Zooropa

Lao Zoo aka 'Vientiane Zoo', 'Baan Kuen Zoo' or just 'The Zoo' (there is only one public zoo in Laos).

Seemed like a great idea at the time - catch the bus to Vientiane zoo for a few hours on Sunday.

Miss Daisy No More

Today I had to catch the bus to work. First time. Being picked up and driven home from the office is a thing of the past. They think I should be able to cope now with making my own way to the outer northern 'burbs.

Despite my work colleagues worrying that I would get lost or not know how to or where to get on and off, I managed quite well.

And it's a great way to travel. The bus is air-conditioned, half-empty, cheap (3000K = 41c each way), fast (13 minutes) and easy.

I overshot my stop but really the bus will stop anywhere within reason. And then I had to watch out for motorbikes spinning past the open door as I stepped out.  It was a quick and uneventful trip to work. Easier than the number 8 tram to East Hawthorn, that's for sure!

Coming home was even better!!

Here comes the bus...

 

I gave the driver a wave and he pulled up with the back door perfectly aligned to where I was standing

 

Nice inside!

 

Clean, cool, half-empty, and with a distinct lack of screeching pop music or a TV with an annoying game show and no dorky 'hello kitty' fabric curtains. Gotta love it.

 

And the best bit is yet to come.....

I'm in the money!

 

I found 10,000 Kip on the floor!  TEN THOUSAND KIP! Do you know how much that is worth?

 

It's a good day.