Laos Traveling Journal

28/10
In the rural areas of Laos people live very simple life. Tonight it was a 4 year old boy playing with a cocroach. He found it quite cool to make this poor bug that makes most of female westerners run away screaming into what you call a little car driving it through the dirt ground under the table.
Laos fascinates me with its Laos PDR (please dont rush) & "no problem"s & "dont worry"s. In fact this is what makes this place so laid back and special. However this can easily become a pain in the ass when traveling with a big group like we did.
Today started off with a 6am morning run. Yes! Finally back on my running routine. Run along the river. The temperature was really pleasant in comparison to other south asian countries. Met a few other runners on the way.
Our 3 hour long drive to the start of our hike into the village was full of teenager based topics such a "how many celebrities have you met?" Hike in was quite adventurous thanks to the lovely blood sucking creatures (leaches). Had to be brave not to freak out as I had to knock off a few of them climbing omy shoes. Village & villagers were very welcoming. Squat down toilets and bathing in the river in our sarons became another challenge for us. However the biggest challenge for me personally was seeing a duck being killed for our dinner. Couldnt touch it when it came cooked on our table. So instead I filled my stomach with lots of sticky rice which quickly became the main food on my plate for most of the meals in the village. Spent the evening playing guitar a nd singing. It was nice to get some music going after so long.

Words to remember:
Sabadi - hello
Kapchai - thank you
Lakon - goodbye
Non lap fandi - good night
Sabadi tansa - good morning
Dilaj/ Namlaj - that's nice

29/10
The "rice" day. Spent the day harvesting rice on a steep hill as well as eating it for lunch&dinner. Played with the little village kids and bath in the river for the first time.

30/10
Today I became a specialist on planting mango trees and did a bit of art&crafts with the local school kids. Another bath in the river and finally  Baci ceremony connecting the spirits back to our bodies with its magic atmosphere.

1/11
Laos is slowly becoming the most favorite country that i've traveled to. It's amazing how peaceful and chilled the streets are. Welcoming temperature, slow pace of life topped with romantic lights of the night market street. I dont usually feel this safe and relaxed in a new country after spending only a week in it. But i guess this one is different.

9/11
Once again feeling very gratefull for being a daugther of my dad, the pilot of czech airlines. Not only he saved me 24h of traveling (Moscow-Geneva-Prague) and spending another night at the airport by organizing the tranfer of my bag which got checked in from bangkok all the way to geneva but thanks to him they placed me to the International VIP Lounge with free food, drinks & wifi for 5 hours. Couldnt wish for more. Great welcome back gift dad! Xxx To make it even better he is flying the plane home!!!!! I cant be more happy. Seriously, thank you thank you thank you whoever you are up there