Vientiane is a small city by most standards, even more so to be a Capital city. It is great for walking, and has food outlets, markets and sites of interest in all quarters. The most visited site is the mini "Arc de Triomphe", which was started in 1962, and has not been finished due to the turbulent history of this country. We walked there on Tuesday, and spent about an hour.The structure is about ten stories high, with the observation deck on the seventh. There is no elevator, but for a small fee, one can walk up the hundred and some stairs. The temperature is 34 degrees so we passed on that offer.
behind the structure is a magnificent garden with fountains ans plants galore.
About two kilometers west of the Arc, is the Presidential Palace. We walked there, and visited museums and other places of interest, including a long walkway and night market on the side of the Mekong river.
The money here in Laos is called the Kip, pronounced "Keep", with one Canadian dollar worth 6300 Kip, one USD at 8385...one needs a backpack to carry the money....just last evening two of us dined for 93000!!!.
Today is to be one of leasure, maybe the night market after five, and a look at the setting sun over the Mekong about five thirty. Tomorrow is the flight back to Bangkok.
Yesterday while walking near the Presidential Palace, I heard someone calling, sir, sir; I looked back and saw two young ladies were trying to catch up to me...they were about 15 or 16 years old. I stopped to talk; they had been assigned by their English teacher to go out and fine some English speaking tourist for a five minute interview. They had met others but no one else wanted to be bothered. I st down in a temple grounds and we had a nice chat for about ten minutes, The one girl asked questions, the other filmed on her cell phone, for presentation to the class today. I made their day. Both were so polite, and happy that I would spend the time with them. Maybe tonight, I will be on the National News here!!!
Next page will be from my Apartment in down town Bangkok
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