Thursday, February 24, 2011

Vientiane local bus to airport.

The Vientiane local bus terminal is just across Talat Sao Mall.

Here you also have the international buses specifically to central,eastern and north eastern Thailand.
Most of the buses were brand new especially of the Korean make.













The local buses to Vang Vieng is also available here if you would like to have a taste of local experience.
It's a non air conditioned bus with many intermittent stops along the route picking up passengers and also loading goods including livestock.






A vendor selling traditional herbs.
 There is a natives products market which is beside the General Post office but it has been demolished possibly for upgrading and reconstruction.












Bus number 45 goes to Buddha Park(25km) via  the Friendship Bridge that spans the Mekong River and connects Thailand to Laos.

 After the immigration formalities,the first town on the Thai side is Nong Khai.
 In fact, Nong Khai is also the busiest border crossing point to Laos due to the "First Thai-Laos Friendship Bridge" which was opened on April 8, 1994.

It had been constructed at a cost of around US$30million, funded by the Australian government as development aid to Laos.


 Timetable of the local minibuses heading northward.
Looked like every 20 minutes there is a bus.
Bus 43 also pass by the Wattay Airport.
The bus driver will be the fares collector as well
It is wise that you tell him as you embark at the bus station your point of disembarkation as there is no bell in the bus.
Passengers have to shout aloud when nearing their stops.


If you're in town,you may also catch the minibuses No:043 at a bus stop right in front of the Laos Museum just across the Laos Cultural Centre.











The Dalavanth Guesthouse is beside a lane near the entrance road to the airport.
 It might be far from town but suitable for those who missed their flights.
It is off Luang Prabang Road which is opposite the Sikkhai Noodle Shop.







 
The duty-free outlet at Wattay International Airport has its exclusive product,Dao Coffee.
Visitors leaving Laos should not miss this locally produced highland coffee which is very rich in its aroma and taste.
It is of equal standards similar to those western cafe outlet.
The coffee beans are of the arabica and robusta type.
The operator of this duty free shop is the Dao Heuang Group of Company and that's where the name come from.
It is a family owned business which started small in the southern Laos town of Pakse.
Their coffee plantation at the Boloven Plateau is of the Arabica coffee being vastly planted and is considered the largest coffee plantation in Laos (240 ha).
Today it has grown into a very well diversified company and is a potential candidate to be listed on the Laos Stock Exchange in time to come.
 


"CHAMPA"whisky for USD6(duty free).
This must be a short-name for Champasak Province where Pakse is the capital and the hometown of Dao-Heuang Group of Companies.
It is being distilled,blended and bottled by Inter Spirits (Lao) Co Ltd, a subsidiary.
The content is 70cl with 40% alcohol volume.




A premium blended whiskey from vatted malt Scotch whiskey and grain spirit of highest quality.
 The "Red Bear" blended whiskey comes in a 70cl content with 40% alcohol.
This is locally produced flavour.
Price: USD4.
Laotian rice whiskey is called "Lao-Lao",a staple beverage for the people of Laos.
Various flavoured lao-laos are made by macerating such additives as honey or scorpions.
A less powerful version of lao-lao, called lao-hai, is especially popular with the Khamu ethnic group in Laos, and is drunk from large communal earthenware pots (hai="jug or pot") through long bamboo straws.
The Khmu are an agricultural society, although gathering, hunting, trapping and fishing are parts of the Khmu lifestyle. Khmu crops include rice, corn, bananas, sugar cane and a variety of vegetables.









An advertisement at the airport.
L.A.I.D=Laos Agar International Development Company.
It is a joint venture company with Lao Government situated in Donkhamxang, Vientiane, Lao PDR with another factory at Xaysomboun District.
Their specialty,the culture of agarwood, which is a kind of resin found inside the Acquilaria tree.
 The sale price of agarwood ranges from 960,000 kip (US$100) to 96 million kip (US$10,000) per kg, depending on the quality after seven years of growth.
The species is native to northern India , Laos , Cambodia , Malaysia , Indonesia and Vietnam and is the world's most expensive wood.
Its uses:-as incense and perfume oil to be used during religious ceremonies at temples and mosques. It is an extremely important component in traditional Japanese incense ceremonies, and Arab people use it as a fragrance on a daily basis. They burn it when they have a special function such as a festival or wedding, when receiving guests, and give it to each other as a gift.



SAVAN VILLA:-The most beautiful house in Laos near Vientiane.
It is located at Sekeud Village off the main Luang Prabang Road close to the National Sports Training Centre.
It's about 15 minutes drive from the Wattay International Airport.
Currently there are 3 completed villas available, with a cover area of 1300 – 1500square meters and building area of 379 - 410square meters.
Each one has 5 bedrooms 、4 bathrooms、1 nanny's room 、 1 swimming-pool and 1 garage.An exclusive suburb living homes.



A land in Xaithany District,about 20 minutes drive from town open for bidding.
Ban Sufa Garden Resort in Ban Nathom Village, Vientiane Xaithany district, Laos is within the vicinity.

Friday, February 18, 2011

Vientiane centre point.

The Presidential Palace,a short distance from Sabaidee Guesthouse.

Three of the main road arteries of Vientiane--Samsenthai Road(Laos National Cultural Center & Museum,Stadium), Setthathirat Road(Sabaidee Guesthouse,Wat Mixay,Wat Ong Teu,Wat Inpeng) and Fa Ngum Road(beside Mekong River), which run parallel to each other.

 These areas are the main tourists hub and backpackers haven.

 The Presidential Palace is at Chanta Khoummane Road junction.A classic example of French colonial architectural design.This is where all foreign dignitaries will be hosted by the Lao President.



That Dam Black Stupa,located at a small traffic circle off Lane Xang Avenue beside the American Embassy.
Another accessible route is off Pangkham Road via Phai Nam Road where a close up photography is allowed.
The stupa has some mythical belief of its cosmic power in protecting Vientiane from any aggression.





The Lane Xang Avenue  is the commercial and financial hub of Vientiane stretching from the Presidential Palace till the Patuxay Monument.

Notable buildings includes the Lao Telecommunications Co. Ltd, an affiliate of Thaicom (stock code:THCOM.BK) is the first operator to launch a 3G service in the country,

The company is 51 percent owned by the Lao government,while satellite and telecoms firm Thaicom has a 49 percent stake via an investment firm, Shenington Investments.
  The IDD code for calling the Lao PDR is 856. To dial or send an SMS text message from a mobile, start with +856 then the Lao number without a leading zero.

Within Laos, to call from a fixed line phone to a mobile, dial 020 then the number.


Vientiane's Morning Market (Talat Sao) is the main center point of Vientiane,

While the market itself is a shopper's paradise, plenty of other buying opportunities are worth checking out in this area especially behind the bus terminal where Khua Din Market is bustling with local business activities.
The covered part of this market sells dry goods very similar to those offered in Talat Sao, but often at a slightly cheaper price.

 For a truly local experience, venture to the uncovered back section. There you will find rickety stalls planted on the dirt floor selling local produce--everything from fruits and vegetables to freshly slaughtered pigs.

Wednesday, February 16, 2011

Vientiane northern bus terminal

Travelers from Luang Prabang  heading to Vientiane,Vang Vieng or Phonsavan have to go to Naluang Bus terminal which is for the southern  destinations.
Another terminal Kiew Lot Sai Nuan(near airport) is for northern route such as Huay Xai,Luang Namtha,Phonsaly or Udomxai.

06:00am:--Early express bus Luang Prabang to Vientiane.Fares:115,000 kips which was booked previous day.

08:30am:--Reached Xieng Ngeun District,many sharp corners along this hilly stretch

09:30am:--Ban Nammok,distance to Phoukhoun is 45km and Phatang 125km.

 11:00am:--Pass by Honsarab Primary School and Ban Phou Leu Elementary School.Looks like English must be the medium of instructions as noted by the school's name. Distance to Vang Vieng is 127km,Phou Khoun is 25 km.

11:20am:--Wat Phakaeng.

11:50am:--Reached a road junction,quite a busy town(Sameypho).Xaiphavang Guesthouse  in vicinity.(Tel:020-538988,2133774).A tour  agent  to Thummalort Landscape.Tel:020-5343339,5389888.

12:05noon:--Muang Baykalo,Ban Latcha.Along the way you could see the Lao Loum thatched houses nearby the main road.

12:30noon:--Ban Nam Paek,Ban Koe Kouang.

1:10pm:--Kasi,there were some Chinese restaurants here.

1:15pm:--Lunch time near a restaurant which is just like a rest area lay by for long distance travellers.
We had a half hour break.A simple three dishes rice cost 15,000 kips.

1:50pm:--More smaller towns emerged along the way,Ban Mong Ko,Vieng Kham,Vieng Thong,Bouam Puok.

2:10pm:--Dan Din

2:30pm:--Phatang,there's a Nadao Primary School.

2:45pm:--As the bus began to descend from the highlands, beautiful limestone hills landscape that looked  similar to that of Guilin in China's Guangxi Province.
Vang Vieng's spectacular valley surrounded by karsts mountains.

3:05pm:--Namone.

3:20pm:--Houaymo,another 14 km to reach Phon Phan.There's a Kham Heung Guesthouse beside  a huge lake.Toll gate at this point.Smaller towns. Ban Silivay and Ban Houaypat ahead.

4:30pm:--It's getting warmer as the bus descended towards the valley,now at Phochang District.In the far distance,the city of Vientiane(Viengchan) became noticeable.

4:50pm:--Ban Seoy Xoun and Bhumao Province,10km to ViengKham.

4:55pm:--The Nam Cheng River.

5:15pm:--Another toll gate at Nam Pa Nai.

5:20pm:--Ban Phone Kham Tai,a bustling town.You have the Sisaketh Construction Company Ltd,Houtaxai Kindergarten,Meng Lee Guesthouse,Maykale Guesthouse and the evening market about to start.

5:30pm:--Location now is at the outskirt of Vientiane passing by villages like Ban Tao Thane,Ban Phone Xay,Ban May,Ban Sivilay(Phuphet Guesthouse),Ban Bandi,Ban Nongsa.

5:45pm:--Ban Nanga village with Nakha Primary and Secondary School,Ban Songka(Songpeuai Primary School),Ban Soukhoung(Ilay Lower Secondary School and Rattana Business Administration College)in the vicinity.

 6:00pm:--Ban Pancheng with lots of big seafood restaurant here. Ban Si Keo(Lao Fuda Company Ltd,Nilamith Guesthouse,Bounkeuot School) and approaching junction to city center.

6:15pm:--The bus follows a direction to Nongdaung and finally arrived at the Northern Bus Terminal of Vientiane.

Vientiane's Northern International and Domestic Bus Terminal is very modern and huge about 5km on the outskirt of city.
Getting to the city relies on the tuk-tuk or the cheaper songtheaw services.Fares about be 20,000kips.
Wat Simuang temple area is where the many backpackers guesthouses were located (Thanon Setthathirat Road)




Located beside Thanon Setthathirat, Sabaidee Guesthouse was just beside TrueCoffee Restaurant A family owned guesthouse and the owner Mdm Noy is a Lao Loum whose hometown is in Luang Prabang.








 

Mdm Noy's younger son  manages the reception counter.
Her eldest son completed his degree in Information Technology from the University of Chiangmai and a SEA Games gold medalist in TaeKwanDo.








View of the mixed dorm double decker bed.
Lights off instruction at 10:00pm
Locker for shoes downstairs near main entrance,while individual lockers for backpacks near the beds.
Bathroom with hot water on shared basis.
Rates:USD8/night