Journey South

Off early on the bus to Vientiane and the usual stops at various toilet/cafes along the way gives me a chance to model my wonderful travelling trousers, I love them! The most practical trousers, elasticated hems prevent mossie's having free reign of my under carriage, also can be pushed up the leg in readiness for squat loos, saggy crutch and elasticated waist allow for food excess and reduced heat chafing.

After checking in to our hotel we have a little daylight left to explore and spend the remainder of the afternoon walking around the city, stopping to avoid the heat at the outdoor public swimming pool.  Being a Sunday many of the shops, bars and restaurants are closed, only the larger remain open for business.  We pass by what I think is a pet store with an assortment of puppies draped, panting in cages, not a bowl of water in sight.  A nice thought was to return under darkness and release them onto the streets, sense of course prevails (my mother will be pleased to hear).  A quick shower and we're off in the hunt for food, the city is a mass of lights, tour groups and street dogs.  Passing the 'pet store' again and all you can hear is howling, I feel sad and helpless.

We eventually settle for Kop Chai Deu and manage to worm our way into an outside terrace table.  We have had better meals in the smaller more basic restaurants or at street vendors but the atmosphere is fun and the array of large tour groups and their guides makes for interesting people watching.

Bed awaits and another early start for the journey on to Pakse.  Our guesthouse included free airport transfers so we'd booked one for 8am but various reviews had warned these rarely arrived and if they did were never on time.  We, therefore, planned to go for breakfast at 7am giving us time to politely remind them and if necessary catch our own tuktuk. No surprise, no transfer but we managed to share with some other travellers leaving at 8.30am.  We had deliberated loads on how to get to Pakse, 12 hour overnight bus or 1 hour flight but an obvious cost and time difference.  Another important factor was also wanting to be with Bryan (Matt's friend) and his son James for New year, as Matt had previously taken the 12 hour bus and said he really hadn't enjoyed it the decision was made. Pakse here we come...