Party Day

Yesterday was the 29th and the day that several restaurants and organizations held their holiday parties. Even the National Museum has only one person on duty while a staff party was going on in the backyard. So, our hotel notified us that any room cleaning would be done by 10:30Am and that all guests were encouraged to join the staff for their holiday party from 1:30 PM on.
In the AM we went to a national symbol in Laos. Phra That Luang is supposed to contain a piece of the Buddha's breastbone. After a quick sugar fix at a french bakery ( check the face in Gary's mocha), we went to the National Museum. It was interesting and a little uncomfortable to be referred to as the Imperialist Aggressors.
We went back to the hotel to check out the party only to find a happening event going on! Delicious food, lots of beer, and staff who appeared to be genuinely glad to have us, especially Greg, there. This soup with the little quail eggs was out of this world! We stayed for about 11/2 hours and when we returned at 9 PM the party was smaller but still going. We, however went to bed.
In the afternoon we went to a national prosthetic and orthotic clinic and
Rehabilitation center. This was the main center (there are four nationally) and it specializes in treatment of injuries from unexploded cluster bombs. It was a sobering experience to have cluster bombs explained and to see the documentary about these children who collect scrap metal from from the war for a living. There are still hundreds of injuries and deaths every year from bomb accidents. The sculpture is made from scrap metal.
Still too full for food, we walked along the river until Greg left for the airport.