A 16 hour overnight train ride and a couple connecting rides carried us out of Bangkok, over the Mekong River and into Vientiane, the capital city of Laos. While most capital cities tend to be overwhelming polluted urban sprawls, word was Vientiane was different, a little more mellow. That isn't the case when you happen to arrive during Boun Awk Phansa, the end of Buddhist Lent. Thousands of people travel to waterfront towns and cities near the end of October to participate in annual festivities. The main road along the Mekong in Vientiane was thickly lined on both sides with booths selling clothing, food, shampoo, balloons, trinkets, everything! Accompanying the noise of the sellers with bullhorns were loudspeakers playing music or just making noise. Also along the river were carnival rides and games, Ferris wheels, darts,
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