We made it here after a cautious drive from Luang Prabang... another group of overlanders have been held up by a landslide whch has blocked the same road... we may leave countries which collapse into civil wars, but we seem to be one step ahead so far.
Vientiane has that French touch to it. The baby "Arc de Triumf"... sorry French friends I can remember how to spell it... had avenues leading to two sides of it. Any way, Jo, Kirsten and I did a Tuk Tuk tour of the city... we did all the sites and tried to see the National Museum, but it was shut. We favour the form of transport because the open sides make it cool on a hot day.
The Mekong is very high so there are sand bags everywhere. The Buddha Park has very wet, and a bit smelly, but it was worth visiting. We visited four temples and wizzed passed the Friendship Bridge that links Laos to Thailand.
Two more days and we will be in Vietnam.
I'm tracking you Ann. I went to Chiang Mai on my honeymoon - that was in 1973. Guess it's changed! Thanks for the postcards. All is well here. I'm about to go to France for a couple of weeks and then the MA starts in October (got a 2:1). Storrington doing well with the blessing of the Matt's wood, and the statue of Our Lady being on 21st September. Vines are growing enormously (lots of rain) but we are not allowed to collect grapes yet - I think that has to wait till 2009 - by which time you might be back. Love Catherine