The Story So Far ...

We said farewell to our work friends at the RSPCA and BBC on 14 September, farewell to our families on 3 October, and set off for Africa to save cheetahs, decorate school buildings, and look around a bit. After a trip home for Christmas, we headed for South East Asia on 6 January -- where we were stunned by Qatar and Cambodia, taught novice monks in Laos, and acted as security guards at an Elephant Festival. It was back home for four weeks to look after John's dad, before we tangoed our way through five South American countries in fifteen days. We then snooped our way through New Zealand, dipped our toes into Fiji, drove-thru California and were home from home with family in Vancouver.

Now, we are home itself. Fulfilled, happy, and ready to earn the respect of our friends and family by knuckling down and earning some money once again ...

Thursday, 3 February 2011

Cover Girls

Old Loas




It took some detective work, but I found her in the end, embossed in gilt on a temple wall.  The golden girl with the squiffy eyes who adorned our guide book to Laos.  They reckon she'd been on that wall for about five hundred years.

New Laos



But I suggest for their next edition, Rough Guides pick another cover girl.  Henry and I have christened her the Lovely Shake Lady.  We spotted her on our first night in this gentle city, smiling at us broadly as Henry ordered a banana confection, I picked mango and pineapple, and she prepared to add the condensed milk and hit the blender button.  Her modest grace reminded me of my Auntie Evelyn, her smile as warm as the evening breeze.



It is the breathing people that symbolise this charming country, not the ornate icons on its sacred walls.  Move over, Golden Girl, and make way for something lovelier.

John

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