A Collage Day

With no plan for the day and after fruit shakes and a Lao language lesson from our shake mamma, we wandered into the mall in Vientiane. 

It was like a mall back home apart from the mosquitos, rubble and that the largest dress for sale was a 4. 

... Being from America and not size 4s, we got some iced coffees and headed out.

Ali and I spent most of the afternoon walking, trying to find Laos Opera house. But ended up finding a collage of magical events.

When we got to the theater's address, there was a grand building with weeds and trash filling up the entry way. The new paint job had crossed to "in need of a new paint job" years ago. 

The doors were open and we could see an old stage. A man came out to shoo us away. He explained what had happened to the opera house, why it was closed and where we could go for some equally great entertainment. At least I assume that's what he said, my Lao is not quality. 

The two of us scuttled off towards the building at which he pointed. That's the wonderful thing about having no plans! You find yourself in a larger than life, divinely organized scavenger hunt. 

We walked through the gates of the building across the street, thinking maybe the opera house moved? There were artists in the parking lot, painting huge, colorful monks with a hint of cubism. Men sculpting white figures holding small white children. 

No one looked up from their work as we climbed the stairs and found a dark gallery, worn hard wood floors with the windows open. 

Tip toeing around, standing up close, taking steps backs. It was filled floor to ceiling with paintings of everyday life, Buddhas, water buffaloes. 

Ali and I have this thing were we always notice little Asian kids at these personal little moments, when no one else is watching. As we had walked in a little girl stood in a door way, in mid pee of the pants! Just looking down admiring her work, she looked up at us with a blank face and then looked back down... 

When we left, she was naked in a blue, kiddie pool. Busted! 

Hearing cheers and shouting, we walked passed a school, where a mad game of foot ball was going down. It was a mix between volleyball, hacky sack and soccer. Kids from all four floors of the school were out on the balconies rooting for their team.

Walking a little further we found a carnival, closed down, we played on the carousal, wandered into the arcade, also completely empty. But 6 or 7 employees sat in a circle, eating snacks and playing cards. ALi asked them when they opened "We open now! No one come." She said.

As we crossed the street, we came face to face with a sketchy looking bowling ally. Never trust a bowling ally that does't look ghetto!

The whole building smelled like piss and cigarette smoke. I grabbed us two Beerlao's and we played a game of pool. The locals at other tables Oohed as other shots where made or missed. After 30 minutes the light above our table went out, meaning our time was up... Guess we'll call it a tie? 

We made it the banks of the Mekong just as the sun was setting and techno was starting. 

Every night there are huge outdoor exercise classes done to blaring techno. Tonight we decided to join in! 

Almost 100 locals and us, danced, punched and step kicked our little hearts out. Sweating and out of breath, after an hour Ali and I ducked out in search of some BBQed fish!

Fish, sticky rice, spicy sauce and cucumbers. It's become a thing out ours... 

As we wandered home with full bellies, we made a detour back by the carnival. It was open, but still, hardly any one was there. 

A dollar got us a ride in the bumper cars. There was one other young Lao girl and a mom with her baby riding around.

Ali and I crashed onto each other and the young girl. But the mother and her kiddo were like an obstacle you had to dodge at all cost! Who brings their baby on bumper cars?! That's when you let the ticket taker hold your little chap! 

After a good whiplashing, we went on the Farris wheel. This wheel looked like it was made for little kids but they took our money and shoved the two of us into one cage. Our knees were against our chins and heads where on the ceiling.

At first it was fun, we screamed and laughed, then as we kept going and going, we started to wonder how long is this ride? Our operator had wandered off and there was a small group of locals laughing and watching us go round. We were the only two on the ride. 

Finally after...awhile I caught the eye of another guy who worked there, and gave him a "Get us the hell off this ride!" kinda look. He pulled some levers and we burst out of that cage like "A whole neeeew woorld..." 

Somedays don't need plans, somedays need to be completely open for the unexpected to happen. 

I believe. Experience