In our initial plan, Luang Prabang is one of our destination, because of time factor, we have no choice but choose Vang Vieng as alternative. Which is closer to Vientiane, and consume less time on the bus compare to Luang Prabang.

Pagodas are landmarks all around City of Vientiane. As we walk around the city, a lot of pagodas and wats along our way to Talat Sao bus station.

The pagoda shown above name That Dam, located at a round-about north-east of the central city.

Right beside Talat Sao bus station, there is a market place. A lot of local fruits, food and drinks for sale, of course together with the famous Beer Lao.

We happily bought a local made sanwich for our journey. Inside the hugh subway, there is pork, veggie, fruit, really have rich content, even the toast is too hard to bite.

There are also a lot of dried staff like jerkies, salted fish for sale in the market. As Vientiane is the only country in South East Asia which have no coaster line and there is no access to sea, salted fish is quite common there.

After some shooping at the market place, we easily found our bus to Vang Vieng, as the sign board written in english words. This bus don't have number, and depart by 11:30am.

The ticket price per pax to travel from Vientiane to Vang Vieng is 30,000kip, same on the return ticket.

Along the way north up, the bus make a short stop at the Meeting Point. No passenger is allow to leave the bus, unless those going for a transit. But they can purchase food and drinks from the merchant who selling near the windows.

As we step down the bus, it's almost 5:00pm, which is 3 hours late compare to what we've told. Well, we are not rushing. We feel lucky that we didn't take the Luang Prabang trip, maybe the estimated 7 hours would become 12 hours or more, ha ha.

The bus terminal (which is no longer used since 5th May 2008) is actually an airstrip. According to locals, this is a terminal for helicopters, small aeroplane, buses and tuk-tuk.

The longing Vang Vieng is in sight. Surrounded by rocky hill, make Vang Vieng a tranquil place.

We check in one of the guest house near the main street, namely Say Song Guest House and pay 40,000kip for a night there.

To get revenue for the local govenment, a bridge which connecting the township and the nature, is charging foreigners. Pedestrain have to pay 4,000kip for a return pass, whereas 6,000kip is payable by bycicler, motorcyclist pays 10,000kip, car pays 20,000 kip, and pick-up pays 28,000kip.

When the sun set, ducks get themselves out of the cooling river and seek for warmth for the night. It's going to rain tonight.

Thunder stormed the place whole night long, and It give me a good chance to test my photography skill, capture the thunder! After nearly 10 approaches, I manage to get this one:

A lightning strike throught the cloud, showing its claw in the sky, whilst water in the Nam Song River give a very nice reflection, composing a good picture. Another collectible for my album!

A tasty dinner, Laap, rice, curry (keng pat), together with a glass od local banana milkshake make our day.