Final thoughts on Laos...

---

As I pack my things to venture onto Thailand, I thought I'd post a few of my last photos and some thoughts on this wonderful country.

I highly recommend a visit, incredibly easy to travel and navigate. Language can occasionally provide some difficulties however in comparison to China, this has been a breeze. If you do include Laos in your travels, be prepared to stay in Luang Prabang for a while. It is such an amazing little place where the spirituality hangs thickly in the air. That city will remain in my thoughts and memories for life. One thing it took a while to realize is that no one honks their horns here. Not sure why it's taken me weeks to realize that having come from China where horn-blaring is the norm and very unnerving. Just peacefulness everywhere...

One other thing, every temple I visited (and there are a lot), there are many stray cats everywhere. But they are so docile, that if you stand in one spot for any length of time, they'll come find you. And when I say any length of time, that could be as short as 30 seconds. One temple, I stopped to take a picture and had a little kitten lay across my foot, just climbed up on top of my foot and got comfortable. Another temple, I sat on a bench in a shaded spot, pulled out my book to read for a bit. This little cat comes out and was looking for some attention. He was hopelessly skinny, that just killed me; I gave him a bit of water but had nothing for food. So as I sat reading my book, he did as most pets will do, he crawled onto my lap and made himself quite comfortable. At one point, I had my book up in the air trying to read without disturbing the cat who was fast asleep on my lap. Quite funny, just not scared of anyone.

Okay, I've got to run. I'll drop another line later....

---

Photos

V1
Temple with thousands of little Buddhas in these little niches.

V2
Trying not to 'temple' people out, just one more shot.

V3
The presidential palace in Vientiane

V4
Sunset shot

V5
Sunsetting over Thailand as viewed from Lao on my last night.

Comments

[cindyjones]

Honey, I love your notes, I r want you to travel forever so I can live thru you!! very cool stuff. love, Cindy

[Smack Willie G]

Animal Lover!
Taking in strays again eh?! Are you going to bring Max a playmate? I figure if Anjolina can travel to Africa to pick out a baby that goes with her new sofa, you should be allowed to pcik up a lonely Asian kitty for Max to wait on the back of the sofa with. I'm sure he would like to have someone to talk to while your at work. 'course I dont know if Max speaks "Asian Kitty" but they wouold work it out I'm sure. Love the photos! And your musings. Windy and rainy here. Hockey and golf for me. Oh ya... and lots of food and cocktails. Happy (and safe) travels!

[Smack Willie G]

Animal Lover!
Taking in strays again eh?! Are you going to bring Max a playmate? I figure if Anjolina can travel to Africa to pick out a baby that goes with her new sofa, you should be allowed to pcik up a lonely Asian kitty for Max to wait on the back of the sofa with. I'm sure he would like to have someone to talk to while you're at work. 'course I dont know if Max speaks "Asian Kitty" but they wouold work it out I'm sure. Love the photos! And your musings. Windy and rainy here. Hockey and golf for me. Oh ya... and lots of food and cocktails. Happy (and safe) travels!

[MICHELLE]

JUST GOT BACK
WHOA..IT LOOKS LIKE YOU ARE HAVING A BLAST !!! WE JUST GOT BACK FROM HAWAII +35 INTO CALGARY AT -30, NOT ENJOYING GOING FROM FLIP FLOPS TO FURRY BOOTS, BUT WHAT CAN WE DO.... PHONE ME SOON, I TOTALLY MISS YOUR VOICE AND WANT TO HEAR HOW EVERYTHING IS GOING...LOVE YA LOTS CHICKIE.... XOXO