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Birthday

Zach’s first birthday, hurray ! we had 2 cakes, 2 1/2 parties and presents.

There are more pictures here.

One thing I have always found somewhat comical and scary at the same time are the road conditions in Laos. As an American that is used to strict rules, it is somewhat laughable that over 40% of the time while driving you will find yourself playing “chicken” with a group of vehicles coming the opposite way.

On a side note we were recently at the US Embassy here in Vientiane to put some more blank visa pages in my passport (every trip to Thailand and back adds a few more stamps, and it fills up fast). While waiting I was reading the literature they have for American citizens. I found the following particularly accurate.

“Traffic in Laos is chaotic and road conditions are very rough. Few roads have lane markings. Where lane markings, road signs, and stoplights do exist, they are widely ignored. Many drivers are unlicensed, inexperienced and uninsured. Driving under the influence of alcohol or illegal drugs is not uncommon, and penalties for such offenses may not be enforced. Theoretically, traffic moves on the right, but vehicles use all parts of the road. Motorcyclists pay little or no heed to cars. Motorcycles carry as many as five people, greatly impeding the drivers’ ability to react to traffic. The evening hours are particularly dangerous. Road construction sites are poorly marked, appear with no advance warning, and can be difficult to see at night. Roads are poorly lit, many vehicles have no operating lights, few bicycles have reflectors, and trucks without reflectors commonly park on unlit roads”.

Haha, I couldn’t have said it better myself. The entire writeup is online here which includes other interesting laws, such as pre-marital sex is actually illegal, and you can be thrown in jail and fined a LOT of money for it. Importing religious texts and artifacts is illegal and furthermore giving or distributing religious material can also get you deported or arrested.