It's like a washing machine...
.. all turny inside out and upside down... that's me.I'm going to India.
Yup. That's right, India.
Ok, let me tell you about my day...
I'm in Vang Vieng. One of the main reasons people come to VV is to do this Amazing tubing down a river- That's what I did today.
We got our tube and tuktuk up the river around 11am. You just jump in the tube and the current takes you down- not very quickly, just right.
I lay there in the tube, passing people fishing for seaweed, butterflies landing on my tube (I swatted them away- did you know I am also afraid of butterflies?) Looking to my right (when facing fwd) ;) the huge mountains I see from my guest house window loomed above- to my left gardens and homes..
Kids were swimming and pitching seaweed at each other the legnth of the tube ride.. Also there were a bunch of places you could stop and buy sandwiches or Beerlao- there were actualy guys standing on the side of the river "fishing for tourists" with long sticks, pulling you in if you needed a refill! You could climb to the top of towers and jump down or tarzan style down, depending on your level of fear I suppose. I stayed put in my tube...
It took about 3 hrs to do the length of the river (start to finish) :)
We even paddled hard because we were so hungry and didn't want any damn Beerlao! We wanted fruit shakes!
Passed one stand along the water were a little kid, not older than 3 years old yelled out "Sabaydee! " (hello) and then "Beerlao!" Too funny!
Got back to our guest house, right outside the end point, showered (icky water) and then lay by the river reading til the sun went down.
Emily got more music put on her ipod- I bought some thai/lao pants (I should've brought the ones you gave me, kate!) and went to eat.
I was planning on going to Luang Prabang tomorrow morning. Thing is I have to get my visa for India and I am not sure i can do it in Luang Prabang. I wanted to take the boat into Thailand that takes 2 days, but my time is getting super limited- flight to India is on Feb8.
So, I am skipping what I foresee to be the best part of Laos. I will just have to come back is all. I don't even feel that I can buy the Lao patch to put on my backpack ;) Perhaps on my way back to China I will travel overland... money is getting low tho.. who knows anyways, my plans change more often than my underwear. Actually much more often ;)
Afetr getting to Bangkok I will have about 10 days to check out Thailand so it is not wasted time. Don't worry I will have stories for you soon.
Ok, back to Bangkok. More soon. (I don't want to hear anything about missing out on Laos. Tonight I mourn for Luang Prabang- I am very upset about it- but the travel time would have been way too much... and India logistics just don't work...)
posted by jjoollee @ 5:32 AM
2 Comments:
DUDE!!!!!
ah...Luang Prabang mourns for you...but really wherever your journey takes you, and whatever makes you happy is what really counts.
Speaking of revisiting Laos...it looks like that's what I may end up doing on my next trip.
My parents want to go back to India next winter...but only after Christmas, which sort of leaves me in the dilema of wether I should ditch the first christmas i've had with all my immediate family in 2 years, or enjoy a family christmas and head out there with them.
We'd probably do a few days in Paris on the way, first stop India...i'd travel with them, and then probably skip over to Sri Lanka or Pakistan for a month, then Burma...a couple weeks in Laos or Cambodia (whichever one is easiest and most accesible).
I'm thinking i'll leave in January, do a month or two in India, a month in Burma...and 2 months elsewhere...leave it to fate.
part of me really wishes you could have seen at least LP...or Muang Ngoi in Laos. these are the places I spent the most time.
Are you going to see Ponsavan?
It's interesting...and the bus ride is CRAZY...beautiful and dangerous all at once.
India would be great too...but realize that you are white and a westerner. It's not Burma. If you think Cambodia was a hassle, you need to prepare yourself for people that will reach out and touch you...not just stare.
just a heads up. at least you aren't blonde. my blonde friends are the ones who've had the hardest time with India...but as much as it was hard, they all love it with intensity. if you go, i hope you do too.
love and miss you jules.
will see you when you get back.
martine
ps.
just to play devils advocate...
what is the rush?
just wondering.
i thought about it...and i was thinking...if there is a country that isn't going anywhere...that's India...but Laos...there is a beauty there (just like Burma)that may not last. it is changing rapidly.
Think hard about your decision. if you choose to go to India...try not to hit it for just 2 weeks. it's worth staying put in some places for more time than others...in the end you'll be the judge of which one is the place you want to do that in...but regardless of where...what is important is that you aren't always Go Go Go...let your soul catch up to your body.
anyways....
gotta run.
still love ya.
martine
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