Vientiane is a city of just over 800,000. It is also the capital of Laos. We experienced a similar slowish pace as Luang Prabang here. Most of the motorcycles didn’t speed. People easily crossed the streets.
We stayed at a hotel next to a fountain. During the day, kids would wade in it.
We took off on foot, passing the presidential palace and the huge Embassy of Brunei, eventually arriving at the Sisaketh Museum. There has been much devastation of temples through the years, including in the 1800’s when many temples were burned by invaders. This is where many of the buddhas have ended up.
From here we hailed a Tuk Tuk to take us to COPE (Cooperative Orthotic and Prosthetic Enterprise) Visitor Center. Since its creation in 1996, COPE’s work has helped thousands of people with mobility-related disabilities, including UXO survivors, access prosthetic and orthotic services, allowing them to regain mobility and dignity.
They enable access to:
- Prosthetic devices
- Orthotic devices
- Other mobility assistive devices
- Clubfoot treatment
- Physiotherapy and occupational therapy
- Related surgical procedures
We went on to find sustenance and break for the afternoon. Ellen made a new friend.
We found dinner and then hit the market along the Mekong. BTW, the other bank of the river is Thailand.
When we got back to the hotel, we met a very interesting couple, Cheri (?) and Marty, who had been with the State Department all over the world for several decades. We ran into them the next morning whilst having coffee. Marty showed me some of the photographic portraits he has made over the years. I was in awe. We also heard about the children in Cambodia they had helped through the years…inspirational. Hope to see them in Lilydale some day.
