The second and final day in this wonderful place has arrived all too quickly. I remember the first time I came here was for a week and I wasn't bored for a minute. The second visit was a four day one, this is the shortest at only two full days, mostly due to flight availability it has to be said... and it's not long enough. This is another place I could happily stay for months in my dotage, eating lotus.

The climate here is perfect this month, warm sunny days and cool temperate evenings, it will get cooler in the next few months before the temperatures rise again in march bringing the monsoon rains later on. The Mekong is still high at this time of the year and the vegetable gardens that appear on its fertile banks as the river level drops are only occupying the upper parts. Below where the water has retreated the mud is still wet and it will be another week or so before it dries enough to be cultivated. Already crude bamboo fences are being erected, marking territory. The crops are mostly quick growing, lettuces and other leafy vegetables, although beans and other things are grown on the upper banks.

My day was spent lethargically. More temple wandering this morning, a light lunch and then a soporific afternoon in the shade of the huge rain trees, dripping with moss on the bank of the Mekong watching the boats go by.

I jot this in the pak luck wine bar on the main street with a glass of Chilean Chardonnay in hand and I'm sad to be going tomorrow. My Ten thirty flight down to siem reap is with Vietnam airways so it wont be a late night tonight. Not that it's very easy to have a late night here, most restaurants have closed by 10pm and the very few bars open past that close at 11. It's a quiet town, but reassuringly high end and the morning alms giving, that is such a tourist draw, and it means the Lao here are early to bed and early to rise. In all my visits I have only seen it once and it feels like an intrusion somehow. As it's at 5am the compact camera brigade happily stuff their cameras into monks faces and off goes the flash because on the dawn light. Everyone complains but it carries on regardless as the Lao are too polite to mention it. Typical Lao behaviour. Coming from Thailand you are all to aware of the politeness and genuine gentle nature of the Lao.

This evenings plan is another Chardonnay here, then supper and an early night.