In Vientiane for the first time.
This has been a predetermined overseas tour, with prebooked tickets and long-reserved hotel accommodations. But I never thought I would end up unprepared. I packed less than necessary; have not bought US dollar bills, just informed my bank at the last minute to open my ATM card for withdrawal in Laos.
The actual tour started with queues, to check in, to pay travel tax, to immigration counter clearance. The travel partner this time is Auntie Myrna, and we met at the airport already. She flew in straight from Cagayan de Oro City.
We flew to KL via Cebu Pacific Air on the night of Oct 27 and landed in Malaysia at early dawn. We spent few hours at the airport then passed through Malaysian Immigration, then checked in for the connecting flight via AirAsia to Vientiane at 7am of Oct 28.
We were fortunate enough to be accommodated early at the New Lao Silk Hotel when we arrived before noon. The taxi ride was so quick despite the detour we have had at the City's Northern Bus Station to secure two VIP seats in a sleeper bus going to Luang Prabang. We were advised to secure bus tickets ahead of scheduled trip because the seat got easily sold out. We planned to leave for Luang Prabang that following night.
Auntie Myrna and I decided to kick off our city tour early after lunch upon knowing that most of the tour destinations are at walking distances from the hotel. We have reached several attractions before midafternoon, from Ano Voung Park in honor of their former king, Presidential Palace (but entry is not allowed), Wat Si Muang, Ho Phra Kew Temple and Museum, and Wat Si Saket. Temples here are impressive; Wat Si Saket foremostly.
To take a break from the biting heat of the sun, we settled at the Sweet Moo for a while, and binged on crepes and ice creams, before heading back to the hotel to nap. That evening after a short dinner, we resumed our walking tour and reached Patuxia Park and That Dam.
We reserved the tour to farther destination to the second day. We hired a tuktuk for 400,00kips and taxied the dusty roads to Buddha Park. It was the best tour I had in Vientiane, filled with ancient carved stones of buddhas and other religious characters for the Buddhists, representing both good and evil. Each section of the park tells religious stories. We spent longer time walking and taking pictures around, that we ran out of time to check another temple - the Pha That Luang - the symbol of Laos which is embedded in their national flag.
Upon arrival at Pha That Luang Temple, Auntie and I decided to simply take pictures from the outside briskly and headed back to the hotel to pack before the 12 noon check out time struck. Our 400,000kip-tour covered Buddha Park, That Luang Temple and Patuxia Park. But we declined to visit Patuxia because we've been there last night.
We tried looking for souvenir items after lunch but there were no interesting finds. We then spent our whole afternoon cafe-hopping, from pizzas to desserts, until our hired taxi picked us up and sent us off to the bus station.
 |
| Wat Si Saket |
This has been a predetermined overseas tour, with prebooked tickets and long-reserved hotel accommodations. But I never thought I would end up unprepared. I packed less than necessary; have not bought US dollar bills, just informed my bank at the last minute to open my ATM card for withdrawal in Laos.
 |
| Wat Si Muang |
The actual tour started with queues, to check in, to pay travel tax, to immigration counter clearance. The travel partner this time is Auntie Myrna, and we met at the airport already. She flew in straight from Cagayan de Oro City.
 |
| Ho Phra Kew Temple |
We flew to KL via Cebu Pacific Air on the night of Oct 27 and landed in Malaysia at early dawn. We spent few hours at the airport then passed through Malaysian Immigration, then checked in for the connecting flight via AirAsia to Vientiane at 7am of Oct 28.
 |
| Buddha collection surrounding Wat Si Saket |
We were fortunate enough to be accommodated early at the New Lao Silk Hotel when we arrived before noon. The taxi ride was so quick despite the detour we have had at the City's Northern Bus Station to secure two VIP seats in a sleeper bus going to Luang Prabang. We were advised to secure bus tickets ahead of scheduled trip because the seat got easily sold out. We planned to leave for Luang Prabang that following night.
 |
| The Presidential Palace |
Auntie Myrna and I decided to kick off our city tour early after lunch upon knowing that most of the tour destinations are at walking distances from the hotel. We have reached several attractions before midafternoon, from Ano Voung Park in honor of their former king, Presidential Palace (but entry is not allowed), Wat Si Muang, Ho Phra Kew Temple and Museum, and Wat Si Saket. Temples here are impressive; Wat Si Saket foremostly.
 |
| Patuxia Monument at night |
To take a break from the biting heat of the sun, we settled at the Sweet Moo for a while, and binged on crepes and ice creams, before heading back to the hotel to nap. That evening after a short dinner, we resumed our walking tour and reached Patuxia Park and That Dam.
 |
| That Dam covered with moss |
We reserved the tour to farther destination to the second day. We hired a tuktuk for 400,00kips and taxied the dusty roads to Buddha Park. It was the best tour I had in Vientiane, filled with ancient carved stones of buddhas and other religious characters for the Buddhists, representing both good and evil. Each section of the park tells religious stories. We spent longer time walking and taking pictures around, that we ran out of time to check another temple - the Pha That Luang - the symbol of Laos which is embedded in their national flag.
 |
| Inside the Buddha Park |
Upon arrival at Pha That Luang Temple, Auntie and I decided to simply take pictures from the outside briskly and headed back to the hotel to pack before the 12 noon check out time struck. Our 400,000kip-tour covered Buddha Park, That Luang Temple and Patuxia Park. But we declined to visit Patuxia because we've been there last night.
 |
| Outside Pha That Luang Temple |
 |
| Me and Auntie Myrna |
We tried looking for souvenir items after lunch but there were no interesting finds. We then spent our whole afternoon cafe-hopping, from pizzas to desserts, until our hired taxi picked us up and sent us off to the bus station.
 |
| Ano Voung Monument |
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