Saturday 1 March 2014

Commotion.....It's in the early hours that I'm awoken from a deep sleep. There is a disturbance in the surrounding rooms; doors banging, furniture moved about, people running, shouting and music blaring. Has the US air force resumed its bombing or Pol Pot invading? Somebody shouts something, and it goes quiet but not for long. I'm at a loss to explain what's happening as I try to get more sleep, but it's now pointless. The chaos eventually subsides but at least I've made no plans for today. I just plan to relax knowing there's little to do here.
Light breakfast.....Eventually I surface and there's no sign of the culprits that caused such chaos in the night and no explanation obtained as to what they were doing here or why they were not controlled. I just know they were youngsters, and I'm advised to change rooms, but that's missing the point. I head off to the old market for something to eat. It's further than I think consuming a good hour before I'm back at the guesthouse. Here coffee is complimentary. With the heat once more rising, I stay in my room and sleep, well into the afternoon before I go out dinner.
No after effects.....There are no after effects from my trip here yesterday so I need to say something about my surroundings here before I move on. There is no real evidence of colonial occupation here which suggests there was nothing here until recently. I would say this area on the banks of the Mekong are recreational; a release from the daily routine for local people. Few visitors come here but nonetheless the area has its fare share of restaurants with a few shops. Other than that, without transport the waterfront is quite isolated from the town unlike at Thakhek but for a short stay it's fine and is allowing me to build up my strength as well as my finances despite being more adventurous when eating out. As I call it a day, there is nothing now preventing me moving on in the morning to the furthest point on this tour, the mysterious province of Xieng Khouang to the north.
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