Day 7: Vientiane - Free Day Breakfast at the hotel. Today, we have free day from cycling to wander around Vientiane or city tour on your own. Overnight in Vientiane. (B)
Cycle Tour Day 7, 0km, average 0km/h
We all looked forward to this rest day, not that the riding has been particularly hard, it's just nice to get off the bike for a day, have a wander and catch up with some washing.
Still awoke at sparrows and was at brekky by 6:30 am. Phil and I were the only ones there from our tour, all the others enjoyed a sleep in. A nice mix of Asian & European food was on offer. The coffee was stroooong, now awake!!!!
A wander along the Mekong River and around the streets of the city followed. Plenty of temples, we guesstimated about 25 in an area a little over a square kilometre, and lots of other interesting stuff. The place looks like it's "going places", but I'm not sure if that's a good thing. It was Monday morning rush-hour so very busy on the roads. Went to the morning markets and Phil bought some trinkets for his grand-daughter. No nice T-shirts or similar so I walked away empty-handed.
Back to the motel to receive our Laos bikes and fit our own pedals, and for others saddles/gps/computers etc. The bikes this time are certainly not new, mostly Trek 3700s, but they'll get us from A to B, with some luck. Just enough time for a coffee (a nice latte) at the nearby coffee shop before lunch, which was a chicken roll, with an iced tea - A$5.50.
More wandering in the afternoon, this time to the Patuxay Monument, an Arch de Triomphe copy (in Laotian style) which was started in 1992 then left half finished due to lack of interest/funds. Seemed like a good idea at the time. We then sort of went exploring the back streets to see how the real people live. Some are doing very well, others fairly tough by the look of things, but that's the same everywhere I suppose.
Back to the motel for some more clothes washing and a swim/spar. Great way to cool off at the end of a fairly hot and humid day.
Our own arrangements for dinner today so I chose a chicken wings entrée, seafood pasta with a 640ml Loa beer, less than A$10. All very nice although the pasta came with a Laotian twist, lots of chili.
A long way wander back to the motel, with a pause to chat with friends who were dining at another restaurant, finished off a great day.
Rosewood used in the hotel
Nice looking artwork at the hotel
The breakfast room
An old Studebaker Lark
The Laotian and Hammer & Sickle Flags
One of the 25 temples in the area
Some nice houses in the 'burbs
Novel seating at a snack bar
Lunch
A colourful tuk-tuk
Patuxay Monument
The ceiling of the Monument
I think they mean 'keep off the grass'
My bedside lamp
The pool/spar at our hotel
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