Two trips in two weeks- October 7- 19

 

Monday, October 22   ...Well, dear folks, the teaching schedule went on pause while my partner Sharon and I got settled in new apartments and went on trips toVang Vieng, north east by train, and Luang Prabang, two hours northeast by train.

The photo on the left is at Vientiane Station;  Sharon is in front of our train to Vang Vieng. It was a full train. 

It's tricky buying train tickets, here.  The Lao-China railway  only sells 3 days before your desired travel date. However, there are at least two reputable online services that you can use to tentatively "reserve" your seats; one is laostrain.com.  Sharon and I didn't think it was a big deal over the holiday (WRONG!) and we were able to get tickets easily to Vang Vieng, and tickets to Luang Prabang were tight going out, but totally sold out on the return before the 3 day travel window.  We ended up taking a plane  so we could get back in time to teach. 

The photo to the left is the view outside my hotel room of the dramatic hills surrounding Van Vieng. 

Everything I'm doing in Laos, I view as a rehearsal for when some of you dear ones come to visit.  Train tickets are inexpensive ($20/trip) and planes can be as well ($60); however, booking during peak periods is dicey. I guess I would use one of the on-line services (Chinese travel agency) well in advance, and cross my fingers that the agency would be able to access tickets for me 3 days in advance.  

Enough about logistics!  Vang Vieng (we spent 3 days there)  is an extreme sports haven -- ballooning, paragliding, ziplining, kayaking, hiking, swimming in spring fed pools -- in the dramatic backdrop of granite craggy cliffs and verdant rice fields.  Hotels are inexpensive for the basics including breakfast -- anywhere from $30 - 40/night.  

Sharon and I ended up kayaking, hiking up a 250 meter cliff, and because we were too tired to hike down the cliff, we zip lined down. It took five zip line segments plus two ricketty swaying bridge courses. I was totally reconciled to putting myself in our guide's (and God's) hands.  The view was stunning after I managed to overcome terror and throw myself into an outta body experience.

 Will I do it again with you?  Uhh,,, let me get back to you about that. No pictures 'cause I was too dam scared.  Here's someone else's video in a similar spot, tho. And, from me,  instead I share a nice evening boat ride on the Mekong. 

Luang Prabang (the trip we took Oct 16)  is a dreamy location.  It is (still) a UNESCO World Heritage site; it's status may be threatened by the need to protect some of the buildings and environment more.  It's the ancient capital, and it seems to have more temples (Wats) then coffee shops.  And we were there for the festival of the end of Buddhist lent, during this full moon of October, the 17th.  

Sharon and I ended up going with a young Fulbright student, Caitlyn. She's from NYC, went to Dartmouth, and is working with textiles for her grant experience. She has a Lao-American mom and grandma, a Chinese-American dad.

Here Caitlyn is with her family friend getting ready for the Buddhist end of lent ceremony.  And I got to come along, too.

Luang Prabang is the first place I've been in Laos which was comfortable for  walking -- the sidewalks were mostly intact and respected for pedestrian use. Caitlyn has family friends in Luang Prabang, so we were able to get an insider's view from the beginning. We experienced the Buddhist ceremony first hand, had delightful walks through town, a great dinner at a local chef's teaching restaurant, several trips to the night market, to a handicraft preservation center and museum, and made notes for future trips.  (Responsible elephant sanctuaries, boat trips on the Mekong, handicraft villages a few kilometers down the road, etc.)  

This week at the American Center the English Language Fellows are giving an overview of the TOEFL test (one of the main English language tests for International students) for 3 days and then we'll be doing one-on-one guidance with pre-teachers and interns on Saturday.  Oh and a Happy Ha-LAO-loween party sponsored by the Embassy on Saturday. 

Some of you are raving about the delightful fall weather at home.  Enjoy it for us!!  We are still experiencing hot weather of up to 90 degrees with 85-90% humidity. I can remember getting used to it as a kid, and I am now as well.  

I'll leave you, sending love for a wonderful last part of October, a Happy Halloween, and with good spirits from Laos and Luang Prabang's enchanting spirit festival!

An lighted alley from the street leads to a back entrance to the Wat.

There were dyed and printed fabric banners depicting the Buddha.

The lighted dragon was resting up before being paraded around town the following evening.

Most people get around by motor bike.  As affiliates of the US Embassy, we are not allowed to, not that I would even try!

Every Wat during this time is lit up, it's truly an enchanting experience.

This is Caitlyn after we each placed our candle and flowers on the boat. She and I followed maybe 100 others, all barefoot including ourselves, in a spiritual walk around the temple holding our flowers and candle.  After 3 rounds, accompanied by chanting of Buddhist sutras, everyone mindfully and carefully balanced and stuck their candle on the boat and put the flowers beneath it.  After this ceremony, the dragon boat is ready to go in the parade, which happened the following day. 

Have a wonderful Halloween and Fête de Toussaint!