Mr Earls Lost in Laos, part one

[Mr Earl]

After a delightful drive through Issaan and a tow night stay in ChIang Khan we arrived in Vientiane.

First night wanting to eat by the river we went to Don Chans Palace a hideous sterile monstrosity by the river.



They had a ilttle restaurant by the river. Can't recommend it though the food was ok and the staff tried hard to overcome the stupid atmosphere.
Much better to go by the river walk closer to center of town

Saw this little Chinese sport model near the center square



The arc of Triomphe



to be continued...

[Mr Earl]

A Vientiane temple



Vientiane really doesn't offer too much to see. I thought it a bit boring overall and stifled by the government.

A drum tower:



Vang Vien was a bit more interesting with the mountains, people and doggies.







The main road up to Vang Vien:



This was a pretty typical view while driving through a town throughout Laos.
Kids going to school on bicycles. The local NGO drivers just haul ass through, I went slow mostly through the villages.
To be continued....

[buad hai]

Nice pics. Thanks. Did you drive your car across the boarder?

[ChiangMai noon]

I'm looking forward to when he gets lost.

[mrsquirrel]

Those are not represenatative shots of Vang Vien.

Where are the Israeli fuck wits? THere is not one shot of "The Great Unwashed" in any of those photos.

Why didn't you go to the nice blue lagoon and swim in the freakishly cold water and let the fish feed around you.

[Mr Earl]

I rented a Ford Ranger 4x4x4 in Vientiane. 2.5 turbo intercooled with LSD.

Yea Vang Vien was a trendy overpriced hippy shit-hole for the most part.
I tried to use and internet shop who advertised "super high speed" to upload some pics on the way back down from the the north. I tested it before I committed any time and got a blistering 80kbps download and 110 upload. I told the guy that wasn't going to work. And he said what did I expect from him? "This is Laos" TIL
Massage ladies in Vang Vien were crap and since the Scandinavian bakery doesn't have a branch there isn't a descent cup of coffee in town.
Vang Vien also has the "couch video bar". This is were dirty hippy mutts rub their dirty feet on a couch while watching a video. All in all a revolting concept.

[Happyman]

A



Saw this little Chinese sport model near the center square





to be continued...

Wonderful!!!
We had 3 on a plantation site in Vietnam ( JV -China/Indonesia/Vietnam, and they were amazing - Two were fitted with Chinese petrol engines and the third had a retrofitted 45hp Hatz aircooled diesel!
They were unstoppable (and extremely agricultural) hardly a bolt less than 12 mm - all repairs only needed one spanner and a hammer but bloody amazing.
Never found out what they were called
The staff called them "Land Cruisers" - Mr Toyota was probably turning in his grave !