We spent a few astonishingly hot days in Vientiane (pronounced Wieng Chan - go figure), the capitol of Laos. The strangest local attraction is Patuxai, an "imitation" of the Arc de Triomphe made from concrete donated by the United States towards the construction of an airport.
The main sight in Vientiane is Pha That Luang, which is said to house a piece of the buddha's breastbone and serves as the national symbol of Laos.Vientiane sits on the banks of the Mekong River. A BeerLao in the shade overlooking the water was a welcome respite from the heat.
Another escape from the weather was the central market, where we watched children gambling:
And tasted cream-filled "sweet penguins":
The section of the market selling religious goods (insence, votives, medicinal herbs, etc.) was particularly interesting.At the night market we saw our first fried frogs.
On our last day in town we visited the bizarre collection of statues at the Buddha Park just outside town. 
The most significant discovery in Vientiane was its developement. Like Bangkok, in comparison to our experiences in India, Laos was looking mighty advanced. The city has reliable infrastructure, easy access to transport, and lots and lots of tourists. Fine by us, we had our first steak and pizza in months:)xoxo Jessie
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