My cooking class...

After Vang Vieng we took a 5 hour van ride to Vientiane, Laos. This was more of a city, different than the beach town feel of VV. We were starving when we arrived and immediately ate at Blue Moon cafe. It was delicious and we knew we would find ourselves back there.

The first night we were there we went to this Australian bar so Conor could watch the final game in March Madness. We got there very early and just hung out and ate for the next few hours. I read and Conor watched basketball. We made our way back closer to our hotel and town to grab a drink at a popular bar there.

The next morning we took a Tuk Tuk to the Patuxay Monument. It was cool and in the center of the city. You can walk all the way up it and see a view of the city. It was starting to get so hot, of course, so we went back to hang out in a cafe for a while to avoid the heat. That night we walked through the market. I love that there are cheap markets everywhere, it's a great way to spend an evening walking around looking at everything.

The following day (and our last day) we had a cooking class planned. I was so excited and have been trying to plan a cooking class for us this whole time. We got so lucky because we were the only people who signed up for the class. Our teacher, Nook, was so kind and sweet. We made a feast of steamed fish, laap (minced meat, mint, spices), different dips, salad and mango with sticky rice for dessert. The food was so good and I can't wait to try to recreate it all at home. It was one of my favorite activities so far!

That day Reebs and Hatty were in Vientiane too. We all hung out at a coffee shop together to avoid the heat. It felt like hanging out with friends home in America. Except a coffee is $1.50 here instead of $6. After saying goodbye to them, Conor and I went for dinner. We had an overnight sleeper bus booked to take us to the 4000 Islands.