Vientiane is not your typical skyscraper capital city. With little more than 300,000 people, it's a small urban space with manageable traffic, making it easy to get around. We've been here for three days now, which is longer than we anticipated, having been grounded by a few stomach issues plaguing Netty. We've had the opportunity to explore the city, seeing Patuxai, Vientiane's Arc de Triomphe replica. There's a sign attached to the structure claiming that it's a monster of concrete, especially up close. What a nice way to describe what is considered a tourist site. We also had the opportunity to see Laos' most important national monument, Pha That Luang.
The most memorable experience during our stay in Vientiane was by far a visit to the COPE Rehabilitation Center (www.copelaos.org). COPE stands for Cooperative Orthotic and Prosthetic Enterprise. The center is one of five in Laos and provides prosthetics and orthotics to those who are victims of traffic accidents, developmental disorders, but mainly victims of UXOs (unexploded ordnances - dropped bombs that never detonated). Apparently, Laos is the most bombed country in the world per capita. Between 1965 and 1976, over 260 million cluster bombs were dropped on Laos (mainly the Ho Chi Minh Trail) by US Air Forces. The shocking fact is that about 30% of cluster bombs never explode on impact. Annually, 460 injuries/casualties in Laos are caused by UXOs. The center we visited has a wonderfully impactful exhibition of the effects of UXOs as well as the work this organization is doing to help any people in need of orthotics and prosthetics.
Tonight, we take a long, long bus ride to Hanoi to start our journey through Vietnam. We're not looking forward to the ride, but welcome the arrival at our next destination...
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