Day 101 Riding round town

13/06/13
I started the day by meeting Sebastian at 08.00 and then we went to one of the local markets for breakfast. We walked back to the hostel then parted ways. I hired a bike to cycle round the city. My first port of call was the Vietnamese Embassy, to get a visa. When I got there I walked in the gate and into the receptionists office where I was promptly told to return at 14.00 as there was a meeting going on, so with 4 hours to kill I headed to Pha That Luang. Pha That Luang is the most important national monument in Laos as it has both religious and national significance but I personally didn't find it that special, I much preferred my second stop, Patuxai. Patuxai could be mistaken for the Arc de Triumphe (at a glance anyway), if you translate it, it does actually mean arch of triumph. It has 4 arches instead of 2 and the road leading up to it could never be mistaken for the Chympees Elycee although the view from the top isn't too shabby. I went back to the embassy even though it had been just over an hour, this time I spoke to the security guard who allowed me in and 15 minutes later, after filling out a form and handing over a lot of money and my passport, I left. After lunch I went to the National Museum which was very interesting and probably the best museum I have been to in Asia. The rest of the afternoon was spent trying to find an internet cafe, I found a couple but their wifi wasn't working, I eventually found one and wasted 2 hours there. I went for dinner alone at the same place as yesterday and I bumped into Sebastian who was sitting along the river front. Back at the hotel we joined 3 other travellers and just chatted away for over 4 hours.

Pha That Luang 

Laos Arc de Triumphe

The view down the 'Chympees Elycee'