Hung out with Dan San all morning waiting to get his newly extended Lao visa and passports. This morning also witnessed an unsuccessful hunt for Khao Lam (sweet rice in bamboo rod). Had fruit shakes instead. Hide – San is still here. After the morning's efforts I came back to the hotel, took a nap and did Yoga on the floor.

Took the ferry across the river to see some boat races. The partying Lao people there were far more interested in drinking beer and eating some sort of lotus bud flower flesh than the races.

Visited a Wat (Bhuddist temple) named Wat Xieng Meng back in the recesses of the village. A monk let me inside the locked temple and allowed me to even take his photo standing by the window. When he heard me say I was American he opened up his robes and showed me his wickedly knotted scars on chest and leg where Americans had shot him several times durign the Vietnam war. He was just out gathering firewood near his farm when they mistook him for an enemy sniper of something. He was the right age.

Had dinner with some random English guys I met, Hide-San, and the Norwegien girls for my last beer with Hide. Two of Hide's Japanese friends he brought along were very nice. I sat up with the random English guys and the Norwiegen girls until 3 AM at the Hotel Suan Keo where they stayed.


Friday October 13, 2000

Woke up late today and found that everyone I know in town had really left this time. I spent the morning for 140 minutes at the cybercafe uploading my pictures and writing email. I got a couple nice ones from Shane and Heather Wolfsmith.

After that I set out with my camera in town and visited the markets and some parts of the city south of Dan San's former guesthouse. I followed the sound of hypnotic music into a temple, sat down next to a guy outside and listened to one monk energetically whacking a huge fridge-sized drum suspended from the ceiling and another playing cymbal gongs. After they were done I played around the temple compound with three kids named Mi, Tay, and Toe – very cute.

Took some pictures of the monks setting up for the candle festival taking place in the next few nights.

After this I walked way out of town.