I arrived today in Vientiane, after spending several days in Vang Vieng, aka; Bizzaro! Vang Vieng is a smallish village between LP and Vientaine with gorgeous scenery, caves to explore along with rafting, tubing etc. It has become a major backpaker hang out, I would have loved it 20 years ago. I am always up for a good time but I think there is more going on here than the BeerLao... The oddest aspects of the place are the TV bars. These bars line the two or three main roads and total about twenty or so. They have raised bed like seats with big pillows and short tables so you can comfortably stretch out eat, drink and watch thier TV. What is the bizzare part, you may ask. All of the TV's are playing episodes of Friends....different episodes in each bar, but all Friends all the time! Very funny, I actually stopped in one last night and got sucked into three episodes.

Anyway, I will spend New years Eve in Vientiane, the capitol and then head back to Thailand. I'm hankering for some beach time!

Happy New Year!