Vientiane - Broken Bikes & Worlds Best Food

Vientiane - Broken Bikes & Worlds Best Food

So, a shortish bus journey to the capital of Laos, Vientiane, supposedly the worlds most laid back capital city, and it really is. We found a decent guesthouse, checked in, and i went for a look around. Roy was still rough from Vang Vieng, so stayed in. Had some good Vietnaese food, and went back to get ready for the night.

We heard about a good rooftop bar, so ventured there, and it was pretty decent, Roy came out, but felt rough, so went back to sleep it off. I decided to stay out, and walked along the river in search of more food, and stumbled across the greatest eating experience ever. Little outdoor restaurant, sat on cushions by the Mekong. I noticed tey served soup, which i can't get enough of over here, so pointed to noodle, as it said chicked, beef, veg, pork, fish, noodle. No, no, no he said, you cook yourself. For little over a pound, he brought over a basket full of herbs, veg & salad, fresh noodles, raw beef, pork, chicken, fish, an egg, fresh garlic, fresh chillies & a fresh chilli paste. Then a terracotta pot full of burning wood, and another pot

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on top of the fire filled with broth........and left me too it. I sat for a good hour, making all sorts of noodle, veg soups, first with beef, then chicken, then pork, then fish. ABSOLUTELY AMAZING, thats how everyone should eat.

Happy with myself i mooched back over to the rooftop bar, and got chatting to 2 girls from York, who were about to go up to Vang Vieng for tubing, then up to Bokeo for The Gibbon Experience, i was a little jealous to say the least. I then went to, and i'm embarrassed to say this, the Hare & Hounds to watch the football, only place showing it, so had no choice!

Nexy day we were up early and hired bikes to see all the sights, not mountain bikes, proper city bikes with bells & baskets, they were great. Until i was flying down a busy road surrounded by traffic and the pedal decided it couldn't be arsed anymore and just gave in, and flew off into the road. What followed was a good 50 yards of panic wobbling all over, but i somehow managed to get to the pavement safely, and go back for my

Best meal ever

lazy ass pedal! Now i was stuck miles from the hotel, still with stuff to see, in the searing heat, and with a very old heavy bike to push around. Managed to see everything, then walked my bike the 4km back to the hotel, balanced the pedal back on, and handed it in. No way i was telling the guy, he would have probably charged me.

That night, after the best dining experience ever, i had one of the worst meals ever, absolute shocker. Anyway, had a few beers, and had an early-ish night.

Back up early again, and i had a walk round the city, but decided i needed a baki again, so hired one from the same guy, took it round the corner, got off it and gave it a good kicking, just to make sure nothing fell off it, it didn't, so i happily continued.

Went back to the Arc d' Triomphe replica i saw the day before, but this time went to the top for some great city views. Carried on up to the National Football stadium, again, no real security, so walked onto the pitch, not much too it really, i've played

and again

in bigger...... o make sure i saw a lot, i purposely got lost so i could have a good look around, and found a Folk Bar serving tapas. I was starving, but they told me they only had 1 tapas left off the whole menu. It was a Croquetas type of deal, and it turned up frozen in the middle, i was starving so instead of complaing, lapped it up!

That night was another cracking meal, really popular kitchen place, where you get all sorts of ingredients and you make up your own dishes, really nice. I also tried the Laos Beer Dark, which is very tasty, and a shocking 6.5%!

Currently in Malaysia, christ its the most humid of humid places you can imagine