Lost on Earth

Day 2 in Luang Prabang: This place is amazing. The uncomfortable boat ride, sleazy stay in Pak Beng, were worth it. The city is filled with crumbling, elegant colonial buildings, with charming spots of chipped mortar and peeling paint, old vines growing around shuttered windows, graceful pillars, and endearingly slippery cobbled streets. In this town, atmosphere and presentation are important, and I am realizing how much I have missed that while in Thailand. The street cafes have nice lighting, tablecloths, and use actual china plates, where in Thailand any street cafe that I go to is usually a florescent-lit warehouse style shop with flimsy tables and several mangy dogs begging for food.

I rented a little red long handled bicycle with a basket and bell and peddled languidly around the city. The pace is slow here. People sit and eat croissant, sip thick Lao coffee and people watch. It is a nice respite after the flood-chaos of work and the stress of trying to renew a visa after the coup.

However, it is time to go home. I just received word that SaZing has tested positive for TB. I am getting on the first boat (leaves tomorrow at 8) and heading back to Mae Hong Son as soon as possible.