laos (with monk passing).

Omar on the steps of Pha That Luang.

The night market on the riverside. Delicious and cheap barbeque and Beer Lao.