Sabaidee! (Hello in Lao)
We are still in Vientiane, and enjoying our time here. Yesterday, we spent the day chasing down an enormous gold stupa (pagoda). It would seem easy enough to find, but we couldn't seem to locate it until we climbed to the top of the Victory Monument. The Victory Monument was built in 1962 with a gazillion tons of American cement. The cement was sent to build an airport in Vientiane, but those naughty Lao officials had different ideas, much to the disappointment of the US. The monument looks very impressive at a distance, kinda cool from a block or two away, and like a "concrete monster" (Laotian words, not mine) up close. Inside, the monument is depressing because nothing is finished well, it is none too clean, and certainly doesn't impress the fact that any major victory was achieved. Kasey and I climbed to the top of the monument to see to panorama of Vientiane and the tiny ribbon of the Mekhong in the background. It was more impressive than we expected, and we found the Golden Stupa (officially called That Muang)! We clambered downstairs, stopping only to buy a few Lao t-shirts, and headed off for the stupa. Along the way, we found plenty of embassies and more relief agencies than you can shake a stick at! (Kasey is unduly impressed with their Toyota Land Cruisers and Land Rovers...and they do seem pretty cool with those decals and all.) We made it, only to find it closed. Even closed, the stupa is magnificent. It is completely covered in gold and gleams in the afternoon sun. We took the requisite photos, peered through the cracks in the wall, and wandered around the outer gates. After our hot trek, we hopped in a tuk-tuk to see the last few stalls open in the market and walked to the Mekhong to watch a storm brewing somewhere over Thailand. (Ooh, cool lightening and thunder!)
Tomorrow, we will hop on a flight to Phnom Penh, Cambodia. We decided to save the time and money of over-landing it through southern Laos and northern Cambodia. That said, our next entries will be from Cambodia. We hope all is well with you all. Laos has been great and you've been a great audience. Thank you. Thank you very much.
(Kasey and Sarah have left Vientiane.)
Love to you all,
Sarah and Kasey
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