Hello Vientiane!

Now we sadly left behind 4000 amazing islands and made our way to the next bus station in Pakxe. We took an overnight bus to Vientiane, the capital of Laos. We have already been on several bus rides, but it's a bit different in every country. The bus had small compartments for sleeping, just enough space for 2... well... for 2 short-legged people... like an Asian, for example. So... it looked quite cozy at first glance... but it wasn't!

After 10 hours with bent legs, we arrived in Vientiane. We didn't stay here long because there wasn't much to do. Nevertheless, we liked it because, for a capital city, especially an Asian capital city, it was unbelievably quiet and civilized! The principle of deceleration applies even here, running like a common thread through Laos! We called it the "oasis of Southeast Asia"! Even in the usually vibrant markets, there was an incredible calmness. No "Looki Looki to my Shop" or the popular phrase we heard in Vietnam: "Hellooo... buy something!" - A sales strategy that we can't understand anyway 😉

But not with the Laotian... we were greeted with a friendly "Sabaidii" (Hello/Good Day!) and then left alone. A truly peaceful fellow. Well, maybe we are just too damaged by now 😉

Furthermore, there is a lot of (in our eyes) high-quality art, exquisite fabrics made of Laotian silk, and fine handicrafts. Apparently, people know how to live here (was it the French colonial influence??)...

But the most beautiful thing about Laos is... the many, many Frangipani flowers!! Lieschen loves them a lot and there are countless of them, on every corner, street after street!! Love it!! 😊