Savannakhet Shaping Up

The count down clock has officially begun to Savannakhet and the high school national games.  The team plus myself will be heading to Vientiane on the 24th, will pick up Tom and arrive in Savannakhet on the 25th.  Tom is going down early to get his visa renewed, even though it seems like we just did that.  Since we have already renewed our visa once we must now leave Laos for a token amount of time and then come back. Tom will be going across the friendship bridge into Udon Thailand from Vientiane.  I on the other hand will be crossing the second friendship bridge from Savannakhet into unknown city in Thailand.  Tom and I have made a reservation at a hotel but when the receptionist did ask for a name with the reservation Tom and I became skeptical.  It seems as though there were quite a few places to stay and if we get super desperate we could stay with the team.  Although no one (especially them) wants this to happen.  One hotel we looked at was the Savan Vegas Hotel http://www.savanvegas.com/home.html.  Its hilarious yet intriguing and a part of me really wanted to stay there.  The one issue is the cheapest room for one night is how much we plan on spending for 14 days at the other place. 

With leaving for the games nearly 11 days away the thoughts about how competitive we will be is coming to the forefront.  I honestly have no idea what to expect.  In my eyes they are well trained but lacking the "killer instinct".  I can only hope that it is truly a national problem not just a local Luang Prabang one.  My team still only has one set of blocks so I hope that every athlete can get their opportunity to put the work in they need.  We started working on hand-offs for the 4 x 100m which was rocky at the beginning but now they seem to be getting a hang of it. Leaving brings up many questions I have about the meet. 

Will we be one LP team or just a free for all everyone for themselves?  I have no idea. If its a free for all why am I working on hand-offs? I do know there is a 4x100m so that's a good sign at least.  What exactly is the schedule? I got a basic list of events but over all no idea. What times have won in the past?  I don't have a reference point for what times won events in the past so we could be great or shit.  I know hope the latter is false. 

The closer we get the more I feel like I don't know.  I do know that Tom and I have our id cards with our pictures on them.  I will post photos when we get them.  I do know that there are opening ceremonies and closing ceremonies much like the Olympics. I am not sure if we walk and get introduced by districts like the Olympics.  That would be pretty cool.  I do know that when even if we win Tom and I wont get the credit I am we are trolling for.  I am kidding about the last part.  Its been a lot of fun although frustrating at times.  I just hope they get rewarded for the work they put in.


Interesting aside, Tom and I have become low level celebrities. We are the two goofy falang (foreigners) who live in Ban Nasangveuy.  We were recognized three times last night.  Two of the people actually are our neighbors we have never met. And if you are wondering this was out at a restaurant not at our house.  We are such an attraction people just come by the house and stare at us.  Three men in suits came up and just opened the door without saying anything or being invited for that matter.  Then they wondered around the porch looking at the house.  Last week an older woman came to the door and yelled at me for beer bottles.  This caught me by surprise but there was nothing I could do but oblige her.  After I gave her the 12 bottles she asked for she wanted a bag to which I didn't have.  She really was asking for a lot.  Just another day being a low level celebrity in SE Asia.

Last night we had Lao Hotpot.  Some of you may have had Vietnamese hotpot.  Vietnamese hotpot is a large bowl of broth cooked at your table and you thrown in the ingredients you want and it cooks in front of you.   Lao hotpot is different.  The same basic principles apply cooking the food at your table.  Instead of a bowl there is a metal Sombrero of sorts that is placed over the coals and on the very top some pork fat is placed.  Then around the bottom bowl of the sombrero the broth, vegetables, egg, and noodles are placed.  The pork fat cooks and the juices pour down into the lower level broth.  The around the pork up top you place the meat which is very thinly cut and cooks in about 2 minutes, one minute on each side.  The juices from the meat also pour down into the broth.  This creates a delicious meal and for 6 bucks for two people a pretty good deal.  If I were to put a negative on the experience the hot oil/juices at times can jump on you.  Very much like the Tracy Jordan Meat Machine.  It is a good time and something you all should try.

I hope this post tides your insatiable hunger for my words.  Until next time.

By the way thank you all for your concern.  I would hope that you all realize that no I do not have cholera.  I am doing well and I hope you all are too.