Lovely, lovely Laos

I've been in Laos for three days and already feel like I've driven through a good chunk of it ... the hours on the bus would be difficult to calculate, the gorgeous mountains impossible to beat. Now in Luang Prabang, an adorable metropolis of 20,000 with a mile of night market vendors. I want to touch everything!

Yesterday, I went tubing in Vang Vieng. It was a lazy trip down the Mekong to admire the forested cliffs on either side - very relaxing save for the shrieking next to me of a woman in my group terrified for her very life. Honestly. Laos is so beautiful and the people couldn't be sweeter - it's so different from the crowded streets of Hanoi! It's been fleeting - we spent only a day in the capital, Vientiane, but I managed to cover some ground on a trusty rented bike and expand upon my amazing cycling skills. I can say that I have stopping down, and each start is a little less shaky than the one before. Southeast Asia is teaching me to ride a bike!

We stopped en route at a village with the most fantastic food market, where I could sample a grilled sticky rice popsicle. I'll have to save the congealed big's blood added to soup for another day. We left with some roasted pork skewers and a small dog followed us. My group leader and I managed to teach her several tricks- pork is the greatest motivator!

Tomorrow, we will hike up to a waterfall outside of town, and hopefully swim if the weather is nice. Only 2 1/2 days here, but it will be longest stay since Vietnam. Maybe I can squeeze in an elephant ride?

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