UPDATE: Here's the picture and article that was front page news. Thanks Ari.

http://www.vientianetimes.org.la/Previous%20issues/2005-107/Default.htm

If you didn't figure it out, the consular officer mentioned in the linked article was me. I was also on the front page (above the fold) of the Times...the Vientiane Times, that is. It's the english language daily newspaper, and I was in the background walking out of the immigration police headquarters with the 3 amcits who were released yesterday.

All in all, an interesting and stressful weekend. They were detained on Saturday afternoon so we were working most of the weekend. The end was good though, with 3 of 4 released yesterday into our custody, and one remaining in custody who should be released soon.

In other news, traffic was brought to a standstill today on a main street in Vientiane when two dogs decided to have sex in the middle of the road. The drivers were very kind, slowing WAY down to squeeze around the dogs, who didn't seem to care what was going on around them. It was just about the biggest traffic jam in Vientiane's recent history.

The rainy season has definitely begun. We were at the Sunset bar today having an after work beer, watching a huge thunderstorm slowly work it's way towards us from across the river in Thailand. We left in time, which was better, but less fun, than Monday, when we were caught at the Sunset bar by a huge rain/wind/thunder storm. It rained buckets for about an hour, so there was little else to do but hunker down behind some big, hastily-opened umbrellas, which didn't REALLY stop the rain. Additionally, I didn't know whether it was better to have the rain hit us or have the metal umbrella rods at our feet, ready to conduct the lightning right up to our table. All ended well, with a run to the car and a drive home.

We have plans for golf on Saturday, our first foray into the Lao golf scene. It should be good, although the tee time is set for 6:30 am to try to avoid the heat I guess. I mean, sure, I like golf, but 6:30 means leaving the house at 5:50, which means getting up at 5:47, which is pretty damn early if you ask me.

That's all for now. Adios

Phil