I am awakened at 5am by the local radio station blaring out all over town. Like a Muslim prayer calling followers to a Mosque, Radio Laos, calls the locals to their jobs. A communial alarm clock that can't do the alarm clock business any good whatsoever. Anna and I sleepily go looking for breakfast and check out the local market selling everything from fruit and veg to bats and rats. The town is alive early in the morning. Produce being bought and sold. We head back in after some sleep to enquire about buses to Vietnam. The lack of info is staggering. Some say every 2 days but nobody is sure which day. I try and use an internet cafe as nowhere has WiFi. Their PCs barely work and after trying to unplug a broken headphone the girl there gets angry with me. I refuse to pay as the service is shocking. Even trying to buy a coke from a shop, the woman wont get it out of the fridge for me and its right next to her. I have to climb over 4 of her friends to get to it. I try to find lunch but all the restaurants are closed with the locals sleeping on the floor.

The town does not understand tourism whatsoever, or quite frankly doesn't want it . I've experienced better service from a vending machine.

I do see some of the traditional tribes people which is a bonus, but my opinion of Laos is spend 7 days and do the 3 main towns. The unwillingness to engage with tourists is far too frustrating. I return to the view at the hostel to regain my mental balance.(LT)
We go back to the bar with the bowls but the locals are having a competition. We find a karaoke bar a few doors along. The locals greet us warmly as we are the only westerners in there. They are desperate for us to sing and find an unknown tune which Bobby sings well enough to get a cheer. He does us all proud(LT). We stay till it closes. I say my farewells to my new friends(LT).