How, now, Laos, cow

I've arrived in Savannakhet, Laos after another grueling 10 and a half hour bus ride. I am the only white person in the town and so far and no one speaks English. Basically enough to get me from point A to point B, that's all I need right now. It's a little unnerving however, I think I'm experiencing culture shock. I didn't get out until after the sun was down and hadn't eaten all day so I was a little freaked out. I finally got the courage to at least go find some food. Everything was written in Lao and whenever I asked for vegetable no one had a clue what I was saying and of course they can't comprehend my phrasebook. Oh Oprah, look after me this time. I managed to not get lost (I usually don't care about that but I don't have moto drivers at my back and call out here) and fill my belly. Looks like this map is in the direction I want it to be! I also made it back before the storm hit again, rainy season is alive and well! The streets were completely flooded, at least a foot of water. No joke. So I took of my sandals, pulled up my pant legs, and splashed around the streets while frogs echoed so loudly all around me. This town really does have something magical about it, maybe it's the people staring at me, maybe it's that I feel I have it all to myself, but I may book a NPA tour as there are so many national parks here, before I work my way up North, or maybe down south? Fun fact: the night market has moved!