Au revoir to Laos, Cambodia or Bust.

We have exhausted all items listed in the guide book (and a few that were not listed) in Vientiane. We have walked at least 10 miles in the last three days. We found Sagat from Street Fighter II and I defeated him easily with my R-ugan and my Ike, Ike, R-ugan. We have eaten French food and Pizza for nearly every meal. We upgraded our room to the $15 a night option with A/C and its own bathroom. Today, while trying to fill the time, we even visited the US embassy. To be honest, having never been to a foreign embassy, I expected something regal.  An elegantly decorated open room with a man to great us and say "Howdy partner, how is your travels? Can I offer you some McDonalds while we talk about football? No not soccer, but real honest to good football. Steelers vs Packers sort of talk."  What I found instead was a DMV on foreign soil. A series of counters with thick plated glass and no one to talk to. We had to go through a quasi Airport security procedure to get into the embassy, and once we got there the only American thing I spotted was an honest to God urinal in the restroom (first one I think I have seen in Asia).  I don't know why I expected so much. The fact that we have a US embassy in a communist country is a testament to some sort of progressive relations. When then finished the afternoon with another temple. All these temples are beautiful, but once you have seen the 40th one in 3 weeks, you get a sort of chedi burn out. We are planning to go next to the temples of Angkor in Cambodia, these are noted throughout the world as some of the most fantastic and awe inspiring religious structures on the planet. So I am sure they will renew our spirit and souls for a couple of days. Then we are back to the rat race of Bangkok for Christina's Birthday.  As a gift, I broke the "$20 a night or less" hotel rule we have been following and have booked two nights at a fancy five star hotel (still under $150 a night) that overlooks the city and has an open air bar on the top of the building. It will be a change from the last 23 nights.  From Bangkok, we are going to catch a plane to Hat Yai in the southern point of Thailand.  On the recommendation of a few travelers we met on our way, we will be staying in Koh Lipe for a week or so. Staying in a hut on the beach and playing cards, or drinking beer, or playing cards while we drink beer (or a soda, Mom).  We are halfway done with our trip and are very excited to hit the beach. If people are available (and with Steve and Nadene's approval) we would like to have some people over on Saturday, February 26th for a Thai dinner and dessert complete with boring picture slide show and Christina and Myself arguing over who tells the story best.