Week 5/6 who knows anymore.

In Champasak on the banks of the Mekong for the last couple of days. Lovely quiet place, lovely people. I spoke to a French woman who lives and works here, she reiterated what we have heard many times, Lao people don't do stress or worry. Life is lived in the moment, day to day. I imagine they would be bemused by the fact we take courses to learn this stuff. Mind you, when your dinner doesn't materialise I wish they did a slightly higher level of stress.
Also looking at the rubbish/deforestation issues would make one wonder if a more sustainable, longer term
outlook would be preferable?
People's ready smile has often been remarked upon. It's one thing when it comes from your guesthouse owner, quite another when it comes freely from someone who has spent most of their day bent double in a paddy field.
We continue to be the source of hilarity and confusion. At every encounter the children have to be counted a few times to establish that there are four. This is repeated over and back with hand gestures and in English and Lao. Then the issue of whether they are boys or girls follows and is often hotly debated. The boys long hair really throws people, and increasingly, I think my short hair. I think people are repeatedly asking," are they yours"? Seriously, blood is all that's keeping them here by times. An old woman took the gender issue literally into her own hands yesterday and copped a feel of Harry, poor fella couldn't believe the indignity of it, she thought it was hilarious.
One thing I've learned is that the best way to see this country is by your own steam. From Luang Prabang down there are some ugly towns/cities but go 5km out and the countryside is amazing. A motorbike would afford great freedom. These off main road loop trips could also be done by public transport would require more time than we have given over. It is a little frustrating to know these things in hindsight.
Anyways onwards. Going to 4000 islands tomorrow for our last few days in Laos. Caroline
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