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Hi guys - lack of updates: have been travelling through rural southern villages where electricity, water and telephones are a luxury, let alone internet. For now, feast on this:

"Sawadee". "Sawadee". We responded to the huge friendly smile characteristic of this region. It turns out that he is Laotian, and an epitomy of everything that is rumoured about Laotian people. Warm, friendly, highly-loveable and so laid back he'd almost fall over. Traversing and experiencing such beautiful people, one is a far cry from the familiarity of fear and unrest of the West, that it is difficult to believe the world is in certain parts, in turmoil. Ironically, the Democratic Republic of Laos is considered to be one of those countries. And for sure, it has its share of political instability, under-development and economic struggles, but, a certain flame of happiness dances in the eyes of the locals with whom I have interacted - a flame whose light is often missed in the West.

In Laos. In Love.

Asha Patel
2006-08-23 10:48:48

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curiosity about these 'farangs'. At ten years old she was sharp, intelligent and charming. With a fluency in Frecnh she told us about her dream to become a doctor someday and her working life at the market to pay for college in order to fulfil that dream...

...We later mingled with more local children in the park. They adorably displayed their agility as they climed the rails and competitvely raced each other. They cutely posed
for us as we snapped our cameras and then took off in search of the sunset. It was glorious. Once dark fell, we stopped at a south Indian restaurant eating well and cheaply. I hadn't realised how much I'd missed the world's best cuisine until we were served dishfuls of the stuff! the evening was completed with a fruit shake, some emailing and me falling over grazing my knee, creating a nice whole in my new black trousers. Nice. At the hostel, I squirmed and squeezed as Rachel applied antiseptic and a plaster...

...Insomnia: "Chronic inability to fall asleep or remain asleep for an adequate length of time". I cannot recall the last time that I slept for more than an hour. My sleep is intermittent, sporadic, disturbed and sometimes non-existent. Overwhelmed with frustration, I got up at 4am to read a few chapters of John Grisham. Morning came and we wished Umisha a happy 19th birthday. After a late and lengthy breakfast at our favourite coffee house, we made it in the sweltering heat, on a rickety tuk-tuk to the marketplace. Assaulted by the smells of rotting produce and swarms of flies, we didn't stay long. Before leaving
Umisha managed to persuade the three of us take a ride, or rather a brutal bashing on the bumper cars. Enough for the day, I went back to the hostel and rested my head, falling asleep for an hour. I wish I hadn't. Felt nauseas and groggy upon waking. Fortunately all was not bad: Rach's friend Eve had arrived from Canada, bearing a box of swiss Lindt chocolates ...