Executive Directer .....

.... what dear, me dear, oh dear
well i came to teach Laotian doctors and sort the curriculum at the Lao Friends Hospital for Children
there's a slight delay in the executive directer arriving
so, get this guys! it's me

i dreamed of being a life-guard
and somehow i am in charge of setting up a hospital, can you adam and eve it!?
i hope to be a life-guard in my next job
but only if the water's not too cold or salty

massage

I didn't have too many conversations in The UK about where to go for a good massage, in Luang Prabang massage is a typical dinner conversation, how good is that!
A massage costs £4 an hour, there's heaps of choice, I go twice a week, relaxation doesn't always spring to mind, perhaps no pain no gain is more accurate. The massagers are only 4 feet but they're so strong; there's walking on backs, vice lice grips, thumping, deep-deep kneading, sometimes I'm enjoy the extra-deep pressure and feel my knots shrinking, other times I'm holding back tears or giggles of pain.
One memorable massage - it started with her sneezing on me, I shreaked in disgust, she apologised but just massaged her snot into my back, yuck. Then she moved onto my legs, I was lying face down, she gripped and pinched my calf, oouch, pain, i reflexing jerked my other leg up kicking her, my turn to apologise, it was a massss....arrgge dizzzzzzzz......arrrrster, I'm sure Craig would have left without paying, I gave her a tip!

Alms

My house is surrounded by temples, it's wonderful waking up to the sound of drums from the temples every morning even though it's 4 o'clock! Usually I roll over and sleep some more, often I think I should get up a give Alms and sometimes I actually do.

The monks and novices start their day at 4am with prayers, they take Alms at sunrise, walking a circuit, barefooted, from their temple around their village. Only food that has been donated at Alms is eaten and  monks and novices can't eat after midday! Alms Bowls contain mainly sticky rice, which everyone loves, there are sweets but not much fruit and veg, so I'm on a mission, they're all going to be fruit bats too!!

I give Alms at the temples where I teach English, Wat NaLuang and Wat Pasaviet, talking to or looking at the novices and monks is not usual practice but I always forget and grin and say 'sabaidee, how's it going' - naughty Michael. 

After all the monks and novices have walked by and received Alms, from an individual or a group of people, they stop and chant a blessing, I love this bit and can't help to have a cheeky look, should be head bowed with palms together praying to the Buddha - must get better at this Buddhism etiquette.

The novices asked if they could borrow my camera to take some photos ....

Luang Prabang Yoga

You can't beat a good old stretch and a bit of warrior.
Even better when you're doing it on a deck overlooking the River Nam Khan and the mountains, listening to the wildlife and watching the fishermen throw their nets.
Best of all are the teachers, they calm me, they energise me, and they make me smile and appreciate good things - kindness, humanity, right now.
check out their website www.luangprabangyoga.org

flying in the rainy season ......

..... maybe not a fantastic idea
it's very romantic walking from a wee airport building, onto the tarmac and over to a propeller plane looking at a stunning view of mountains covered in tropical forrest. Taking off all you can see for miles are those beautiful mountains. Bliss
On the return flight this weekend we landed in a tropical storm, yikees, it was very bumpy, the wings seemed more vertical that horizontal and i was gripping the chair thinking if we fall out of the sky now will we survive!
I'm still here, so we landed, heaps of cheers and applause from all the passengers
And quite fun when we disembarked to be given a LaoAirlines umbrella! Couldn't see the mountains on the walk over to the terminal building this time, stayed semi-dry and almost managed a mary poppin's take off.
Had dinner with friends that night who had seen the plane landing, they confirmed the wings were vertical and said they had prayed for the passengers - thanks guys, the buddha was with us.

the visa process

i left the NHS to escape bureaucracy but you can't hide from it here either!
my visa, ...... where to begin
i've been to the immigration office 4 times, a slightly terrifying experience
i've needed to obtain letters from the Ministry of Health in Vientiane approving a working visa
i've had to leave and re-enter the country from a specific airport for one step, enjoyed that bit
by this point there are 3 pages of stamps in my passport and lots of official letters
currently my passport is in Vientiane, fingers crossed that's it and it makes it back to me soon

Chang Mai

It takes a little getting use to a bustling city after living in tranquil Luang Prabang, loved the excitement of having heaps of choice, yipeee - cocktails and rice free eating!
Great to spend the weekend with friends, chatted and relaxed with beautiful Clare and Princess Philip. We drank cocktails, indulged in bi-daily foot massages, walked in the mountains and made the most of the comfy sofas - it's so good to sit on things that are not made of wood or concrete! can someone please introduce squishy-squwashy cushions to Laos.
Loved having a weekend away, returning to Luang Prabang was great too, I realised it feels like home here.