Jan. 3, Luang Prabang, Laos

We survived the speed boat and got another stamp in our passport, though the customs immigatration was quite lax. Just a guy with a bad hangover from New Year's directing us where to go.

The boat ride was fun, noisy, and bumpy. A little terrifying at first, but after realizing that we could catch air and bounce without flipping over as we've seen in boat shows, we felt more relaxed. We made it to Luang Prabang by 5 PM with a floating lunch stop. Jeff also made a new climbing buddy - we met a guy from Chula Vista that was in the south climbing and then will head off to Australia.

We arrived yesterday, just in time for a Beer Lao and to catch the sunset over the Mekhong River. Afterward, while Richard had a massage and sauna, Jeff and Liz had dinner at a nice restaurant next to a big lilly pond and then checked out the evening market. Today after breakfast, Liz and Jeff hiked up the zillion stairs to a temple overlooking the city and then met up with Richard at another temple. The Lao style is different than Thai in that the roofs almost touch the ground as they angle down.

Right now we are figuring out how to get to Ventianne. Richard is thinking about taking the day bus tomorrow and Liz and Jeff the night bus tomorrow evening. Luang Prabang is very heavily influenced by the French in terms of having colonial buildings, French bread and cuisine, and is very clean.

Happy New Year everyone. Love us