Mr. Sweetlips, Joy And The Lady-Boy.

The build-up towards the Boat Racing Festival is taking its toll. Day after day, night after night of drinking, the Lao people never seem to stop. It all comes to a head tonight, finally.

Last night we wandered down to the fair again, taking the camera to get some pictures. On the way back we stopped off at a resturant on the corner of our street. Earlier we'd eaten there, happily watching the world go by, when I spotted the worst lady-boy in the world. Many of them are bad, but this 'guy' was the very worst. Ugly, over-made-up, and in the skimpiest of clothing.

Well there we are sat back on the corner, when came past again. He decided to join us. So we had to get a photo, just to show people what a sight this was. All around us people looked on in disbelief, either horrified or bursting into fits of laughter. I think we made a new friend, or at least I think he wanted to be 'my friend'.

Eventually he departed, so we went and showed the fair people stood around the pictures we'd took. It was all too funny for words. Making our way back to the guest house for an early night, we found a bit of a party going on outside. Joy the owner had friends and family over, and we were asked if we wanted to join them.

Among the people we met were various family members, a high-up police official on-duty but happily knocking back the beer, and Mr. Sweetlips. He was an old school friend of Joy's, and a bit of a lad by all accounts. He liked the girls, a lot, and had two girlfriends with him, although they left without him. So not such a stud afterall.

Ciara and Nam soon joined us, it was her last night in Laos. They stayed for a drink, and we said that we would see them in the morning to say goodbye. It was 1.30am by the time we got to bed, another late night, it was taking its toll like I say. Just as we settled down and started to drift off, some random guy tried coming into our room. Shocked and embarassed by his mistake, he got an eye-full of Sam sprawled out on the bed.

Today is the actual day of the Boat Racing Festival, so we can get back to normal, we need to dry-out.