Abby and my brief stop in Vientienne was just enough. We had a great time walking around and checking out the sights, but after our “enchanting” Luang Phabang experience and with Cambodia looming, we were anxious to get to our next stop.

Our first night we went down to the Mekong and checked out all the hundreds of food carts lined up and down the river bank. Vendors were frying up Mekong Fish and other street meat items on portable grills and stoves and serving them to folks lined up at nice candlelit, table-cloth-draped seating areas by the river. Despite our immediate attraction to the ambiance, my hypochondria and over-cautiousness about protecting my ‘falong’ stomach kicked in as I passed the cooking areas and noticed no ice for fish or meat, cleavers dripping with mystery goo, and rotting eggs.

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So… I cut my hair. Chopped it down to college length. Between the low water pressure, unusual SE Asia showering techniques, and my snarls, I just couldn’t take it anymore. I’m trying to get my pictures uploaded, so anyone who’s interested will be able to see the new do soon. I went to a very expensive Salon: Hair a la Abby. It’s all on video.

Luang Phabang has been incredible. It’s a very charming old colonial town where huge old mansions have been converted to wine bars, restaurants, and jazz bars, and all the sidewalks are made of brick. There are two main roads right between a fork in the Mekong River that are lined with stores, internet and travel cafes, and places to eat and drink. Abby and I have visited a few Wats and the Royal Museum, and have been checking out as many stores and restaurants along the Mekong as we can. Food continues to be amazing at every meal. The most bizarre thing I’ve had here is french fries with fried eggs and soy sauce on top. It was actually quite delicious.

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Abby and I set off for Laos the morning after I arrived. After a 7 hour bus ride, we reached Chiang Kong, the border town in Thailand before Laos. A tuk-tuk brought us directly to a travel agent who said she’d set up our border crossing and boat ride from the border to the center of Laos down the Mekong River (we paid $20 and found out later that we could have done the boat ride for $11. So begins getting ripped off).

We found a hotel right on the Mekong and had a room with a sliding glass door onto a deck over looking the river, and had an extremely spicy dinner also overlooking the river. By the way, the Thai food (despite the spice) is absolutely amazing - curries, fried rice, noodle dishes, flavorful soups. Not missing Mexican as quickly as I thought I would be…

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