We made it as far as Savaanakhet, another border town between Thailand on the Mekong, by chicken bus (a local public bus, with chickens, livestock and lots of produce and people on board), stopping at markets every hour or so and being invaded by hoards of urchins selling grilled food on sticks, bags of sticky rice, drinks and skewered eggs. Although Bob and I initially sat on plastic stools in the centre aisle, and I then stood as woman carrying babies or small children got on, within the first 80km I was able to sit, and eventually Bob and I sat together for the last part of the journey.

At the northern bus station we arrived rather damp, not from the sweat of the journey, but rather the joyous celebration of Lao New Year and the water festival that accompanies it. Children, very young and teenagers line the street with industrial strength water canon, hoses and small plastic bags filled with water to drench those who pass. It's like a nationwide Muck-Up day (for those few of you old enough and NSW enough to remember) which is taken up by all with good humour. A well aimed bucket at the open window in front of us hit a few of us fair and square with the 'water' part of the festival. It is very much New Year's Eve here in Savaanakhet, and there will be festivities for days.

It is our hope to catch a 10:00pm bus from Savaanakhet to Hue' this evening; Bob is out at the Bus Station now hoping to secure tickets. It is about 240km to the border.