In Which I Lose My Favorite and Get a New, New Year

Waking up, Ali and I packed our bags, silently, like last mornings often are. 

As we handed back our room keys, an earth shaking down pour began. 
We trudged through the rain to the bus stop.

Ali's bus was heading to Bangkok.
I grabbed a ticket further north to Luang Prabang. 

It didn't seem like goodbye. Seemed like I would see her tomorrow. And we would drink too much coffee and listen to the Black Keys. 

When everything is changing around you, the few constants seem like they will stay constant forever. Ali and I just adventured and wandered and laughed. That was life.

I couldn't have asked for a more wonderful, crazy soul to tackle each day with. I got lucky, she's a keeper
With a wave out the window, and two sad faces, she was off. I'd lost my favorite.


I had 3 hours to kill waiting for my bus. What was the one thing I hadn't done in this town? No, not the Opium...

I crossed the street, to a cafe, curled up on a bench and watched a Friends marathon.
It's like a cult, rows of blank faced tourist sit in cafes next to cafes next to cafes ALL PLAYING FRIENDS! 
Ali and I had avoided it for the week we had been in Vang Vieng, being totally creeped out. 
But after 3 hours, I didn't want to leave, I wanted to know it Joey got married or if Jennifer A. got there in time?! 

But alas, I caught my bus instead and now I might never know.

My minivan bus hasn't even picked up all of it passengers from around town before it over heated. We piled out on the hot sidewalk, while the antifreeze ran green down the gutter.
Then we drove for an hour, before our drivers stopped to eat huge bowls of noodle soup at a roadside cafe. The six hour bus ride ended up taking ten. Lao style.

Hallo Luang Prabang!

I stumbled off the bus and walked maybe 10 minutes before I bumped into this awesome couple that I met back in Koh Tao. So good to see beautiful, familiar faces! 

Miss Lao
They babbled away as each contestant came out. I hoped they were saying things like Jin Su enjoys reading to orphaned children in northern Laos and painting her nails. But I only understood, none of the words...


Cleaning up the streets


Over the next few days the massive water fights began for Pi Mai Lao New Years. You couldn't walk out the door without getting splashed, floured or dyed! 
The celebrations last over a week. They had the Miss Lao beauty pageant, parades, build sand stupas on the beach. 
Streets were stand still, filled with pickup trucks, filled with partying locals, loud music, beer and barrels of water. People lined the streets with super soakers, buckets and hoses.

Amazing buffet, for just over a dollar.


3 beds all to myself! What a treate! 

On the porch of our hostel, in a dirty little crate, lived little man Pi. 
His mom had left him at three weeks, eyes hadn't opened yet. 

He had a dirty bowl of rice, was covered in flees and looked like bad news. 
Another woman and I took it upon ourselves to get him a head start. 
Everyday we snuggled him, got him eating bread soaked in milk. We gave him a bath and he was like a whole new little man. 

The people who worked at the guesthouse thought we were crazy. Animals, live or die. They either eat the rice or they don't. 
But little man, by the time we left, had a fighting chance.




I had to remind myself. This was a new year. Even if its not what my New Years looks like. 

Why miss an opportunity to start anew? To reset intentions of who I want be in life. 

How stinking lucky. I've been given another chance, another new year to explore the great mystery!  


Comments

Popular Posts