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LAOS VIENTIANE As soon as we arrive in Laos we see that it is noticeably more peaceful and chilled out than anywhere we have been previously, possibly more chilled out that anywhere on the planet - OK so we haven't been everywhere on the planet (yet) but this place must be a contender. Everywhere we look there are people asleep in their pickups/tuk tuks and the capital city is little more than a dusty town from what we can see. We check in a the hotel and after our usual power nap following overnight/early morning travel we head out to explore. It doesn't take us long as there is not much to see in the capital. It is a pretty little town with a lot of riverside cafes and restaurants, but not that much else. There are a few monuments just out of the town - which we have to confess we don't bother to take in, we did feel guilty about this but we were a bit 'templed out' by this point - but other than that the place seems to be all about good food and relaxation which is fine by us. Perhaps we don't do it the full justice but hey we only have a day and the indolence here is kind of infectious! We sort out our one priority number 1 task of getting some money as there are no cash points anywhere other than Vientiane in Laos and you can't bring the currency in or out of the country, so we draw out all of our cash for the next fortnight, weird. We must add that the ATM only gives you a very very small amount at a time so after 10 withdrawals later we are good to go. Next up, we have to try 'Beer Lao' of course (think Stella but with rocket fuel added - it makes those 'wife beaters' look a bit soft!) a somewhat legendary beer on the travellers circuit. At first we are pretty impressed, particularly as it is cheap, you see a pattern here with us don't you, but 2 weeks later when we realise there is literally no other beer on sale in Laos the charm of Beer Lao has worn a little thin. Vientiane shuts down totally after 10.30pm - we nearly miss out on dinner as we didn't realise you couldn't get food after about 10pm - so it is time for an early night in preparation for the bus up to Vang Vieng the following day. Oh and Sarah splits open her toe again, in a repeat of a Christmas Eve mishap, not good preparation for the carnage that is Vang Vieng.
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