Back in Vientiane this morning and I actually slept in for the first time in ages getting up at 11am, guess I needed it. My only real goal today other than wandering around aimlessly was to go to a travel agent here and have them extend my visa, and maybe have them do my Cambodian visa aswell. I've gotten used to it, but its no less amazing that in SE asia you don't even have to see a immigration official to get a visa. You can pay someone to get it for you! So after a quick breakfast/lunch, I headed to the nearest office. Since I only wanted an extra 7 days in Laos, it wasn't enough for them to make a profit so they told me to go to immigration my self. However if I wanted a full Cambodian visa and a new Lao visa they'd be happy to. Forget it, I'll do it myself. A quick look at my map and a 30 minute walk later, I was there but they were on lunch till 1pm. Once they were back I filled out my very simple form, handed over the money and was told to pick up my passport in the AM with my new stamp. :-) A mere $2 a day to extend in really nothing, and just too easy. I was just going to make a B line for the islands but theres just no reason for me to skip anything and rush. Grab the extension and take my time in southern Laos on my way to Cambodia.....

     Leaving the immigration office I headed further down the road to my favorite place here in the capital, the arch. Just has such a nice feel to it, I didn't really get to walk around the entire park last time. Looking it all over, it still had a great feel the 2nd time around.

      Walking along the left side sticking out like throwing the white house in a farm is what I believe to be the government offices here, although there are no signs. It's not that there isn't a main road here, there is, it's just that nothing, and I mean nothing building wise in the capital is anywhere near as large, tall, or for that matter so pleasing to the eye. further the surrounding roads all lead to smaller and smaller places. I guess that just how it is in the worlds smallest capital city.

     At the edge of the park grounds, there is a gong given to Laos by Indonesia after a world peace conference. The gong is really nice and having every countries flag on it really does seem like a great token. To say it makes you feel all warm inside would be a huge exaggeration, but it was worth a look for sure. I wonder if anyone ever whacks away at it to ring the gong?

      To tired from the heat to walk back, I grabbed a tuk tuk but before I could take off someone asked me to take some pictures for them. The overly flamboyant man was very particular even telling me to re-due some of the pictures, but I could tell he meant nothing by it, just his nature. Back in town and in the room, time to rest before getting dinner and grabbing some latte's. One good thing about this town, it's very French and has alot of comforts that although far from Lao are enjoyable now and then, especially when theres a river across the street.

( All videos and photo's are up! :-P )