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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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their story of being locked in. We went for breakfast at L'Etranger; muesli, yoghurt, honey and fruit. Three hours passed easily in the quaint comfy cushion laden bookshop. Soft french music played in the background. The tables and chairs lay low, and the walls were high - covered ceiling to floor in copies of the National Geographic, an intellectual haven of information. I pulled a few off the shelves and read once I bored of writing postcards. The rain stopped and we went for a stroll around the neighbourhood, coming across Wat Xieng Thong. For lunch we grabbed banana leaf parcels from a market stall, and for dinner another vegetarian buffet at the night market with David and Noura. Sounds great, but to be unashamedly honest; I really don't know what the rave
From Vang Vieng to Luang Prabangis about south east asian market food - sure its always a good feed for less money than would buy you a bar of chocolate back home, but, I was becoming severly sick of what I perceived to be relatively bland, and limited tastes. That last comment will no doubt spark a reaction in many who wildly disagree! Hehe.

Finally slept well that night and even managed yoga in the morning. I really will miss the cold tiled floors of SEA. Yoga on a carpeted surface isn't quite the same as tile or marble. Joma cafe bakery for breakfast: cinnamon bagel and a bowl of fruit. Just as I'd finished eating and made plans for the day, in entered Eileen, with an arm-twisting invitation to the waterfalls. Five of us, in a rickety tuk-tuk, as it clanked slowly over the bumpy hillsides, had me escape to a world within; a world of fantasy and fairytale. That was until the vehicle broke down, and we had to push it up the hill to re-start. Nice. The falls were unexpectedly impressive, for as travellers fatigue kicks in, I am growing increasingly unreactive and dispassionate about new sights and scenes. We climbed Jenni, Eileen and I urm, supporting the Laotion economy ...