Vientine and I hate flies

I decided to take a bus to the capital of Laos, Vientine, on the 3rd, a fairly easy process, I think it was maybe 4 or 5 hours by bus. When i got there i met back up with two friends for dinner and a beer. It was nice, as was the views from the roof top where you could look out over the Mekong, over to Thailand and the busy night market. I spent the next two days on my own as they went south to the 4000 islands. I woke early, visited a few temples and a place called Buddha Park a odd and unique place filled with Buddhist staues (not just of Buddha himself) of every size and shape. Some of them were 4-5 stories tall, others told mythical stories of old. There was a dome that was constructed with three levels inside, one for hell, one for earth and the third for heaven, it was really neat to say the least. Getting there was a little bit of a fiasco, the bus was a local bus and because it was pulling out the station as i arrived, i jumped aboard without much information about where the park was, how far and what stop it was that i needed to take. the bus was also packed to the gills with people and their never ending boxes and bags. I stood, crammed tight with the people in front of me and in back, trying to duck to see out the windows so i would not miss my stop, this proved harder than i was hoping. I had no idea what it looked like so that maybe was my first mistake. I, as i have done many many times during this trip asked my neighbors, two older ladies, "Buddha park" they clearly didn't speak any English and waved me off as a crazy tourist, fair enough. So i asked someone else and a guy over heard and motioned with his hands in a forward motion which i took to mean "coming up" or "right ahead" i waited and when he stood to get off he motioned for me to follow him, i was happy to be leaving the bus so i hopped off, he spoke almost no English and i walked next to him awkwardly till i noticed i was heading for a big sign that said "immigration and customs" alarm bells were ringing, i thought there was no way it was out of the country and i said pointing "Buddha park?" he shock his head in confirmation and then displayed his passport, "passport" he said as he got in line, and i said, "no, no, Buddha park", the way he said passport somehow sounded a lot like Buddha and as i backed away shaking my head he stood and watched with a dumbfounded look on his face. My bus, the one i had just gotten off, was pulling away again and i bowed and took off at a dead sprint, i caught it, jumped on out of breath and had the remaining 8 people laughing. I sat this time as most people had gotten off and i heard some chatter from behind and the only word i knew was "Falang" not a derogatory term but one that is used to talk about white people, but i don't really care for it, as it clues me into the fact that they were obviously talking about me. I turned and said, "hey!" with a smile "i know Falang, what are you saying about me" a gasp, a smile and more chatter that seemed to confirm that they knew that i knew that they were talking about me. Caught em in the act! that wasn't the first time and i am sure not that last. i turned back around, not offended but happy with myself haha. I had brought along some Mangostien, my new favorite fruit, it cracks open and has what looks to be 5-6 cloves of mushy garlic gloves in it. But in truth its the sweetest tangy citrus flavor and fun to eat. I had brought them along because i came to the realization that my stomach was not going to get smaller on its own and it had to be better for me than a greasy lunch. As i pulled them out i turned and offered one to each, with wide smiles they excepted and i turned to concentrate on the road less i miss my stop as no one seemed to be able to help this confused Falang. Two stops later, the door opened and the two ladies touched my back, i turned and i was the recipient of two hugs, it was a really pleasant moment, they said a number of words, who knows what and got of the bus turned and waved till we pulled off. Its neat, to change someone perception, certainly when you can make a nice gesture as a guest in another country, but the truth is if i had opened my bag and there had only been two mangostiens left, they would have had to kill me and pry them from my dead hands to get them. as it was i had gotten a kilo at a good price and happy to share. I found the park and will let the pictures speak for themselves. I got back to the capital without having to loose anymore of my precious fruit, thankfully, and booked my ticket for Hanoi, Vietnam. I waited sitting on my bag reading my book waiting for the tour bus to pic me up and i was being harassed by flies. I hate flies, hate them with a passion. Recently, they seem to love me or love my odor. I swatted one quick as i could with my book and it was a direct hit. i was hoping that this one death would result in the other flies realizing that i was too dangerous a target to mess with but my sandals were too much for them to resist and they were back at it. i put my book down and waited, trying not to think about them. Breath jake, they're just flys i told myself. When they got too much it a fit of rage, i yanked my hat off and reigned a heavy bow. Instantly i heard the sound of metal bouncing on the pavement and when i looked up my favorite Dead pin was flying into the street. It landed, spikes up, i jumped up as a garbage truck honked, i recoiled in horror as it drove straight for my pin, "miss it miss it miss it" i thought, i closed my eyes and when i opened them my pin was gone, i looked at the tire and saw it rotating in the middle of the tire as it bounded down the street at a fast clip, clink, clink, clink, click as it hit the pavement on every rotation. "damn it!!!!!" i screamed with passion as my pin was taken out of sight with the clinks getting more distant with the seconds. i sighed, and looked back at my bag as a horrified young girl stood in shock me with her hands cupped over her mouth. I said, "did you see that!" She nodded with her hands still coving her mouth and her eyes slightly bulging.  The only thing that made me feel slightly better is that i brought an extra pin haha. I was picked up without issue and thus began a 25 hour bus ride that was the closest thing to torture i have encountered and i am surprised there isn't Geneva codes against it. I did meet a german, Ludwig, i can now say i know a Ludwig, which i never thought possible. And together we rode out the trip to the border. The moral of this story is, simply, take more showers and due more laundry.

Buddha park, Vietine, Laos

More park

That's a dead woman in his arms, i presume she is dead anyway, its maybe 4 stories tall

park in it

Last sunset of my last night in Laos

Miss you all so much. Also a special shout out to Lauren Musick, today is her birthday! wish i could be there to help her celebrate, i dont know where she is but if you are with her and reading this, give her a big hug for me will ya?