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12. Laos
1st
September 2004
Traffic in Hanoi - Fortunately so far I have only
had three passengers who have had accidents; one broken
arm, one fall and one banged up knee.
Halong
Bay - I get to hang out here about once a month. Great
day swim around, seafood lunch. Some trips we stay out
overnight on the boat, have a morning swim before heading
back to the mainland.
Angkor
Wat - Amazing place. Heaps of temples everywhere but everyone
always wants to see Angkor.
Elephant
Riding - Always a bit of fun.
 29th
August 2004
Hello, hello, hello,
Feels like ages since I've sent you all a message. Can't
even remember where I left you all. Probably somewhere
before I lead a blind trip (ie never done it before) through
Laos. Wow - what a country, had such a great time. It
was good not to be hassled endlessly.
Like
the rest of South East Asia the people were super friendly
but so laid back. Resting and relaxing must be a national
sport. Most enjoyable town was Luang Prabang. I had been
there about five years earlier and it is still as cruisy
as ever, just a couple more internet shops, bakeries and
tourist cafes but more or less has the same serene feel,
Heaps of wats and temples are scattered around town. Monks
pass you by all day and if you wake up super early (5am)
you can watch as at least 200 monks collect alms in the
morning. That is they walk in single file passing local
people who give them food into their bowls.
The
trip I lead also goes to a homestay so we stayed overnight
in a small Lao village. Great experience, squat toilet,
communal sleeping area - actually they only had room for
my pax inside the house so I had to sleep outside on the
verandah which was even better, until the roosters started
their morning chorus at 3am, 4am, 5am. By 5 the whole
village was awake anyway so we popped on down to the river
for a wash.
I
was sick the first week of the trip - really sick. Some
kind of flu which really knocked me, or maybe the medication
I was taking had a similar effect, high as a kite for
group meeting, not a good start but my group was good.
I was very lucky. It could be disastrous if the group
doesn't get along as it is a REALLY long trip - 29 days.
Always together in transport, accommodation and some activities.
I tried to give them as much free time as possible so
they weren't forced together too much as I think that
is when things can start cracking.
By
the time we got to Vietnam I knew what I was doing, similar
to other trips I've run so felt a lot more relaxed. Then
into Cambodia and the final night was in Siem Reap (a
town right near Ankor Wat). And finally "me time".
I have worked 67 of the past 70 days and I am absolutely
exhausted. Really draining spending so much time with
people, answering questions endlessly, organising crap
endlessly.
I
really enjoyed placing the "Do Not Disturb"
sign on my door. Plugged in the Playstation - which I
left behind as I didn't want to carry it around to places
I didn't know and am having a couple of days trying to
beat Omnishuba3. Go Jacques!
So
now, a week off all for me no passengers Yeah and then
an even bigger YEAH is my friend from Australia is coming
out to see me. YEAH Jo. So we are going to have heaps
of fun at the beachside town of Hoi An - my most favourite
town in Vietnam. It will be great.
Before
that I have to go to the dentist, again. Very cheap in
Bangkok I went the other day and it cost me $12 to get
my teeth cleaned at the same time she told me I had to
come back and get some root canal treatment. Scary! I
went yesterday for the first session (yes apparently I
need a bit of work done. Its been sore for a while, I
know I've been putting it off but a couple of sessions....)
I think she is picking up a lot that isn't too wrong with
my teeth but for a clean, root canal treatment (3 sessions!)
a filling (porcelain, none of this silver crap) and to
block a few small holes it will come to around $150. Just
do the lot but pass me the laughing gas......
Ha
ha ha ha
Marlo
About
the Author
Marlo Perry is a Group Leader for the Australian based
tour operator, Intrepid
Travel.
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