Hello all Arrived in Vientiane today by local bus which broke down unsuprisingly. It is much better than a tourist bus though as you get to intergrate with the locals (plus their vegetables and small furry animals). Since Luang Prabang we have been to the Plain of Jars (archaelogical site like stonehenge only huge jars in the middle of nowhere) and Vang Vieng which was exquisitely beautiful but full of people watching friends in restaurants?? It has been quite emotional seeing the craters caused by the Amercan bombing of Laos during the Vietnam war. Mindless destruction of half the country. Apparently it will take another 100 years to clear the fallout from the cluster bombs and people are still being killed. We are here until Friday when we leave for Hanoi. I will be sad to go as i have loved it here. Take care all