Everything is just amazing- the contrast of the decaying French Colonial architecture with the Lao culture and numerous temples, to fresh-baked baguettes accompanying each meal... it's extraordinary! There's far too much to write about given the short amount of time that we have here in a little internet cafe, but a few highlights:
- Hiking up alongside Kuang Si waterfall and climbing up a section of the falls to reach a secret lagoon so impossibly beautiful that it's beyond description. We kept remarking that it seemed fake it was so stunning!
- Perusing the night market that forms on the main road each evening with gorgeous silk scarves and all sorts of incredible items, framed by lights reflecting off the nearby temples.
- Meeting excellent new friends from England and the United States that we've met up with a couple times since sharing a tour with them to the Buddha Cave (a remote cave above the Mekong River filled with discarded Buddha statues), and learning about their lives and experiences here in Asia.
- Sharing a cup of fruit (mango, pineapple, banana, apple, dragonfruit, and piya) while waiting for a french crepe from one of the roadside carts.
"For Lucky" is the phrase vendors at the Hmong night market use to let you know that you are receiving a special discounted price for being their first customer. We doubt it's authenticity because we hear it every time we reach a new vendor, but we've taken them up on the well-wishing once or twice in exchange for beautiful Lao handicrafts.
We love it here and are sad to move on in the next few days, but we're perfectly safe, very happy, and taking lots of pictures (which have just been uploaded), so look for some exciting additions in the next few days.
Also, we're in Hanoi, Vietnam - just arrived this afternoon. We'll be heading out tomorrow to take a bus to a nearby village that is closer to some natural beauty we want to see...thanks for your continued love, support, and prayers.
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