Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

It's tough to remember that it's the holiday season when it's 25 degrees Celcius, but there are a few cues, even here in Laos.  There are lights and decorations in a few places, but there is no Christmas music and certainly no snow.  The natives think it's very cold right now.  I'm actually okay with the fact that it's not 35 degrees.  They shiver and wear all their warmest clothes, though I must admit that our blood must be thinning, since we shiver along with them, especially in the early morning when the sun has not yet warmed the streets. 

 

We have been passing our time innertubing down rivers, kayaking and shooting rapids, getting our fill of pastries in the French influenced city of Vientiane in Laos.  We were on a river boat tour for 2 days down the Mekong river (which is very grubby looking, though the hills around are great and craggy and green).  We were in Luang Prabang for a few days looking at temples and climbing mountains.  We also went to a Laos sauna (it's actually quite cool here in the evenings - it might even go down to 15 degrees celcius!) and hung out in the hot hot hot (there are no thermometers in these saunas - you just stay until you can't stand no more!) steam for a bit - very relaxing. 

 

We seem to be moving quickly through Laos - too quickly, really.  I don't know what we think we are trying to accomplish - we have barely begun our travels.  At this rate, I will be ready to expire in a couple of months! We are looking, it seems, for the "perfect" place to spend an extended period of time.  For Nathan, this entails the beach.  For me, I'm not even sure.  I just need some non-travel time every few weeks so that I don't feel like I'm living life out of a bag every day.  I guess in the end, I like having a place to call home, even if it's only for a week.  A chance to catch up on my diary, read a book while sitting still and not swaying in a bus, recognize the streets that we walk through. Vientiane is quite small and gridded out, so we are able to find our way easily.  We are becoming world travellers. 

 

Wherever you are, I wish you the best of the season and happy times in the new year.  Stay warm!

ACDB