It was the last day in Laos, and we were back in Vientiane. It was Wan Phra, the four-times-monthly "Monk Day", or "Buddhist Sabbath". The Buddhist Sabbath doesn't fall on the say day every week, like the Jewish, Christian, or Muslim holy days, but instead changes week by week, based on the lunar calendar.
As it turned out, it was Wan Phra when we were in Vientiane, and all of the temples were decorated with prayer flags, and were bustling with people. We had already seen most everything there is to see in Vientiane, so we spent the day strolling through the town, popping in and out of temples along the way. Near the river, we came across a tiny but new-looking Chinese-style temple. It was the only one of the sort that we had seen in the heavily Theravada Buddhist Laos.
Vientiane is a small city, and it's easily crossed by foot. Still, we were feeling tired in the afternoon, and rested for a while at one of the town's numerous cafes. I wasn't quite ready to leave Laos, but our time in the country was nearly up. One month just wasn't long enough in Laos.
While I loved the time in Vietnam; I learned a lot, experienced so many amazing places, and ate a lot of delicious food, I wish I could have spent a little longer in Laos. It's got a much slower pace than Vietnam. The country is more rural, quieter, more peaceful. Vietnam is hectic, modern, colorful, and crazy. They are both amazing countries, but in completely different ways.
Now, I look forward to my next adventure. Who knows where I'll be heading next?...
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