Vientiene is the capital of Laos. It's got a bad reputation for being dull and lacking in character, but I think it is a perfectly nice place.

Like many cities it is hot. Really, really, really hot.

So naturally, I went for a sauna to escape the heat.

Actually, I went to get a massage at a nice little place 3 kl outside of the city. The place was near a Wat in the trees so I figured it would be cooler.

The people coming out of the sauna convinced me to go in. It was an herbal sauna and when I came out, it suddenly seemed much much cooler outside.

I also got a massage. Lao massage incorporates the pressure point technique of Shiatsu and the stretching of Thai massage. They spend an inordinate amount of time on your calves which I might have appreciated if I actually had any. I kept wondering if there was some sort of reflexology associated with your calves.

When I decided to go, I didn't really feel like I needed a massage. I just wanted to get away from the heat and I figured that even if you don't feel like you need one, it always feels nice.

It was pretty good. I didn't feel that ahhhh, feeling I would've expected. The next morning I woke up and felt like I needed a massage but that wore off.

It was only $4 for unlimited sauna and about an hour long massage.

Not bad.