We managed to fall in love with Laos. Warm people, great food, caves, trip on the Mekong River, getting up at 5 to give alms to the Buddhist monks, visiting a gorgeous waterall (Kathy and Julia went swimming), watching local women in poor villages make their cotton and silk scarves; and finding a Mong New Year's celebration in a teak forest -- it happens to be Mong New Year. New Year's Eve was at a resort near town, sending lanterns into the sky and watching the Lao line dance!
Late this afternoon we flew to Hanoi where it is cold and rainy, a meteoroligcal exception for this time of year. Quick snapshots of Hanoi: traffic everywhere (you can't avoid them, they are supposed to avoid you): signs for Pansonic, Toshiba, Honda, and Amway (!) like most big cities; trading $100 (US) for $2 million dong, listening to Julia at dinner discuss Thai mushrooms with a "mushroom specialist" from Germany; no Facebook (the government blocks!), and learning that the young people have a workaround! Kathy will need that.
What will we learn tomorrow? Stay tuned.
Al, loving the comments. It makes you guys not so far away. Missed our New Year's Day greetings. Your adventures are fascinating. Enjoy. Best to Kathy and Julie.
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year from the frozen Midwest! High today will be in the 30s...and you will be enjoying a National Geographic holiday!! we are getting ready for the open house for our church friends and neighbors,,,til 4 - will be thinking of you as you trek Vietnam - no Facebook? How will Kathy survive?? We are off to the races...will check in soon.
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