Thursday, November 2. Visited a very old temple. No photos. Listened to a novice monk. Practiced meditation.

Visited a center that assists victims of unexploded ordnance, dropped by the Air Force in the 60s/70s. It had a well organized museum and learning center. Listened to a soldier who lost both legs in 1970. Because he fought on the losing side of their civil war, the government gives him no support.

After lunch I walked a little. Discovered the temple where Laos kept the Emerald Buddha before Thailand appropriated it. Later we all attended a Puppet show, of sorts. Not a top-line performance, but interesting. The group often performs at schools, so the intellectual level is low.

Between an Italian or Lao restaurant, I chose the Lao. Mistake. Lao food leaves something to be desired. It wasn’t as bad as last night’s buffalo, but it also wasn’t much better.

I expected Laos would be a poor communist country. Expectations achieved.