Still catching up on sleep, we get up and go hire mopeds. The bikes proving better than the owners wife's laundry skills. Currently hand washing the mess she has made. We go looking for a temple on a hill. Eventually finding Vatpa That Khong up a winding forested hill. It is currently closed but with 2 large drums on balconies at each site, it would have been a site to see them calling for prayers.
We had heard about a swimming pool open to the public and decide to seek it out. Not very well signposted but we find it tucked down a street. Parking our bikes we pay the 30000 (£2.50) and find a seat in the shade. A well run place with water volleyball and a main pool with a bar joined on. Swimming pools are sheepdips for backpackers and its great to cool off (LT).
After no breakfast I get a buffalo burger which hits the spot.
After a few hours we drive around for a bit, looking for a way across the Mekong. On return to the bike vendor I explain that the speedometer, brake lights and brakes are faulty. I suggest that he uses some of the 120000 kip to repair it. Bike hire here is more expensive to stop young backpackers tearing around town.
My head is starting to feel like I'm wearing a wooly hat in a desert so I go to a wee local guy for a haircut. A tiny shack with one barber seat. The man struggles to reach the top of my head but does a good job regardless.
We walk through the market, Craig looking for a particular monk painting. The stall holder won't budge on the price so we leave it to try tomorrow. I get some peppered chicken from a restaurant on the main street, with Craig opting for sweet and sour chicken. We go to lao lao garden. A jungle setting and one of the better bars. Its not the cheapest town, with too many tourists never willing to haggle. Craig still not feeling great so we tactically head home.