2 posts from November 2007

Let us always remember these wise words.  Below are some pictures from our homestay experience about a month ago.  The first is from a basii ceremony, which is to bring us good luck in our travels and fortunes. 

I also tied basii bracelets on the Thai folks present, and then we had a huge meal together at our respective homes.  I look forward to spending time with them again in April.  I am currently in Luang Prabang, Laos, enjoying the wonderful confluence of a tributary to the Mekhong River amidst mountains and morning dew.  Last night a student, Jason, and I climbed to the top of Wat Phousi which overlooks the entire area.  it was stunning from up there, but a bit tricky doing it in the dark.  Kinda spooky though,  with monks lurking around shadowy rockfaces and bright lights illuminating buddha images and stuppas, staircases lines with nagas (serpents to ward off the evil spirits).  Ahh, I like this place.  The cafe Lao is fantastic, too.  A rich, dark concoction that they compliment with sweetened, condensed milk that makes for a malty treat any time of day.  But the change here is evident, with lots of construction erecting hotels and guesthouses, restaurants.  I am conflicted about this, as the quaintness of this picturesque UNESCO World Heritage site is eroding with the development.  I am typing this in a cafe with wireless internet.  This surprises me.  My last trip to Laos was about 6 years ago, and it the difference I see is stark.  Vientienne is becomming more modern.  Gone are the dusty roads and poor drainage systems I recall,  Up are the prices and fancy accomodations, shopfronts that used to house neat antiques and mom and pop sellers are now fancy, overpriced designer sik shops and spas and whatnot.  It is interesting to see.  I need to let it sink in a little bit before writing more.  I was supposed to be going to a fabulous waterfall with the rest of the group today but alas, I have to stay back and tend to a student down with a cold.  Time to deliver some oranges I will buy in the market.   

Hey everyone!  Just a quick not to let you know I am alive and a part of the global community.  I am currently in the northern town of Chiang Mai.  We have been here for 1 week or more and will be here for another 2 weeks or so.  Then we are off to Luang Prabang, Laos for a week, before heading back to Thailand.  I will be home on December 15!  Crazy, whirlwind of a time here.  I am off to a weaving village now, helping a student do her inquiry project on Thai textiles.  I was at Wat Doi Suthep a couple of days ago setting up a meditation retreat for another student.  I am helping another advisee on setting up an internship at a local NGO that runs HIV/AIDS Youth prevention program later this week.  We are also conducting workshops of writing and presentation for their projects.  It is pretty interesting to see how they are going about all of it.  I am learning quite a bit along the way too.  I dpo miss being in one spot, although this 3 weeks here, followed by the 10 days we spent in Dong Luang (pictures forthcoming, if I can find them!  Do'h, downloaded them and then deleted, now cannot find thier location.  Gotta be here somewhere....)

Go Vikes, down the Pack!  KG looks to be tearing it up (as is Moss).  Good to see.  Can't wait to see ya'll.  Later

Oh, and the picture of the woman with the child: she came and sat down next to me, chatted for a bit, she grabbed my hand and read my palm (I have some difficult times ahead for the next 3 years but when I am 36 I find the love of my life and things are very good - I can handle that), then she wanted and impromptu English lesson.  The words she wanted to learn?  Grandma, baby, smoking.  She went on to repeat those three words for about 5 minutes, and it was one of the funnier things I have seen.  Beautiful, crazy woman from Dong Luang.