Cut and pasted below is my first groupmail sent on my (very) recent Asian trip. Those of you who have already read the mail should feel very free to stop reading now.
Dear All
Am currently slightly drunk in an Internet cafe in Luang Prabang, People's Democratic of Laos (ie. Laos).
Having a great time - spent a couple of nights in Bangkok, visited the Royal palace and temples (beautiful but very gaudy) and then flew yesterday to Luang Prabang. It's a very old royal city in Northern Laos and remained a royal city until the monarchy was overthrown by the communists in 1975. The people remain strongly buddhist. Today we visited the waterfalls (i can't presently remember their name). Amazing, but very muddy (it's called rainy season for a reason) and went to a hmong village. Also went on a walking tour of the town in heavy rain and visited a Wat (temple). Am feeling very large and loud; people here are extraordinarily quietly spoken and polite.
Marni is doing a great job at managing most of the practical matters (despiite occasionally baffling absent-mindedness) while I am focusing heavily on continuing to look good despite the crippling humidity. Despite dire warnings before arriving, the food is good - have been spending an average of about US$3 per person per meal and really enjoying the food (eg. spinach and tofu stir fry, chicken and rice soup). Have just had a fantastic French meal for two (at The Elephant) for approximately the same price as a bottle of reasonable wine at a restaurant in Melbourne.
I scored a great coup in purchasing fake Teva sandals at a shop in town this morning (and being very unsuccessful in bargaining). They broke within an hour, however amazingly enough the shop took pride in their fake goods and agreed to swap them for another pair which at the time of writing continue to function. Have also bought a few very cool (and cheap) Indian-style tops and pants and look like basically every other traveller (except I manage to carry it off better).
Enjoying my wealth. Today I changed US$100 into more than 1 million Kip (the local currency). For a few minutes it was fun to have a fat wad of currency about 3 inches thick, then it got sort of annoying
Sleeping under a mosquito net is quite romantic. Although less so when I think about why I am doing so (and even less so when I realise there are some mosquitos trapped inside the net). Surprisingly few scary insects so far (although I didn't tell Marni about the lizard perched above her head during dinner tonight).
Hope life is good for all of you, will inflict another instalment on you later in the trip
best
tyson
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