Leaving Bangkok at 9AM March 4 we took a 55 minute flight to Vientiane, Laos. Even with such a short flight we were given a lunch on the plane. (I never got one on the 8 hour flight to Hawaii but this was Bangkok Airways not a US airlines.) We hardly had time to eat it before we heard the cutting back and getting ready to land.
Going through customs was interesting and long lines. We had a couple of papers to fill out and then go through line to get a visitor's visa and then through customs. The American influence was noticed when I received American money for change when I gave them Thai bahts. There are many Americans here visiting. Looks like Vietnam era men are bringing their wife back to see the country.
We then hired a taxi to take us to the AV Hotel.
My first impression of Laos was dirty and not as pleasant as Thailand. This was a wrong impression. Later when walking around I found it is actually cleaner and more modern. (I have not seen an eastern toilet here and hard to find a western one in Thailand.)
Took a long nap. Batty and Brian went out to take a view of the surroundings. We went to a nice Cafe about a half mile from the hotel. No pictures today. Found out Batty likes a dessert as she wanted to go to a bakery and got a piece of choclate cake. I got an almond cookie. They are to be known for their bakery items.
A very nice hotel.
A buffet breakfast and a small menu lunch
My queen sized bed
Western toilet
They have a different key system both here and Thailand.
You use a regular key to unlock the door and then put
the door number part into a holder on the wall and that
turns on the electrical in the room. When you leave just
pull it out of the box and in a couple of minutes the lights
and AC go off.
March 5
The cafe where we ate with the workers
and David and Viola Hermanson
After lunch we were going for a walk but Brian
decided it was nap time. After his nap we did go
for about a 2 mile walk.
Cars do drive on the right side of the road as in
America but they do not know how to park.
Where ever there is a parking place just pull in if
it is the direction you are going or not. If no parking
place just use the sidewalk.
Banyon tree and exercise equipment in the park
Taxis waiting for a passenger
Park on the Laos side of the Mekong River
Evening market booths
Anything is sold here, mostly clothing
and tourist items
Laos and Communist Flags
Sunset over the walkway and Mekong River
As it is not the rainy season and has been no rain
for a long time, the river is about dry. Can walk
quite a ways on dry river bottom.
Brian and I on the walkway by the river
Different temple roof
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