slow boat to china. i mean thailand

Hey guys what's happenin??!?!

it's our last night in luang prabang and we don't have much time to write. here are some highlights of the last few days:

- we rented a motorbike and cruised around the countryside all by ourselves. it was wonderful fun, after we figured out how to drive it (i took it on a test spin around the block in town and got stuck in a market by accident). we both did a bunch of driving, and decided that we have to get a motorcycle when we get back to the states. to ride around in Brooklyn  ;)

- we visited kuang si water fall and swam in its beautiful blue pools. it was magical. afterwards we ate a coconut waffle.

- we visited a muong village and played with the kids. also ingested water and tea from various highly suspect sources- we're still alive, but MAN that cup was dirty.

- we went on a trek through farming fields and rice paddies to another muong village where we spent the night on bamboo mats. even more painfully adorable half-naked children. we gave them candy and took their pictures. also there were a lot of pigs and chickens and the roosters woke us up in the morning.

- we visited a REAL ASIAN FAIR. yes they have them here and they are just as dirty and seedy and full of junk food as the ones in the US, so i don't want to hear any more complaining when i want to go to the Big E or NY state fair this fall. oh, and before we made it to the fair, we rode our motorbike to this funny roadside restaurant/bar where there was no one but us, the menu was only in Lao, no one spoke english, and we went from having some tofu curry (what we wanted) to duck curry to barbecued duck pieces (which we ttally didn't want). huh. and from spring rolls (wanted) to lettuce rolls to a heavily sauced, lettuce-only salad (not wanted!). it was great!! actually, it was pretty fun and weird.

- we went sort of white-water kayaking and it was fun! my glasses did not fall off. we had a cute guide named Tuy who told us that Lao kids dont' have sex until they are married. if they sleep with someone before they are married, they have to marry them, or their parents get involved and it's ugly. ouch! anyway, the kayaking was great.

as a super bonus surprise for you guys, here are a few photos from the last few days- they are actually CURRENT! not too many an we don't have much time- but enjoy, and feel free to add appropriate captions in the comments section. we are now off to thailand via the slow boat (2 days) up the mekong river to meet Megan and Michelle. oh joy!!

 arli with some cute muong village kids. we have them stuffed in our bags right now, don't worry.

 kuang si waterfall. that's me swimming. the picture doesn't really do it justice (the waterfall, not me. i look perfect).

a muong woman feeding her piggies. they squealed all night long.

me with more cute kids. also stuffed in our packs.

cute little girl lounging with her bread in some inner tubes by the water cave.

me and Tuy and a large pig. this one was apparently the result of a fleeting romance between a regular pig and a wild boar. yuck.

 arli riding our trusty motorbike! she did a good job. it was pink.