oh motion sickness my

We spent yesterday afternoon at Kuang Si Waterfalls (again) - but with the whole gang. Israel, Ireland, Australia, USA, even Canada represented the smoosh fest in our tuk-tuk (whose driver offered marijuana, opium, and other illicit activities). It was quite the ride, but we managed to make it unharmed.

Some of us climbed to the top, where the guidebook describes an idyllic swimming hole with thousands of butterflies. Well, if there was a swimming hole, it was far from idyllic, and I saw one butterfly. Oh well. The sweat was worth the spectacular views of the hills, which I really cannot get enough of. They're so, so green and gorgeous, and with a clear blue sky you really cannot ask for more. At least I can't.

We also ventured into the water down below, and underneath the waterfall. Fun was had by most.

The evening was spent sharing stories of travel, life at home, and laap tofu (our favorite lao dish). Goodbyes and emails were swapped, and we've got a good four to five more countries on our lists to visit new friends.

We have met so many people who are traveling for five-six months, or even more. The idea simply has never occurred to me. It seems strange to most Americans that Ericka and I are traveling for 5 weeks, but imagining a year abroad is already tugging at me. We're already trying to figure out how we can manage it. Someday.

Last night we also ran into a Japanese girl at our guesthouse, and she invited us for a tour of Nara. Looks like we'll be meeting back up, several thousand miles and about a week later.

Today's bus trip to Vang Vieng was:

1. Gorgeous. Green. Clear blue skies. Mountains.
2. Scary. The roads are known to be a little, shall we say unsecure (rebels). Guards with guns may or may have not been on our lovely little air con bus.
3. Scary. The roads in Laos are insane. Roller coaster leaning left right left left-lots of people vomiting insane.
4. A little better than the non air con trip up, but not by much.

However, we made it.

Two guesthouses later, we're at the internet cafe. Tasty laap tofu was had at one of Vang Vieng's finest Friends establishments.

This one goes out to my little sister. In Vang Vieng, there are about five or six restaurants that play episodes of Friends nonstop, front to back, dvd in and out. The funny thing is that they're all right next to each other. So you've got your pick of seasons, menus and table settings.

As much as I think that these restaurants are silly, inane and immature, I could definitely sit at one of them and take in a whole season of Friends. Especially the last one. I love it when Ross and Rachel finally make it work.

Oh - click the pictures if you want a better view. They'll be bigger and larger than life that way.

The international tuk-tuk conspiracy.

Kuang Si party people.

It's nice in the back of a tuk-tuk.

I like the land.

A pee break on the road to Vang Vieng.

Friends. Season 3. Coconut shake.