Quick Trip to Lao
Posted by Stuart at 08:00 PM on May 02, 2003The overnight bus ride to Nong Khai turned out to be not so bad. I took the "VIP" bus: fully air conditioned and only has 24 seats which reclined to almost 100% and was therefore quite comfortable.
After getting Jui safely across the border, we headed into Vientianne for a visit to my favorite Scandinavian Bakery next to the fountain. Then we rented a motorbike and drove around town a bit so he could quickly see the sights and then I took him on the motorbike back to the Friendship Bridge so that he could head back to Thailand.
I, of course, want more than a few hours in Laos, so I stayed. I waited at the bridge for a while until my Lao friends Sone and Odai arrived on their motorbikes. The three of us then headed to Odai's village which was supposedly "near Vietianne".
Almost an hour later, most of which was spent on a rutted dirt road, we arrived at Odai's home. What an interesting ride it was, however. I love riding through small dirt-road villages and watching kids play soccer outside a small school, old men walking their buffalo herd down the street, monks sweeping the dirt outside of the village temple.
We will be spending the night at Odai's, but first we have been promised a party. In typical Lao/Isaan style we will be "friends, sitting, talking, eating, drinking."
Yes!! Happy Cinco de Mayo!!! Margaritas and Coronas for all!! haha!
SG - Are you finished with school? Do you teach during the summer?
Since I don't want to be left out :-) ..... there is suppose to be an absolutely gorgeous waterfall east of here .... the tallest waterfall east of the Mississippi (not as massive - wide - as Niagra, but taller). It's an area that I have been wanting to visit for over a year. Hopefully, when I join the hiking pack here they will be taking some day trips to that area, so I TOO can go see a pretty, refreshing, waterfall!! :-)
Love you!!
Hi Dad!
Yes, Vietianne is one of the more European-influenced cities in Asia (in food and architecture, at least), since the French were here for a long time. There is a lot of great European food here: French, Italian, Scandinavian, and almost every restaurant sells sandwiches on delicious French Bread. The non-Asian food here is better than what I have found in Bangkok for sure.
I was thinking of you as I visited the mountains and a few waterfalls in Chiang Mai last week. You are very lucky to be living in such a beautiful place where nature is right outside your front door.
Beth... ooooh, Cinco de Mayo. I forgot all about that holiday. I'm surprised the Thai people haven't figured out that one. Like I keep saying, any excuse to have a party!
Yes, I will be teaching this summer: Prepratory Math. Not terribly excited about that one, but that's ok.
P.S. Go to the waterfall ASAP! :)
Scandinavian Bakery, huh? In Laos? There has to be a story there somewhere.
We hiked to a pretty waterfall yesterday just off the Blue Ridge parkway east of here, and took another short hike to a pretty overlook.
Mom and I just got back from swimming and eating Subway sandwiches on our front deck--beautiful day. I will probably go walk some later.
School is about over--finishing finals this week. We are having a Cinco de Mayo party at the house tomorrow night for the faculty and staff.
Love, Dad