I've been thinking...

Vientian, Laos - Days 2

I think I ate too much.  I wanted to eat real Laos food tonight, you know the one with friend meat, wrap in vegetable and then you have sticky rice.  Anyway, in my travel guide there was a place for night market with street restaurant about 45 minutes from where I live so I decide to do a "promenade", take a longer walk and see a souvenir shop  I wanted to visit.  It end up been a 2:30 hours walk, the shop is gone and the outdoor street restaurants was like nothing, only a few sellers thre.  Dont know what really happen.  The guide talk about another restaurant they recommended for traditional laos food, the restaurant also serve western food.  Once I found the place, I realize by looking at the menu is all western food. At tha point after 2 hours of walkinq way far from the tourist area and I was so hungry, I decide to give it another chance to the guide and look for a  recommendation for Vietnamese food because Im craving for Vietnamese food for a long time.  Imagine what happen, the restaurant move !!! agrrr...  On my way home, I finaly find another one, is was really good and it was only 10 minutes from my guest house.   Lyne, I finally got the Laos beer, it is good, better than Chang beer :D  I did not get my sticky rice but got real Laos food and that's what I wanted.  Therefore Im sure I be stomach sick tomorrow because I ate a lot of raw vegetable...  oh well. 

Today I visit Pha That Luang and the Buddha park.  It was all good visit and the day went fine.  The only problem I got is when dealing price with the Jumbo drivers (kind of tuk tuk but bigger.. that's why they call it Jumbo I guest).  The price they ask for is always 4 times more than what the travel guide say (Lonely planet edition 2005) even after intensive dealing they wont go lest than 200% price I want to pay.  I ended up taken the public buses.

I found the perfect word to describe Laos - the word is Peacefull.  I find people very peacefull here, peacefull in the way they talk and act.  Is kind of hard to describe but is the feeling I got. Even when dealing price with tuk tuk diver, they are not harasing you and even if I never use them they still very friendly, say goodbye and also show me the way to the bus station and tell me how to get to the place I want to go.  Monks are also very friendly (maybe too much), im impress by they fact they all can speak relatively good english.  I was also surprise to see that kids are not violent when they play !  (at least the one I saw).  I smile to everyone and everyone smile at me, it feel so good :D 

I was suppose to visit South of Laos first but there no more place available at tomorrow flight, so instead im flying to Luang Prabang.

Until now the budget for one day is about 15$ us, which is good, clean guest house (I pay for the price of two because the only room avaible is doulbe room) and great food. 

Is being a while ...

Is been a few months now since the last time I update my weblog.  Everytime I have the opportunity to get out of China, I will get online and check my dear Facebook .  I can't believe Xanga still block in China.  I have to say that since Im in China I don't listen to news or either read newspapers.  Even if Im not someone who like to be update about what's going in the world, I like to have some informations time to time on tv but in China I dont think the news are intersting.  Every news on english chanel is regarding foreign policits.  Every news on China channels are boring, small accidents on the street, some political poeple visiting some places, some great development in some fields, plicemen catching thieves,.. blablabla. But what I hate the most but keep me watching is they always have programs regarding people who have a hard life, a old blinds couple that no one care for, some lonely kids living in the mountain who have to walk 1-2 hours everyday trough difficults and dangerous roads to get to school and whom parents are not around, kid who did not see his or her mom for many years because she has to go to the city to work,... story are usually sad and I usually end up crying and feel guilty

Currently in Laos

I just landed in Vientian, Laos a few hours ago.  Im here for my vacation, yes another vacation.  After Thailand 5 stars hotels in October, Im now in Laos backpaking in cheap guesthouse !   Dont get me wrong, I love backpacking because for me that's the best way to visist South East asia.  I felt happy today walking on the street of the capital of Laos with my backpack, my camera, my sunglass and my travel guide.  I don't mind staying at 5$ room, I think that's great.  There someting about that kind of traveling that I just love, I think one day when I get older Im going to open a guest house somewhere in South East Asia.  I've been thinking about this for many year but never talk about it.  Trought the traveling I have experience good guest house, ok guest house and a few bad one.  I would love to have a coffee shop on the first floor, serving coffee and asian milk shake, have a common room for people to read book, check internet and watch tv or movies and on the 2nd and 3rd floo I will have some small, comfortable and cheap room !  I would love to do that one day... who want to join me ?  haha 

My first impression of Vientian is that the city is rather small.  I thought it be bigger and more crowded.  People here are very nice (that I knew it before because all the Laos friend I have are really really nice), easy to walk around, fruits are great, food are good and weather is nice ! what can I ask more ?  In 2 days I be flying to south of Laos to the city name Pakse, my grand-father grave is there.  During the Red Khmers period he felt ill in the working camp, the Red Khmers give him the autorisation to leave the camp to get threatment but once he arrived in Laos he pass away.  I have a picture of how this grave look like and some indication to find the cemetery, I hope I can find it. 

Year 2007

Year 2007 was a life changing year of my life.  I have made a big step by moving to China and try new challenges.  There was no doubt in myself that this was the decision I had to take even if is taking a risk for my carreer.  I just knew that was the choice I had to make, it is good or not ? only time can tell but untill now, there no regrets.  Moving far from the good care of my parents was something I never thought I could do.  Time goes by so fast, in a few weeks I be in China for one year already.  There's many frustrating time, many stressfull and challenging time, some sad time, some lonely time and some good time also.  During the past 12 months, I have visit, Amsterdam, Copenhague, Sweden, Beijing, Shanghai, Hangzhou, Lijiang, Kunming, Phuket, Kho Phi Phi and Bangkok.  This year after Laos, Im going back to Montreal in summer and then my plan for fall is to go to Tibet.

Therefore moving here is also putting my love live on hold ... or should I say cancel !  haha.  I mean there no way I can find someone here, it is not easy already in Montreal and it is harder in Chengdu especially for someone like me.  I start to question my destiny of my choices.  Do choosing traveling, independency and work mean I have to loose on some level over love and stability ? 

Happy belate new year

Hope all my Facebook friends are doing well.  Wish all of you a Happy New year and a wonderfull year 2008.  May this year be full of joy, health and specials moments.  May we all find peace in ourself and share love and happiness with our loves one.

Update about me in China

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Last Xanga post ... until next year