Solo Overland Backpacking Trip to Thailand and Laos – Part 28: We Meet Again

Previously: Part 27: Time to Bid Goodbye

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Still Day 7: Sunday, 1 September 2013

Since the museum was closed, I decided to do a quick walking tour around Vientiane. Vientiane is so relaxing despite its capital status.  No hooha here and there or honking now and then. I remembered reading a signboard stating Nam Phou Fountain and so, I decided to check that out.

Memandangkan muzium tutup, aku pun buat keputusan untuk jalan-jalan pusing Vientiane. Vientiane ni walaupun ibu negara, tapi tenang aja. Tak adanya nak trafik jam ke, hon sana hon sini ke. Tengah jalan-jalan, aku teringat aku ada nampak papan tanda tulis Nam Phou Fountain. Dah tak tahu nak ke mana, aku pun pergi jelah situ.

In broad daylight, this place is nothing but just a square with cafes and bars surrounding the square. I was told that the fountain will operate at night time with colour and musics illuminating the atmosphere. There are even live bands performing at night.

Siang hari, tempat ni tak ada apa pun. Cuma ada dataran dengan kelilingnya ada kafe dan bar. Tapi, aku dengar kata malam ada lampu warna-warni dengan muzik. Kadang-kadang ada live band lagi.

I walked further towards the shop houses and suddenly, I met Yuya and Hibiki again. They were leaving to Thailand today too and just like me, they were wandering the city before boarding the evening train back to Bangkok. Such a small city, otherwise you won’t bumped into each other just like that.

Aku jalan lagi menuju ke rumah-rumah kedai dan tiba-tiba aku terserempak dengan Yuya dan Hibiki. Hari ni hari terakhir diorang sebab diorang pun akan balik ke Thailand petang ni. Memang kecil je Vientiane ni, kalau tak tak ada lah nak terserempak sampai macam ni sekali.

One thing I love about Vientiane is the view. I love the view with French signboards on government offices (though I am pretty sure that most locals can’t speak French), the view where vendors pushing their carts and backpackers/travellers/tourists or whatever we call them – zigzagging the streets, the scene at the market. The warm weather but cloudy. This place will be hard for me to forget, I am sure.

Satu benda yang aku suka pada Vientiane ialah pemandangannya. Walaupun Vientiane ni bandar, tapi dia ada karisma yang tersendiri. Ada papan tanda dalam bahasa Perancis yang mana ironinya, ramai rakyat tempatan tak tahu pun berbahasa Perancis. Ada penjual tolak kereta sorong dan traveller dengan backpack berat jalan ke sini ke sana. Cuacanya yang baik tapi mendung. Memang susah nak dijelaskan dengan kata-kata.

After a while, I took refuge from the scorching sun inside the Talat Sao Mall – and again, I met those two Japanese boys. After a quick Hi and Bye, I bought some postcards, sat on a cafe and jotted down my words onto the postcards – one for my future self and also for my friends.

Dah puas jalan-jalan, sebab panas sangat, aku masuk dalam Talat Sao Mall. Tak sangka, jumpa lagi dengan dua mamat Jepun, si Hibiki dan Yuya. Lepas dah ber Hi dan Bye, aku pergi satu kedai ni beli poskad. Aku duduk kat satu kafe dan mula menulis poskad, untuk kawan dan juga untuk diri aku sendiri.

Have you been to Vientiane? What do you think of it?

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To be continued – Part 29

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Vientiane can be explored on foot and by bicycles. 

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