Boring capital of Laos - Vientiane

Upon reaching Vientiane, i had a very difficult time looking for a place to stay. Being a big city, i would expect there to be a big range of different lodgings. The 3 that i narrowed down to be the cheapest were either full, closed for renovation or is a rubbish dump. The rest of the guesthouse is just downright expensive for its worth. After an hour of searching with my 10kg backpack, I have to bite the bullet and settle for a very basic and clean Joe Guesthouse (50k kip=$10). For this price i am paying, i dont even have a toilet of my own. :(
Joe Guesthouse(50k kip=$10) Ouch!
Decided to talk a walk to the main market in the capital, Talat Sao market. Which also comprises of a bus station and a shopping mall. On the way there, i saw Oliver (Shanghai guy i met in Luang Prabang and Vang Vieng) riding a pink bicycle in his bright orange jacket! And the weather is super hot!

Talat Sao shopping mall really resembles MBK shopping center in Bangkok. Lots of clothings, gifts and many pirated stuff to be found.

Openly selling pirated movies!
Talat Sao Shopping Center. Paradise for the female gender
Much-needed chocolate waffle
Many Vietnam-influenced food here

While scouring the streets, i came across this sign Yensabai Show and decided to go check it out. While buying the tickets for the show (US$7), i was greeted by yet another Anehasayo!! by 2 middle age korean ladies who are waiting for the show. Through them, i came to know that this show is partly sponsored and supported by the Korean community and that explained why half of the audience are Koreans and there is even a Korean description about the show. Traditional Laos dance
Stick dance
Little gift at the end
Piece of orange string haha!
And they invite you for a short intro to Laos dance at the end
The end!

Being the capital, Vientiane is rather bland in terms of sights and attractions compared to other towns. For me, the main focus of my stay here would be trying the different varieties of food here. Usually when i eat, i always choose the one full of locals. Even though this noodle soup looks commonly bland, it is by far the best soup i have tasted in Laos. And cheap too 10k kip=$2
Be warned that most shops have menus that look like this, unless you can read Laos. The only way is to point to a random one and hope for the best.
Another popular hole in the wall shop with tasty food. Crispy noodle with beef gravy, my 2nd dinner for the night. (13k kip=$2.50)
Vietnamese food! (again it was very crowded the night before)

The next day i hopped on a bus to Xieng Khuan Buddha Park (5k kip=$1 admission). One of the few sights available in this place. packed to the brim mini bus(5k kip=$1). Take bus no. 14 from Talat Sao bus staion
Weird statue considering this is buddha park. Is this even a buddha?
Arrow to the head!!
Many morecheeky monk! Anyway he was the one who told me that the structure we were on is called the Tree of Thorns where sinners would have to climb. Ouch!
Remember this picture i took for CNY
This is where i was when i took it. We entered through the mouth, climb a series of narrow stairs and emerge at the bottom of the tree at the top! Phew!
Great Stupa, Phat That Luang. An iconic monument in Laos

It cost another 5k kip to go into the compound and i would seriously recommend saving it. There is nothing inside at all, just the fact that you can get close to the Stupa. Truth be told, it looks far more grand from afar.

After just 2 days, Vientiane is starting to bore me. There really is very little to do here and so i decided to move on the next day. My last dinner in the capital of course had to be something special. Went to Ban Anou night market which is a small 20m side alley with a dozen stalls selling all kinds of food. Dinner for tonight? BBQ by the riverside sunset. Street snack made of coconut
BBQ meat, a favourite of Lao people. You can find this practically EVERYWHERE in Laos
Delicious meat jerky. One of the tastiest meat i ever had
Of course, the famous BBQ chicken with a big bag of sticky riceCycled to the riverside together with my food for a sunset picnic!

Next destination, adventourous Tha khaek!