All my blog posts are about travel, that is just me.
I am in the southern Laos city of Savannakhet. A city of, I am told, 120,000 people, but I do not belive that number, maybe 1/4 of that, or perhaps the stat refers to a larger area outside the city itself?
Sav stretches along the Mekong River for about 3kms and inland 2kms. French built, there are many derilict and semi-derilict French colonial era buildings here. Also much newer construction. Oveall, the town is worn, run down, and very poor, and just a little dusty. There are beggars, and old women asking our for money as you walk past. I have seen people eating out of garbage cans, and people abandoned on the streets. But it is not all doom. Most of the inhabitants are happy, poor, but happy. There is food to go around, and in the cool of the evening it seems half the pop. head to the Mekong riverfront, to buy food cooked on open stoves, and drink, chat and generally hangout.
One thing to know, there are always rich people. Even in very poor areas. Today saw a Loas guy drive up in a sports car, jump out and walk into one of his stores in town. In a town where $1 is a serious chunk of change, this guy enjoys conspicuous consumption.
Met an interesting guy today, Ed from the usa. A bit of a hippee, musician, entrepeneur. Buys and sells in the us, local handicrafts, on the fair trade principal, pays the loca artesans well, and sells expensively to overpaid upper middle class westerners. Cool.
Here for a few days, to get a new Thai visa, and to head further south into Laos. From there? Not sure, back to Thailand, or further south into Cambodia? Still thinking about that.
Been thinking more about my future. I am in my mid 50s now, and wondering what is next? Health wise no problems now, and maybe not for a while, but I am not a baby anymore. When I was a teenager I did think that the 21st century would be both more interesting and more advanced than it is now. No aircars, and no life extension drugs, I want both, but more the latter.
Bus across to Laos from Thailand.
I am in the southern Laos city of Savannakhet. A city of, I am told, 120,000 people, but I do not belive that number, maybe 1/4 of that, or perhaps the stat refers to a larger area outside the city itself?
Sav stretches along the Mekong River for about 3kms and inland 2kms. French built, there are many derilict and semi-derilict French colonial era buildings here. Also much newer construction. Oveall, the town is worn, run down, and very poor, and just a little dusty. There are beggars, and old women asking our for money as you walk past. I have seen people eating out of garbage cans, and people abandoned on the streets. But it is not all doom. Most of the inhabitants are happy, poor, but happy. There is food to go around, and in the cool of the evening it seems half the pop. head to the Mekong riverfront, to buy food cooked on open stoves, and drink, chat and generally hangout.
One thing to know, there are always rich people. Even in very poor areas. Today saw a Loas guy drive up in a sports car, jump out and walk into one of his stores in town. In a town where $1 is a serious chunk of change, this guy enjoys conspicuous consumption.
Met an interesting guy today, Ed from the usa. A bit of a hippee, musician, entrepeneur. Buys and sells in the us, local handicrafts, on the fair trade principal, pays the loca artesans well, and sells expensively to overpaid upper middle class westerners. Cool.
Here for a few days, to get a new Thai visa, and to head further south into Laos. From there? Not sure, back to Thailand, or further south into Cambodia? Still thinking about that.
Been thinking more about my future. I am in my mid 50s now, and wondering what is next? Health wise no problems now, and maybe not for a while, but I am not a baby anymore. When I was a teenager I did think that the 21st century would be both more interesting and more advanced than it is now. No aircars, and no life extension drugs, I want both, but more the latter.
Bus across to Laos from Thailand.
Yes, I'm getting older, but refuse to give in to it.