60956    The Laotian capital of Vientiane, connected to Nong Khai in northern Thailand by the "Friendship Bridge," has changed completely in just half a year.

60957    The numbers of French and Thai tourists have jumped considerably and the shopping streets that used to close early are now open late into the night.

60958    Travel restrictions to rural areas have been loosened and tourists are being recruited for "adventure cruises" on the Mekong River, close to the Cambodian border.

60959    The Laotian government's two pillars of development are tourism development and hydroelectric power from the Mekong.

60960    Presently, electricity from the Nam Ngum Dam is exported to Thailand, accounting for one-quarter of Laos' foreign currency.

60961    There are plans to build large hydroelectric power plants in twenty-some locations by the beginning of the 21st century.

60962    Plans are being formulated to increase electrical capacity by approximately 40-fold and electrical volume by about 60-fold, and to sell the electricity to fund economic development.

60963    Construction of large dams not only causes environmental problems such as the destruction of forests or submersion of villages, but also problems such as flooding and the intrusion of sea water into downstream areas.

60964    Modern hotels have been built in the old capital of Luang Prabang, 200 kilometers north of Vientiane, where the National Tourism Authority has set about developing the Mekong River tourist resources.

60965    This includes, for example, a trip to a traditional Lao "alcohol-making village" on the banks of the Mekong River.

60966    Hundreds of urns line the river bank and the smell of shochu is everywhere.

60967    Fermented glutinous rice is put into metal drums and heated over a fire.

60968    The resulting vapor is condensed with cold water from the Mekong and distilled liquor is produced.

60969    About 30 kilometers south of the old capital in the mountains is a small and very poor ethnic Mon village of about 300 people or 50 households, where the men quietly leave to work elsewhere.

60970    Many children suffer from malnutrition and related eye diseases.