In Conclusion
Laos is a beautiful country with beautiful people. This fact being even more remarkable when you realize that since the conclusion of the Vietnam War Laos is officially the most heavily bombed country in the world.
Furthermore, the noodle soup is magnificent.
The French coined a saying when they formed the Indochina Protectorate:
“The Vietnamese plant the rice, the Cambodians watch it grow and the Lao listen to it grow.”
“Too much work is bad for the brain.” say the Lao, and they feel sorry for people who 'think too much'.
So as it turned out, Mark and I did them proud.