AWAKE AT 415AM, AFTER SHORT FITFUL SLEEP, TO CATCH EARLY MORNING FLIGHT TO LAOS. GLAD TO BE MOVING ON TO NEW COUNTRY - I HAVE A GOOD FEELING ABOUT LAOS. ON THE PLANE SITTING NEXT TO LAOS STUDENT (ALSO OLYMPIC RUNNER; CONFESSED TO COMING LAST IN 800M IN 1996). HE, RIGHT AWAY, WITH HIS MEASURED FRIENDLYNESS AND AUTHENTICITY PUTS ME BACK INTO REAL TRAVEL MOOD AFTER A MONTH OF TOURIST HEAVY THAILAND. THAI PEOPLE WERE ABSOLUTELY DISSOLUTIONED WITH THE MASS OF TRAVELERS, TOURISTS AND ALL THE WESTERN BAGGAGE THEY BRING. NOW EVEN MY TAXI DRIVER FROM THE AIRPORT INTO VIENTIANE CITY (CAPITAL OF LAOS) IS FAIR AND GENUINELY HAPPY TO CHAT AND HELP WITH FIRST ATTEMPTS AT LOCAL LANGUAGE. VIENTIANE IS SO QUIET AND GENTLE FOR A CAPITAL CITY...SLOW TOO...I CAN GET USED TO THAT.