Vientiane & Back to Bangkok

We all felt a little sad to be leaving Laos after what has seemed like such a short time and there is much more of the country to see. But we spent more time getting to know people there and that made the experience all the more. It is definitely somewhere we would return to when the children are a little older. Talking to our fellow passengers in the minivan to Vientiane, we heard their stories of how the place just gets more beautiful as you travel further north and how a one month visa is just too short.

There's so many things I could write about Laos. It's such a fascinating country with an unbelievable history (the US bombed Laos more than any other during the Indo-China War, at one point spending over 2 million dollars a day). There are thousands and thousands of unexploded ordinance (UXOs) across Laos. We visited a smithy village outside Luang Prabang where they recycled the steel from the bomb shells ("excellent quality steel, US, very good!" he tells us). They made all kinds of stuff from buffalo bells to knives and agricultural tools. I asked him if it was dangerous to collect the steel and who did it (Mee our guide spoke the most excellent English and made an informative guide and useful translator). He told us it was very dangerous but the boys who collect the steel are well trained and have a lot of experience. I think poverty makes people do really dangerous things.

Lee said I have to write about the ants. He's written a short dissertation to our friend Caroline about it - he's slightly obessed I think, but he's right in his observations. They are EVERYWHERE in Laos and there are so many different kinds in such huge numbers, you actually start to like them (apart from the big red ones that bite you).

We arrived in Vientiane and stayed at Le Parasol Blanc for one night as a bit of a treat. It was alright. Bit musty but colonnially quirky and a swimming pool (as it seems to be getting even hotter!). We took a local bus to the border and crossed the Friendship Bridge into Thailand (where there were suddenly no ants!). Went to get tickets from the train station for Bangkok and found no sleeper available for two days. And then only two seats/bunks. So we are looking forward to a cosy night tonight on an upper bunk with no air con (I think I can see where this is going). Been staying in the Mekong Guesthouse and it's very nice with great views across the river to Laos. All mod cons and now we're heading to our own apartment for a week of normality in Bangkok - yippee - dreaming of home made food and a real sofa to sit on ;-)