Feeling alone and tired (the cold did not comfort me much), I started my rather undesired "exploration" of Phonsavan as I go around in search for my accommodation that night. I was probably spared with more problems as the bus had dropped me right in the middle of town and I was able to figure out my orientation easily. Woke up a couple of guesthouse attendants but they all seemed to be trying to get a little more kip out from me since I was in a desperate situation (i.e. late, cold and hungry). After walking around, I found Phonsavanh Hotel (the bright lights on the groundd floor attracted me because the restaurant was still opened) which I thought was quite a steal at 50,000kip/S$8.33 per night (no hot showers though). When I finally got settled down, guess what welcomed me in the room (find the answer on the first photograph). :|

Phonsavan, the provincial capital of Xieng Khuang province, is the base from where one could visit the famous Plain of Jars (a must-do in most travel itineraries). Built only in the late 1970s, it replaced the old provincial capital (just 30kms away), Xieng Khuang (now known as Muang Khoun) after the latter was destroyed during the 2nd Indochina War. Other being featured frequently on the tourist trail for the Plain of Jars, it was also one of the most heavily bombed province in Laos during the Secret War (Phonsavan was the headquarters of the Pathet Lao before they retreated to Vieng Xai in the 1960s).

I woke up early next day to contemplate if I should just keep it simple by renting a bicycle and peddle myself to Jar Site 1. This would also mean that I will have to cycle for 28kms (to and from the site) but I was not inclined to this idea since I was pretty fatigued from all these long bus rides. As I walked around town, it looked and felt like the new provincial capitals I had visited; functional but distinctly lack of flavour. Saw a traveller who took the same bus with me when we made our way to Sam Neua from Nong Khiaw and decided to join him to do a tour of all 3 jar sites for 150,000kip or S$25 (including admission fee of 10,000kip each for the site). The scheduled power cut (why am I always so "lucky"?!) did not help much as I had ran out of kip (to pay for the tour) and thus had to walk 1.5kms to change money since all ATMs were down. :(