On the road again II

Dear Loyal readers,

I am writing once again from Luang Prabang, in Laos. I went hiking up in Northern Lao, and even tried crossing into Vietnam at the North Estern town of Muang Mai. I got to the border, but despite all my schmoozing, charm, and even a game of Badminton the Lao immigration officer just wouldn't let me through... Turns out the crossing is for domestic use only (ie only Lao & Vietnamese).

The attempt was well worth it though, despite not getting into Vietnam. There were very few buses, so i hitched a ride on top of a truck, with amazing roof-top panoramic scenery of clod covered rice valleys :) In addition, the whole attempt cost me $3, and i got to spend time in amazing villages along the way, crammed in with locales into small minivans. After that unsuccessful attempt, I made a rush to LP, in 18 hours of travel, all for a hot shower (1st in 3 days). Tomorrow i leave for Hanoi in Vietnam, where i shall spend New Years.

While waiting for the bus to leave on my way to LP, I had a strange experience. I got a little tired of the whole traveling stress, and got a little home sick (the early morning buses, the cold, and lack of coffee didn't help). But then i started thinking, home-sick for where? Israel? not really, if id be there it would be winter and cold, in addition to all the usual drama. NY? not really, kind of cold and all my friends are away for the holiday. So having concluded that i have nowhere else to be, i might as well stay here in Asia a bit longer. All part of the Yin-Yan attributes to being homeless i guess :) and if you gots to be somewhere, here aint all that bad.

I know i have been bad with holiday greetings, but here's wishing you all a very happy New Year, may love and happiness be your companion wherever you may find yourselves.

Fox

On the road again

You may have noticed that I have dropped of the web recently. No I haven’t been arrested or anything like that. I am happy to report that I have left Singapore and am now on my last rounds through South East Asia.

I started with a week in Thailand, a few days in Bangkok followed by some much deserved Beach time (a real beach, not like the fake ones in S`pore).

I am now in Laos, in the northern town of Luang Prabong. I went on a wonderful 2 day trek to nearby villagers, and stayed the night in one. They were amazing people, though and happy with there lives. I couldn’t help but feel like a fat lazy westerner just waiting to get eaten by something. Although they seem to get a lot of tourists through their village, they didn’t see us as walking cash-boxes. They seemed more puzzled and quietly tolerant of us more then anything else, like you would a squirrel living in your back yard.




I kayaked the way back which was a cold experience, but a nice one, with quite river villages along the way and beautiful scenery. I kept on thinking to myself how lucky I am to be here, and not freezing in NY, cramming for finales…

When I got back into town, I took a very much required shower, followed by a very much deserved sauna and massage. Evening activities included dinner, consisting of fresh BBQ fish, for the low low price of $1.5 and Loa beer. All in all a lovely day J

I’m off to the more northern parts of Laos later today (22.12), and hope to post more picts when I can. From their, i will atempt to enter Vietnam from the north.... Hope all my faithfull readers are doing well, and enjoying your Hanukkah\X-mas festivities.

Fox

The freedom to a Voice

Olberman's recent comments on Free Speach, sadley under attack even in America...

Sad but true

Recently I was watching “The Confederate States of America” (2004), a British mockumentry of a what America would be like if the South hadn’t lost the Civil War (or “acts of insurgency in the South” as FoxNews would call it today). The movie included ads for products with racist names, that would be appropriat if the racist South had won.
One such product was “Darkie” toothpaste.

Once I finish watching the movie, I went to brush my teeth and noticed the image on the toothpaste of the guy next me. It was shockingly similar to the Darkie brand I had just seen in C.S.R.

After a little web research, I discovered that Darkie is still marketed in Asia. Recently, the manufactures changed the name in english to “Darlie”, yet it remains the same in Chinese.

Strange place…..