Louisa and Beth had gone to Ponsovanh, so it was just the boys. I left a little early to get to a bookstore and find a book. The others joined me a few minutes later, and we met up with Joe. Our first stop was Wat Phousi that overlooks the city. I’m a tad watted out, but there were some decent views.
We walked along the Mekong next, and came across a rickety old bamboo bridge. We walked down, and came across the bridgekeeper, who convinced us we should go over to the other side (4000 kip, 50 cents) to eat at his son’s restaurant.
We grabbed some Beerlao at the restaurant, and were approached by some locals on their way to a party a little further towards the Mekong. They showered us with Talcum powder, and then went on their way, making us promise to join them later. Air, the restaurant owner, gave us some Lao Lao whiskey, which wasn’t as horrible as I would have feared.
After our drinks we grabbed some of the girls from the restaurant and headed down to the Mekong where people were making stupas in the sand. We made our own. The locals were experts, so we mostly sat back and watched as they added towers and things like that.
After that we played with the local kids in the water. They were thrilled to be tossed into the not-so-deep water, and kept begging for more.  Some teenagers invited us to a party at their village, but Josh, Guto, and Andi were leaving in the evening, so we didn’t bother. Later on the same kid tried to see if I was interested in a girl for the night, so it was probably for the best.
I had dinner with Joe, as everyone else had left for Van Vieng. We were both exhausted, so we didn’t spend too much time, but he told me about his contracting typhoid fever in the Philippines, and I think that’s something I never want to get myself.