Trip of a Lifetime

Stairway to Heaven, The Mekong River and Jabba The Hutt

Sawat Dee! Here in Laos, you drop the "Krap". Oddly, my Mom's been telling me to do that for years... Anyway, we've achieved one more stamp in our passports, and crossed over to Laos. I'm writing now from Louang Prabang, where we arrived today on boat from Houay Xai, just accross the border. Ever wanted to be in two places at once? Well we managed to be nowhere at all. You sign out of Thailand, cross the river, and then sign into Laos. So for the 10 minutes you're on the Mekong River, I suppose that you are politically nonexistant, though I felt fine :) There we found a country much the same as Thailand, where when you purchase something, you can pay in various currencies. Want a bowl of fried rice with Chicken? That'll be about 80 cents American... or 30 Baht... or 8000 Kip (Laos currency - a tad inflated), which all ends up at about 1 dollar CAD. So we bought ourselves 400000 Kip. Quite the wad of cash. Just up from the currency exchange, in Houay Xai, there's a large Wat (Buddhist Temple) up on the hill in the middle of town. The song "Stairway to Heaven" comes to mind... http://www.geocities.com/spiker4395/P1011595.JPG Here's probably the biggest drum I've ever seen, in a "Men Only" tower inside the temple. Kailyn is just out of the frame, pouting on the temple steps. http://www.geocities.com/spiker4395/P1011597.JPG Here's the gorgeous sunset that night. http://www.geocities.com/spiker4395/P1011604.JPG Here's a picture of Kailyn and I just before bed, testing out the timer function on her camera. I'm looking more and more like a miscreant every day... http://www.geocities.com/spiker4395/P1011605.JPG The next morning we took a tour boat on the Mekong River. The thing is huge, and dirty as sin. At it's widest, I would estimate the Mekong at 350 metres, and it goes all the way through Laos (along the Thai border) and Cambodia before reaching the ocean. It was a comfortable ride on our cushy tour boat. So, have you ever wondered what happened to Jabba the Hutt after Star Wars? I mean what does an intergalactic mercenary do when he wants to retire. The answer - go to Laos! I even have proof - he was our tour guide! Here he is in all his glory, although I admit he's lost some weight (must be all that rice) - but the face is unmistakeable. http://www.geocities.com/spiker4396/P1011644.JPG We stopped for the night in a tiny village, of which I cannot remember the name, and I got to play some more soccer with random kids, this time on sand. Here is a picture of the kids (who were absolutely fascinated with the camera, and blond haired blue eyed Kailyn) with Kailyn, and a picture of us on the beach. http://www.geocities.com/spiker4396/P1011623.JPG http://www.geocities.com/spiker4396/P1011622.JPG Have any of you been looking for alcohol with a real bite to it? Something really... venemous? I think maybe this village moonshine-type-whisky goes a little too far. http://www.geocities.com/spiker4396/P1011652.JPG Finally, here's another sunset. http://www.geocities.com/spiker4396/P1011620.JPG So, much love from Kailyn and I and keep those emails coming, we love to hear from home! Also, feel free to comment on the site, and remember that if pictures aren't working, just wait till tomorrow :) Hey, it's annoying, but it's FREE! Spiker

posted by Spiker @ 5:58 am