Savannahket and Pakse- Laos

From Vientiane we travelled by local bus to Savannahket. There was not much to do so we watched the unloading of the ferry from Thailand. All the tuk tuk and motorcycle drivers carried the goods from the boat and were paid per load so there was a flurry of activity as they got as many loads as they could up and down the slippery steps.

We did not see many Laos - produced packaged groceries in Laos but many from Thailand.

After one night here and a noisy storm we caught a crowded local bus to Pakse. At every stop the local food stall holders leapt onto the bus trying to sell their food.They had lotus flower seeds, fried crickets, barbecued chicken on bamboo skewers as well as dried beef. There were also skewered hard boiled eggs and pig intestines.

The locals like to shut the windows and curtains and sleep so after they have eaten they throw the rubbish on the floor or out of the window and in the heat the bus smells like the inside of a stale rotisserie cooker! In Pakse there were many fish farms like this one along the river bank.