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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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I actually enjoyed as I considered the impossibility of such travel in the West. Open air vehicle, loaded with people, chickens, rice bags, fish, sugar sacks, boxes, bags, babies and other things dangling off the sides, passengers included. Every now and again, we'd stop for supplies as local food sellers threw themselves upon us, shouting for us to buy their produce. On this journey, all the youth purchased the sticks of huge shiny black beetles, sharing and munching them like a bag of potato chips! Oh My God. The very sight made my skin crawl. We finally arrived at some other unknown destination and as usual with no-one speaking English, just followed the smiles and pointing fingers. Although Pakse is nothing to be marvelled at, it was good to be back on familiar territory. Headed straight for our favourite joint: Delta Coffee House. The smell of strong, arabica coffee hit us as the staff ground the freshly harvested beans. One banana and coffee shake followed another, and I was still too hot to move. Any hotter and I'd soon be a victim of human combustion. An air-conditioned internet cafe would've been heaven. We were in Laos. No such luck. Instead I sweltered over the emails in my inbox that'd accumulated during my absence from civilisation. An hour of that and I could take no more. We went for dinner then a cold shower at Sabaidy II. No sooner had I stepped out of the shower than I was drenched in sweat once more. Sigh. Tuk-tuk to the bus terminal where we boarded the Nemo express. Well, not exactly, but the bright Disney decorations were amusing. The interior was even cheesier with blue and white frills and plastic flowers.. Still I was not complaining as I luxuriated in the first air conditioning my skin had felt in a week. We sank into our seats in giggles. Overnight travel is never pleasant by any means and if a bed does ot provide me with sufficient comfort, then a bus certainly wasn't going to. We departed at 8:30pm and arrived into ...