I finally posted some new photos. The links are to the right, "Bangkok" and "S. Thailand and Malaysia." They include Krabi, Koh Chang, and the Full Moon Party on Koh Pha Ngan among others. Enjoy.

After a breakfast of chocolate croissant and Lao coffee, Tyler and I hiked 6 km to a large cave nearby. The walk was through the residential part of Vang Vieng, which is basically a long dirt road lined with rustic bungalows and farms against a gorgeous backdrop of enormous sheer cliffs. Chickens, cows and goats roamed freely along the road, families bathed in the river and small children waved and practiced any words of English they knew as we passed. Curiously, several children asked us if we had any pens and I gave my only one to the first small boy who asked. I am still trying to figure out what the children want with these pens, but intend to go back with a ready supply in hopes of getting some better photos of them. I am enamoured with the locals and feel a certain vibe here that I've been longing for.

The cave was a caver's dream and we could have spend hours exploring it, but without any flashlights or caving equipment we were limited to the upper portion. We hiked down to a reclining Buddha statue and then went for a swim at a swimming hole near the cave entrance. Tomorrow, tubing down the Mekong...