Laos and Border to Vietnam

So Laos has been an amazing adventure.
I have LOVED the people and the serenity and peace of it all.
Our Group went to a disco the other night.. the sign actually wrote "Dosco" which was quite funny. We watched as the Locals danced their traditional moves. It was so interesting to see how much they have been able to perserve their culture. Claire (my room mate) and I went dancing with them and they all welcomed us on the dance floor. Some took pictures with us and touched my hair and giggling.
Even I felt like an oversized woman.. although i am about 5'6. There were quite a few lady boys. We were all so surprised as they looked so beautiful! Surely they werent men! But as soon as the opened their mouths and spoke, we knew the answer--men! Everyone is so small, its very hard to tell. Even in the markets. You cant try the clothes on but you always have to buy a size higher than you normally would at home.
I have grown attatched to these small cheap internet places. I am addicted to checking up on how everyone is doing! But last night we were in a Homestay in a village off theMekong River. The people were wonderful but very very shy. There were so many children who were begging to have their pictures taken--and i gladly took them. They were fascinated with the video camera! they loved that they could hear themselves talk. They would be rolling on the ground with their faces red laughing so hard. The sleep was a different story. Very unco0mfortable. Not like the last homestay in Thailand with Marni. Although i had a mosquito net, I could feel millions of bugs crolling all over my body. They were up my nose buzzing in my ear... then 4 am rolled around and we heard this thumping sound. I was too tired to find out what it was. The roosters were crowing our ears off. So i effecntially rolled out of bed at about 5 30 am. The thudding was the woman making sticky rice... at 4 am! haha its a totally different world.

I crossed the border today. I got a rough start. I was puking for the first couple hours of the trip. The bus had to keep stopping for me to puke out on the side of the road. It was horrific. Luckily, there is a nurse in our group that helped me. Everyone was very nice and willing to help. The twelve hour drive went by fast once i fell asleep and read my book. We crossed the border and it was a whole new culture shock. It was incredible.

We entered into the first Vietnam town, and the drivers are loonatics! I thought Thailand and Laos was bad... we were all TERRIFIED for our lives the entire time. I couldnt believe the way they had no respect for the middle of the road. cars and buses would just drive wherever they pleased. Every driver seemed to just drive 80 km/hour and be within a meter of a bus infront of them coming head on. Our bus driver at one point was pissed off at this van that had cut him off so he spead up drove infront of them and slammed on thebreaks sending all of our group flying forward hitting the seat in front of us.
Laos and Vietnam are polar opposites i have decided. Laos was incredibly laid back. i walked at night alone without a worry in the world. Every where you went was whispers and hushed voices and a lot of the time silence. Everyone walked leasurely down the sidewalk. Vietnam is a totally different ball game. The people are loud and obnoxouis. i just had dinner in a place and our group couldnt barely speak over the loud voices. I am now in an internet cafe and i can barely hear myself think! everyone is screaming and yelling and cackeling. Its insane. The people ARE insane here haha. But maybe its good to pick up some pace.