Asia, Southeast Asia, Laos... a place rife with dualities and juxtapositions. Hallowed cultures, dating back to rice empires won and lost, colonial histories still trickling through the seams of society, and a governmental focus on developing to keep up with the demanding economies of the western world. These all happen in tandem, overlapping and intertwining to make a complex fabric of interactions that is easy to get wrapped up in.
Got myself a motorbike, the standard vehicle of the masses here, a 110cc Kolao. Independent mobility is a beautiful thing. Spent the weekend driving through the outskirts of town and countryside, talking to grandmas and children and whoever will speak slowly enough and forgive my terrible tone usage. Spent a day at a 'waterfall' which was more of a few enhanced rapids where Lao families sip Beer Lao and eat sticky rice while taking a dip.
In other news, I want to dedicate this thought to the life of Nell the dog, a truly significant part of the childhood of both Eli and I. I still remember those autumn afternoons running her through her worm-hole plastic tube in our backyard, and waltzing her around our kitchen floor, arm outstretched. She certainly got us through some hard dog-woe times, and in part inspired us to get one of our own. Watching her grow old reminded me of an old wise woman, who had shared with us some secrets about life that we would never have otherwise known.
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