Laos: "Same same, but different"

Hello all! I have not had internet regularly for quite awhile, so my apologies for the delayed postings:) I'm going to write quickly because internet is painfully slow in Luang Prabang (and i assume laos in general) and I'm off to meet friends for street food at the night market. I love night markets.

Last week Alex and I finished our touring of Northern Thailand and crossed the Mekong into Laos last Thursday. We booked a slow boat for Friday and then set off to explore the border town of Huay...? I forget. There was literally nothing there. So we sat at a riverside restaurant, drank some Beer Lao (much better than Chang), talked to other travelers and took in a glorious sunset. That night while I was reading, the power suddenly went out and a HUGE thunder and lightening storm followed. Our guesthouse had aluminum roofing next door and the rain sounded incredible. Definitely movie-style rain that you never actually think exists...it does:) We were staying next to a temple, so each big flash of light illuminated this temple on a hill. It was incredible. Our guesthouse delivered a little candle that nearly was blown out by the warm wind from the storm.

The next morning we got up bright and early and made our way to the slow boat. It seats about 120 people and is the only way to get from the north of Laos to Luang Prabang. The benches were squeezed quite close together=minimal leg room, but we had makeshift seat cushions to weather the 7 hour wooden-seat journey. We met a BIG group of friendly travellers on the boat. It stopped in Pak Bang the first night and everyone raced off the boat to find accomodations. Somewhat overwhelming. Alex and I and our unofficial travel buddy, Jannicke, joined new German and British friends and we all shared a hostel. Got to have another AMAZING thunder storm. This time we were lucky enough to get completely soaked:) it only took about 2 minutes of being without shelter. I love the rain and getting wet. Pak Bang runs on a generator so everything had to be done by 11pm. Amazing that in rural living, when power is lost, not too much changes...Day 2 on the boat was less comfortable, no cushions and a smaller boat with even narrower rows. We played lots of cards, had some light water fights...met more friends.
Now I'm in Luang Prabang. So nice after the slow boat journey.
Life thoughts:
1. I have seen SO many water buffalos along the Mekong. I enjoy them. Not as much as elephants and turtles, but close.
2. Today we saw Pak Ou, which is a huge cave about 2 hours by slow boat north of here. It is a "graveyard for buddha images." It was pretty cool.
3. Yesterday our new travel group rented mountain bikes and went to a HUGE waterfall about 32km from Luang Prabang. It was QUITE a ride=be in shape if you do it:). After Huang si (the waterfall) which was beautiful and very large, with pools for swimming etc., we got a tuk-tuk to take us back. Lonely planet told us it would be "undulating," this was true except for about 4 km of downhill/uphill...so we were lazy. I was soooo endorphined last night. Look forward to the days of regular exercise again. probably one of the only negatives to travel.
4. Other very negative aspect of travel: still have large rash on my legs. No more malaria pills for lauren!! The rash could be from so many things, but I'm blaming Malarone for now. I also have had CRAZY dreams on it. so i'm done. Please will the mosquitoes away.
5. Have tasted "lao lao" Laotian whiskey. it's not for me. 55% alcohol is tooooo much!
6. I love Luang Prabang. It's like a college campus because we keep seeing people from our bus.
7. The waterfall yesterday also had tons of bears (an Asiatic bear reserve of sorts). where is the logic here?
8. My American and British travel friends rented a motorbike yesterday instead of cycling with the rest of us...let's just say lauren's judgment not to ride motorbikes, still correct. I'm 2-2 with saying no. Thankfully they are both alright, but pretty scraped up:(--good since Laos has no hospitals...
9. The environment here reminds exactly of Mexico, but with more French influence than Spanish...They have so many of the same types of foods and styles of cooking..it's amazing. I do love the fresh fruit on the road and smoothies that are always available and really cheap.
10. I had my first meat on a stick. there are photos. it was amazing.

Well, I clearly am having ADD right now. Had a Lao massage that was HILARIOUS a few hours ago. It was very relaxing, but I think I'm more sore now than before the massage. It was everything I hoped and dreamed for a massage in Asia. When it was over I laughed for a good, solid 2 minutes. In short 3 of us went together, all got massages in one room, had to be somewhat naked...they did not warn, just demanded mid-massage. I was not my German friend's wife. oops? AWKWARD. Tomorrow we're heading south...the itinerary is a mess,but I hope to be in Siem Reap, Cambodia on Friday to meet up with a good friend from college. hm...we shall see:) Wish everyone could join my adventure:)
Love,
Lauren