Muk nut in Laos!

Muk nut is Lao for pineapple. Don't quote me on the spelling...

Pakse's first impression wasn't too good. Wasn't particularly bustling, and there were a lot more tourists around the place than in Ubon. But it didn't take me long to warm up - particularly after a wander along the Mekong, and witnessing a local game of petanque - which, unlike for my travel buddy Jen - did not involve any unwanted sexual harrasment.

The trip across the border wasn't too eventful. I was sitting next to a Canadian guy who had been living in Ubon for a few months to learn Thai boxing. He was doing his visa run (crossing the border, just to head back in for another 60 days). It sounded like he'd been having a good time and experiencing some Thai food not seen on the menu - raw meat fermented in blood or intestine soup. He was instructed to buy a live lizard in Laos (where apparently they are purchased quite easily) which he was to take back to Ubon zipped up in his backpack. I think he was relieved when he couldn't find one for sale. Apparently you can buy all sorts of exotic creatures, such as sloths and monkeys, that you can keep as pets until you get sick of them, and which time you can eat them. Perhaps we could let the RSPCA know this a good way to deal with those abandoned Christmas puppies!

I enjoyed a BeerLao watching the sunset over the Mekong, which was very nice. Food has been ho-hum so far, so will need to scope out the options and see if Ubon food can be beat!

Off to Wat Phu tomorrow. One of the 1000 Places to See Before you Die, apparently. Always nice to be reminded of your own mortality whilst travelling. Particularly with the traffic around here...