Luang Prabang expansion and Vientiene thefts

If any of you read my posts and like the sound of Luang Prabang, get there quick. There is a plan afoot to expand the airport so it can take more and larger planes. Currently there are only around 70,000 passengers per year arrive by plane. There are also some problems about the ruling not allowign large coaches into the World Heritage centre of Luang Prabang.

The Vientiene Times also reported arrests after a spate of bag thefts by people on motorbikes, so watch out if you are walking around.

Vientiene

I reluctantly left (I say that for almost every place!) Vang Vieng yesterday, at least one climbing day short, never saw any caves, never hired any motorbikes, but I had to head south to get to Cambodia :-( I had breakfast at the organic cafe and was reminded of yet more volunteer opportunities I would have liked to have done, then went back to grab my rucksack instead of heading to the motorbike hire shop!?!

Again, I walked past the tuk tuks dropping off people for the tourist cattle 'VIP' bus, headed to the songtheaw (will have to check the spelling - basically a shared pickup taxi) beepnig it's horn...
"Vientiene?"
"Yes thanks"
Within seconds, a friendly groan from the driver after lifting my pack onto the roof (next to the obligatory motorbike..remember this is just an old toyota pickup, with seats in the back and a roof, with loads of folk piled in), and we were off, me on the back, feet hanging out from the seat - the best view in town, natural aircon, and I could get a tan, and help take the rice off the roof at the stops, and wave back to the locals when they see a white face in a pickup that has the most regular 'VIP' bus service in Laos.

I had a quick wander around Vientiene this afternoon, and decided I'd have a long lie tomorrow. If I was more alert I would have probably just went direct to Pakse tonight. The journey's not as bad as I thought - leave 8pm, in around 6am (ish!) so that's my plan...although as it's a biggie and much more of a biggie on local buses, I'll be trying the $15 VIP option, and will probably just buy it from an agent to get picked up.