The Bong Lai was one of the better restaurants in town. Like “La Paix” it also offered a ‘pension’, but it was a little upmarket for me. 

Johnny Johnson was an all-purpose entrepreneur who was also a motorbike enthusiast. He and Pat Hunt had the only two Suzuki 185cc trail bikes in Laos. He spoke English with a slight Liverpool accent mixed with a dash of German, which he told me he had picked up from sharing a flat with a German. Johnny was an avid Hash Harrier (‘drinkers with a running problem’) right up to the time he died a few years ago.

The Lan Xang Studio (note the first class ‘armchair’ ticket) was the only functioning cinema in Vientiane. It was non-air-conditioned. The fans whirred at full blast, the occasional rat ran between your legs, and the films were often shown out of sequence. You might see the end first, the beginning in the middle and the middle at the end. Every film was an anticedent of Memento.

Koulap Varmannavong claimed to be one of Prince Sihanouk’s mistresses. She was affectionately known as ‘The Poodle Lady’ in Vientiane, often to be seen walking her dog along the main streets, dressed immaculately in Lao silks. She graced me with her calling card. Later she wrote an article for Orientations (November 1975) entitled “The Lao Way of Love”, with illustrations.

Mélia was the ‘cigarette of choice’ in those days. I smoked them because of the package.

 Lawrence D. Whiting was the last headmaster of the International School while I was there. I didn’t know him very well. There were some weird characters hanging around, and later there was some business about a heroin factory in the basement.

Finally, I still have 200,000 kipsworth of Royal Lao Government bonds. Anyone know where I can cash them?