Arrival in Laos - Jan 24

(Sorry for the delay in posting! Between travel yesterday and trouble with internet access, I wasn't able to get connected.)

We left PNH at 3:50 for VTE on Vietnam airways. It's about a one hour flight and feelings were running pretty deep as we began our descent into Wattay Airport. When we touched down on the runway, a cheer went up and the group started clapping. The rest of the passengers on the plane, and it was a full flight, all looked at us like we were crazy! The terminal jetways ramps into the terminal (yes, they have jetways today) are quite open so I stopped to take a picture of the plane and then of various members of the group as they stepped on Lao soil for the first time in 35 or 40 years. There were tears and cheers.

Took quite a while to get our visas and clear immigation. Laos doesn't believe in giving you your paperwork on the plane so you can prepare in advance. However, they do have a more efficient process for issuing the visas compared to Cambodia - four folks sitting side by side, and sliding the passport through the steps. 1) Hand over the passport with the paperwork and 2 photos. 2) Attach the photo to the paperwork. 3) Stamp the passport with the Lao visa. 4) Accept payment and return the passport to the owner. You don't even want to hear how it was done in Cambodia. On the bright side, all the baggage was waiting for us down in baggage claim. As for "anything to declare?" The customs guy didn't even look at me as I went by.

We were met by Frank Manley, of Manley Enterprises AND Penny and Rick Johannasen. What a nice greeting! (I also ran into the tour guide that I had had when I returned to Laos in 2006. As I told him, once he got over his surpise, "see, I told you I would be back"

It was dark by the time we headed into town and could only see a bit of the old airport vut it looked like there were still old hangers. The new road is further away but apparently the old terminal is still being used as a domestic terminal.

(Must head downstairs for reception for a bit - will resume later)