Vientiane today...Thursday...Yesterday we drove north and ate lunch by the river...some went out on the river on a platform boat...tried Lao food...some like it...others not so fond of it...fun to see the people in the countryside...life is quite different in Laos...watched the monks walk along the street outside our hotel yesterday morning...people lined up outside their little shops and homes waiting for them...squatting down in a line...putting rice and other things into their little bowls as they passed by...received a short blessing...ready for the day, once their little shrines are prepared out in the front part of each business place....many Buddhist Wats throughout Vientiane...lots of motorbikes...3 and 4 people usually on each one...often mothers drving with small children hanging on...pulling up behind our "tuk tuk" (motorcycle in front...small truck bed in the back) and smiling at us as we all wait at intersections for lights to change...6 of us big folks all crowded in the back...motorycle engine screaming to pull our weight!...still figuring out money exchanges....8000 kip to $1.00...3 of us ate nice meals last night in a Vieniane restaurant...for about $21, combined price  for all three meals....and those are the expensive meals...usually pay about $4 to $6 for a full meal....weather is hot and humid...but not bad with a short rain each day....enjoy singing and talking together....not fair to have one man and 5 women!...much flexibility required as plans change often here but we're open to however we are led.  Keep Thinking about and for us...quite an adventure!