Images - Laos - Vientiane & car woes

Back in Vientiane - digging up the Mekong in dry season Back in Vientiane - digging up the Mekong in dry season At Wat Sisaket, Vientiane's oldest surviving temple At Wat Sisaket, Vientiane's oldest surviving temple Happy nights with new friends in 'Wind West' Happy nights with new friends in 'Wind West' With Jonathan, our kind host for a long weekend With Jonathan, our kind host for a long weekend The 'Arc de Triomphe' (Pratuxai Monument), Rue Lane Xang, Vientiane The 'Arc de Triomphe' (Pratuxai Monument), Rue Lane Xang, Vientiane Monks' procession Monks' procession Petang (local spelling) in Vientiane Petang (local spelling) in Vientiane Mekong riverfront, Fa Ngum Road, Vientiane Mekong riverfront, Fa Ngum Road, Vientiane Crumbling relic of colonialism Crumbling relic of colonialism Party propaganda still points to a different future Party propaganda still points to a different future Looking over the Nam Khan River from The Apsara Rive Droit, Luang Prabang Looking over the Nam Khan River from The Apsara Rive Droit, Luang Prabang Sumptuous breakfast at The Rive Droit Sumptuous breakfast at The Rive Droit Delicious, but not for monks I'm afraid Delicious, but not for monks I'm afraid Maintenance at the Wat Maintenance at the Wat Colourful Rue Phothisarat, Luang Prabang Colourful Rue Phothisarat, Luang Prabang Parasols for sale in the night market Parasols for sale in the night market Trying to eke a living selling flowers Trying to eke a living selling flowers Sunrise over Luang Prabang Sunrise over Luang Prabang Morning alms giving procession behind Wat Sene Morning alms giving procession behind Wat Sene Sticky rice donations in exchange for merit Sticky rice donations in exchange for merit Silence and solemnity rule Silence and solemnity rule Alms collected, back to the Wat Alms collected, back to the Wat 4.30pm, Friday 12th Feb, somewhere remote - start of a new car disaster 4.30pm, Friday 12th Feb, somewhere remote - start of a new car disaster Phonsavanh's mechanics. Looking keen, but are they competent? Phonsavanh's mechanics. Looking keen, but are they competent? "Is there ANY way we can get back to Luang Prabang?" "Is there ANY way we can get back to Luang Prabang?" A really, really nervous moment A really, really nervous moment Watching, waiting, hoping Watching, waiting, hoping 2nd cracked cylinder head in 6 weeks 2nd cracked cylinder head in 6 weeks Cleaning our rebuilt engine with high pressure diesel Cleaning our rebuilt engine with high pressure diesel Never trust a mechanic who wears slippers in the garage Never trust a mechanic who wears slippers in the garage How many Lao mechanics does it take to put an engine back in? Not enough... How many Lao mechanics does it take to put an engine back in? Not enough... Sunrise in Phonsavanh - as pretty as it gets Sunrise in Phonsavanh - as pretty as it gets We got to know Phonsavanh's morning produce market pretty well We got to know Phonsavanh's morning produce market pretty well Lao Indochina War Memorial, Phonsavanh Lao Indochina War Memorial, Phonsavanh A morning off from the garage, learning about silkworms and mulberries A morning off from the garage, learning about silkworms and mulberries New silkworms eating mulberry leaves New silkworms eating mulberry leaves Traditional raw silk dyeing Traditional raw silk dyeing Spinning raw, dyed silk Spinning raw, dyed silk A happy weaver A happy weaver "Well what the hell's wrong with it now?" "Well what the hell's wrong with it now?" He's happy now he's got 9.2 million kip in his hand... He's happy now he's got 9.2 million kip in his hand... We made it 240km from Phonsavanh before breaking down again We made it 240km from Phonsavanh before breaking down again Our knight in shining armour (don't care if its not appropriate use of EU funds!) Our knight in shining armour (don't care if its not appropriate use of EU funds!) Ready for towing - not a good advert for Toyota Ready for towing - not a good advert for Toyota 11.15pm, Thursday 18th Feb: 60km & 4 hours later - finally back at The Apsara11.15pm, Thursday 18th Feb: 60km & 4 hours later - finally back at The Apsara

Last Updated on Saturday, 20 February 2010 05:58