gearing up for Pi Mai

the next festival here is Pi Mai, Laos New Year.
the town is getting ready to party, 10 days of Beer Lao and a huge water-fight!
and at Wat Na Luang the novice monks are quietly preparing the vessel to wash the Buddhas

another day at the office

it's lovely and cool cycling to work in the morning
the frangipani trees are in blossom so luang prabang smell and looks great

busy days at work so am always having lunch on the run
there's plenty of yummy, spicy food being offered and shared

families sit and wait patiently to be seen, the waiting room is packed
and then suddenly i go outside and there's only one family left to see

another relaxing Sunday

first, breaky by the Nam Khan with Julie and Jochem.
next, a bit of shopping at the traditional arts and ethnology centre
they're making me a man bag from the blue batique
and i'm match making, he's now got a date with our accountant
then, it's time for chatting and chanting at Wat Pasaviet
always heaps of fun being with my Son, Novice BigVahn
and finally, dinner with pals
what more could a boy need
another lovely day, life is good, thank you Buddha

I'd like to be a yogi

I loved the yoga retreat, feeling like I could be a full-time yogi

Phrase of the week; nowhere to go, no one to be

connected with the earth and nature 

I'm now enjoying being in the moment of every moment

Vikasa Yoga

The teachers are fab, George and Kosta are my favourites

2 days and 8 hours of yoga later I'm not looking like this

How disappointing! I'm a wreck, eek, getting old a creaky

Nevertheless in a few days I'm confident I'll be doing the splits too

Until then I'll live in the present moment of relaxation; am alternating classes with massages!

flying to Kho Samui

A week off, time for yoga and total relaxation

I flew with Bangkok Airways from Luangers to Kho Samui

Flicking through the inflight magazine I saw a very familiar photo

I looked closer and it was an article by our founder, Kenro Izu

Word is spreading about our new hospital

Jenn's Den!

The expat team at work are great fun and totally dedicated.
Jenn is a real favourite of mine, she's a superstar and has been promoted to deputy director