I don't think the heavy stuff will come down for a while...

It is the rainy season afterall.

But when I woke up this morning about 6:30 to go golfing, the day looked promising; high light gray clouds over Vientiane, but brighter north of town down Dansavanh way. I picked up Jon and his father-in-law Mike at about 7:20 and we headed out. Pulled into the Dansavanh parking lot and had our pick of parking spots. There was noone on the course. By the time we got to the first tee, the sun had burned off the remaining clouds and it was HOT! Front nine was great. I shot 4 over, and took a total of $0.60 off Jon (high rollers we at $0.10 a hole).

Made the turn, and Jon was peering up behind me with a look of foreboding when we got to the 10th tee box. Huge black clouds were rolling in from the nearby mountains. Then, on 14, the skies opened up. Being the intrepid and dedicated golfers that we are, we pressed on in the downpour. We were all soaked from sweat already, so it didn't make much difference. It rained, HARD, for about 2 holes, then let up, then came back with renewed fury. By the 18th tee box, the rain had stopped and the sun returned. Back 9, 45, for an 85. Best round in Asia thus far.

I have been very lucky with golf and the rain in Laos thus far. Today was the first time in almost 18 months that I have been rained on (and I've not yet had to cancel a round because of rain).

Rain never photographs well, but I attempted to capture the downpour anyway. Our caddies were good sports, and continued in the rain with good cheer.


As is tradition, Katherine and Rose (and Rose's mom) met us at the floating restaurant for lunch, where, as is also becoming tradition, Jon and I went for a swim in the murky brown water of the Nam Ngum.


Jon and Rose leave September 15. We will definitely miss them when they are gone. But they have made a soft confirmation for meeting up in Vieques next April.

It will be fun to meet up again, and as a bonus, it never hurts to have a pediatrician (Jon) and an internal medicine practitioner (Rose) in the house.