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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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did not. All but for a few hours of disturbed rest, in penstivity, fantasy and despair. I eventually emerged from under my mosquito net at 11am, yoga'd as teh winds swept through the windows of our hut, warning of the swollen dark clouds above, ready to realease their load. Breaksfast was sweet grilled bananas in coconut milk. Who says desserts can't be consumed at breakfast?! That, with a strong Laotian coffee from the Bolaven Plataeu, served with sweet condensed milk gave me the kick start to the morning I needed. We walked a little to the waterfalls where we sat on the hot rocks, dipping our feet in the cool rushing water. Day was spent doing nothing very much. Call it, a cultural experience! Still, by the evening I was tired. Time to face the shower again. And the bed. Each with equal reluctance...

...Caught a morning bus to Pakse. No sooner had we descended than our bags had been unloaded and hauled onto a sawngatheaw bound for Si Phan Don. Sure, travel through Asia may be simple, but by no means easy or stress free. Searing, unmerciful midday heat. Parched red earth, dusting my white trousers an orange brown. Laotian music blaring from neaarby market stalls. Local glares as the unusual indian farangs walked through the chaos perturbed and unwilling. Actaully, I ought to speak for myself. Umi apearred to be enjoying the whole ordeal. Worse was to come. A sawngatheaw is an open air vehicle, resembling an elongated rickshaw with two planks either side, and one running along the middle. Common to many if not all Asian countries is teh ability to squeeze onto any one vehicle as many passengers as possible. And then some. So, sat with locals on all sides, we rode he three hour ride to the river, hot, sweaty and with any notion of personal space being nothing more than a hopeful vision. We arrived at the river and a boatman began to take us across to the island of Don Khong, though running out of fuel halfway, we had to return to shore and ...