Vientiane & car woes

Back in Vientiane - digging up the Mekong in dry season Back in Vientiane - digging up the Mekong in dry season
At Wat Sisaket, Vientiane's oldest surviving temple At Wat Sisaket, Vientiane's oldest surviving temple
Happy nights with new friends in 'Wind West' Happy nights with new friends in 'Wind West'
With Jonathan, our kind host for a long weekend With Jonathan, our kind host for a long weekend
The 'Arc de Triomphe' (Pratuxai Monument), Rue Lane Xang, Vientiane The 'Arc de Triomphe' (Pratuxai Monument), Rue Lane Xang, Vientiane
Monks' procession Monks' procession
Petang (local spelling) in Vientiane Petang (local spelling) in Vientiane
Mekong riverfront, Fa Ngum Road, Vientiane Mekong riverfront, Fa Ngum Road, Vientiane
Crumbling relic of colonialism Crumbling relic of colonialism
Party propaganda still points to a different future Party propaganda still points to a different future
Looking over the Nam Khan River from The Apsara Rive Droit, Luang Prabang Looking over the Nam Khan River from The Apsara Rive Droit, Luang Prabang
Sumptuous breakfast at The Rive Droit Sumptuous breakfast at The Rive Droit
Delicious, but not for monks I'm afraid Delicious, but not for monks I'm afraid
Maintenance at the Wat Maintenance at the Wat
Colourful Rue Phothisarat, Luang Prabang Colourful Rue Phothisarat, Luang Prabang
Parasols for sale in the night market Parasols for sale in the night market
Trying to eke a living selling flowers Trying to eke a living selling flowers
Sunrise over Luang Prabang Sunrise over Luang Prabang
Morning alms giving procession behind Wat Sene Morning alms giving procession behind Wat Sene
Sticky rice donations in exchange for merit Sticky rice donations in exchange for merit
Silence and solemnity rule Silence and solemnity rule
Alms collected, back to the Wat Alms collected, back to the Wat
4.30pm, Friday 12th Feb, somewhere remote - start of a new car disaster 4.30pm, Friday 12th Feb, somewhere remote - start of a new car disaster
Phonsavanh's mechanics. Looking keen, but are they competent? Phonsavanh's mechanics. Looking keen, but are they competent?
"Is there ANY way we can get back to Luang Prabang?" "Is there ANY way we can get back to Luang Prabang?"
A really, really nervous moment A really, really nervous moment
Watching, waiting, hoping Watching, waiting, hoping
2nd cracked cylinder head in 6 weeks 2nd cracked cylinder head in 6 weeks
Cleaning our rebuilt engine with high pressure diesel Cleaning our rebuilt engine with high pressure diesel
Never trust a mechanic who wears slippers in the garage Never trust a mechanic who wears slippers in the garage
How many Lao mechanics does it take to put an engine back in? Not enough... How many Lao mechanics does it take to put an engine back in? Not enough...
Sunrise in Phonsavanh - as pretty as it gets Sunrise in Phonsavanh - as pretty as it gets
We got to know Phonsavanh's morning produce market pretty well We got to know Phonsavanh's morning produce market pretty well
Lao Indochina War Memorial, Phonsavanh Lao Indochina War Memorial, Phonsavanh
A morning off from the garage, learning about silkworms and mulberries A morning off from the garage, learning about silkworms and mulberries
New silkworms eating mulberry leaves New silkworms eating mulberry leaves
Traditional raw silk dyeing Traditional raw silk dyeing
Spinning raw, dyed silk Spinning raw, dyed silk
A happy weaver A happy weaver
"Well what the hell's wrong with it now?" "Well what the hell's wrong with it now?"
He's happy now he's got 9.2 million kip in his hand... He's happy now he's got 9.2 million kip in his hand...
We made it 240km from Phonsavanh before breaking down again We made it 240km from Phonsavanh before breaking down again
Our knight in shining armour (don't care if its not appropriate use of EU funds!) Our knight in shining armour (don't care if its not appropriate use of EU funds!)
Ready for towing - not a good advert for Toyota Ready for towing - not a good advert for Toyota
11.15pm, Thursday 18th Feb: 60km & 4 hours later - finally back at The Apsara 11.15pm, Thursday 18th Feb: 60km & 4 hours later - finally back at The Apsara

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