Luang Prabang,
Lao Peoples Dem Rep
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Greetings from behind the iron curtain. So we caught the slow boat in Huay Xay, Lao PDR on Saturday for a two-day cruise down the Mekong River, stopping for a night in Pak Beng before proceeding to Luang Prabang. The scenery was unbelievably beautiful, and being on a huge muddy river all day reminded me of another trip I took long ago. (Barry, what about Mekong 2010 -question mark doesn't work on this keyboard-) So when we arrived in Pak Beng for the night I decided to take a little dip in the Mekong down by all of the boats. Well, the Mekong's a pretty big river, and the current really moves. So in a violent fit of grasping at rocks to avoid being swept under the mass of boats tied up to the shore, I managed to lose my wedding ring in the Mekong. Sarah and I are pretty excited, really, because we have always wanted to have new wedding rings hand made, and so when we head down to Bali in a few weeks we've got an exciting and romantic task to undertake. And in the meantime I've made a nice temporary band out of blue duct tape that's hanging on very well. So if anyone has any good ideas for ring designs, Mark Hanf, I'm looking in your general direction, we'd love to hear your ideas.
Anyway, now we're in Luang Prabang and loving what is quite likely the neatest town in the world. We were actually told that by several of our friends who had been here among many other wonderful places, and we could not agree more. Imagine a small, French village at the confluence of two rivers, covered in palm trees, with incredible art, fresh fruit, and an amazing mix of French bakeries and Lao restaurants and street vendors. And waterfalls. Clean, cool, awesome waterfalls. From swimming in a local swimming hole yesterday with some new friends and six little local boys to trying out fried buffalo skins and buffalo brains (tastes like fresh mozzarella actually), to relaxing and playing guitar in our room overlooking the Nam Khan river and the mountains beyond, we're doing just fine.
Comments
BB's
Please bring me back some buffalo brains, mozzerella is terribly expensive in the states.
love reading your entries
... especially since Ian and I are making the journey to Thailand in December. We are doing Northern Thailand - Chiang Mai, then several remote villages - Hmong Pha Mieng, Pha Daeng, Khum Lanna, Kup Kap. River Kwai and then finally Bangkok. We have from Dec 19 to Jan 2. You lucky birds get to fly around for much longer --
I am glad to hear I am not alone in trying to pronounce thank you. Hope you have some great adventures!- Sonya
Adventures in Marietta Georgia, USA
We are still alive, grateful, and enjoying cool Fall weather and the autumn foliage. No palm trees or waterfalls. Our hearts are with you as you experience all these new and wonderful places and we know that you will be enriched in so many profound ways. Thank you for sharing the adventure with us. We love you and miss you. Mamma Claud
Gotta make the wedding rings official
Since I presided over the installation of the original wedding rings, I think I'm obligated to make sure the 'redo' rings are properly in place. Let me know when we need to set that up.
Plus I want to hear you recount how you felt as you, to your surprise, were nearly swept away in the deceptive currents of the Mekong river... I'm figuring I'll get a chuckle or two out of that one.