I arrived in Vientiane towards the end of the rainy season and while that sounds slightly undesirable, I haven't minded one bit. Aside from the mud on the small side roads, the rain actually provides a nice relief to the blaring hot and humid heat. One morning a light sprinkle early one morning after shopping at an organic produce market across the street invited me to explore Pha That Luang, considered to be the most treasured national monument in Laos. The rain kept me cool, and combined with the early morning hour afforded me some peaceful, contemplative time without any other visitors - exactly how a walk on temple grounds should be.

(The organic produce market only opens on Saturdays and Wednesdays from 8am-12noon.)