Laos 3

Jan 17  We’ve chosen Elephant Village for our Elephant riding tour. It’s an Elephant sanctuary for old and dying elephants and the animals are well cared for and not abused like at some of the other places.  We climb onto the Howda (elephant seat) and set off.  Its bumpy and the seat sways under the elephants powerful muscles.  I clasp onto Kyle as we descend down a rather steep hill.  Whats to keep the elephant from tripping and toppling down?  I almost feel as if I’m at a 90 degree angle. I picture myself being trampled under this magnificent beast.  Watching National Geographic is one thing, but to be on top of a creature with so much weight and power is breath-taking and poignant. I fear and respect this animal more than I ever have before now as it holds my life strapped to its back.

The ground levels off and the line of elephants splash into the river, but I don’t truly feel my most at ease until I’ve switched with the mahout (the elephant expert driver) and am riding on the elephants neck.  Her skin is as rough as sandpaper and as wrinkled as a farmer whose worked in the sun 80 years.  Its so thick I wonder how hard I’d have to pinch for her to feel anything.  I like feeling the elephant directly under me. I can ride with her, moving as she moves, and its much more comfortable than the seat on top.  She continues walking as I stroke her leathery skin. (All of the elephants at the sanctuary are girls, the males cause too many issues- as they tend to do across species)

It's amazing.  Truly amazing.  I loved being on on the elephant, and can only wait impatiently for the next elephant riding experience we might get. 

After our elephant excursion, we head to a waterfall.  The water numbs the skin with a single touch.  Lisa, Kyle and Deirdre jump in anyways.  I happily film and take pictures warm on the shore.

Lisa and Deirdre climb into our bed after dinner for our final goodbyes.  We’re parting ways after the evening, they to Vietnam, and us on an off the beaten track tour.  We chat laying comfortably on each others laps across our queen size bed until both Lisa and Kyle are snoring.  Although we are sad, we plan to meet them in Ireland in April so we know it isn’t our final goodbye.

Malaysia to Laos

Jan 11

Laziness at its supreme.  Nothing but lounging, napping, blogging and reading are on the itinerary for today.  Oh yea, and flying to Kuala Lumpur.  We have a flight out in the morning from Kuala Lumpur to Laos so we’ve decided to stay at the airport to save money.

Jan 12

11 am: Whoever thought it was a good idea to stay at the airport instead of get a hotel room should be strung up by their toes.  Originally, it didn’t seem like too bad of a set up.  Kyle, the expert hobo, and commandeered cardboard boxes, and after setting up our airport fort, we had just laid down to sleep when we were informed the airport was closing for a few hours and we’d be allowed back in then.  We, and the rest of the Malaysia who all seemed to have the exact same idea as us were herded outside. (Seriously, there were hundreds of people)

 Another hobo camp was set up, not as comfortable but doable.  That is until the coughing started. It was a tickle in my throat, and a slight stinging in my eyes.  But I was NOT the only one. We all started coughing.  It was a chorus, a concert conducted by an invisible hand.  When the coughing fits increased, and the crowd began dispersing from their temporary encampments, we too moved.

I’m exhausted now.  I haven’t gotten any sleep, and I can hardly keep my eyes open, but we’ve arrived in Vientiane, with only a slight bump at the immigration office.  Kyle needs more pages in his passport.  He got reprimanded, and we are to find the US embassy soon. But for now we are just glad to have found a soft bed in a clean guest house.

Our neighbor