R&R in Chiang Rai and crossing into Laos

We awoke on the 9th to a realisation; there were no animals or other village sounds to interrupt our slumber. being the 9th of december, today also meant that Tom was to turn 16 and so the team had cause to celebrate. Breakfast was greeted with well-wishing and congratulations, and with no schedule for the day we chose to simply relax and relish the occasion that we were to honour. a particularly lengthy breakfast meant that we entered our day's activities later than we would perhaps have liked, but the r&r day resulted in little complaint from the team. the team was mostly split for the day, drifting about the city without much order, occassionaly returning to the guesthouse to meet friends or simply recooperate from outings. As a group present from the team, we all took Tom out to Swensens, an American ice-cream palour for sundaes to mark the event that so occupied our day. that night, we again went out to dinner at an interesting resteraunt; cabbages and condoms. afterward, the group split once more, with some choosing the night market while others chose to return to the guesthouse and relaxed, awaiting the next day's travelling into Laos for the second and final stage of our trip before R&R in Malaysia. This morning we got up early once again, having to be at the central bus terminal at 10:00am for a 10:30 departure to Chiang Khong, where we would travel across the Mekong river into Laos. two hours and a long bus ride later, we arrived in Chiang Khong and observed our next destination, Huay Xuay, from the bank. going through Thai customs to depart the country, we boarded a long-tailed boat to cross and arrive in Laos, where we travelled through Laotian customs and entered the country. the process would have been exceedingly smooth, had Matt remembered that to actually enter Laos, one must have their passport checked and had their visas checked by customs, and their passports stamped to allow them entry. A short moment later, and with matt safely in country, we looked around town for accommodation and food, which we found at an excellent price thanks to some helpful German (it would seem) tourists who pointed out a French- styled guesthouse down the street from where we arrived. With lodging booked, we ventured out into the streets to explore the city proper, as well as to burn time until dinner. afternoon sorted, we met for dinner and booked tommorrow's slow boat journey up the mekong to luang Prabang, and to reach our project village. we are soon to retire for the night, eagerly awaiting tommorrow.