Travels, Experiences, Work and Feelings!
Find out my travels and my experiences in Laos!
Was walking to dinner on Wed and the streets were so quiet and tranquil. There is this stretch of road, that traverses through a monastery. The sides of the road are lined with trees, and it is just so peaceful, listening to the rustling of the leaves and the gentle breeze. Or some people would say, scene from a horror show! Ha!
I think we are too used to Singapore’s well lit streets. It took me a while, before I dared to venture out to buy food. I was just too hungry!
I am going mad!
Couldn’t sleep till late last night as I was too tickled pink.
By my own joke!
Haha…
I was thinking of what to cook on Saturday, and thought perhaps brown rice with pumpkin and pasta sauce for added taste.
Then I burst out laughing at the silly (but potentially delicious and Naked Chef standard) idea. Then, I laughed at myself for laughing at my idea!
Ok… Am I going cuckoo or does this happen to everyone?
Read a rather inspiring book by Bhante Walpoly Piyananda, The Bodhi Tree Grows in L.A. One of the stories really strikes a chord and this blog is dedicated to my friends.
According to the Maggasamyutta of the Samyutta Nikaya, ‘… Having a spiritual friend and companion enables you to develop and cultivate the Eightfold Path.’
Also, the Buddha mentioned that, ‘Having a good friend, having good companions, and being inclined toward good is the whole of spiritual life.’
The Mekong was flooding rather badly and in some part such as Luang Prabang, the water level went up as high as 23m, well above the river bank height of 18m. Archer mentioned that 4 people were killed in the flood in Laos.
Went to help out last week on Wed and Fri. It was a back breaking moment, and Wed was exceptionally bad as I didn’t expect it to end so late, 2am which I reached home. And I still had to teach the following day! Darn! They should totally cancel classes! I had 3 full lessons on Thurs!
Got report from the Ambassador that the Mekong has flooded!
Me and my big mouth lah…
It hasn’t flooded since 1966!
And according to the people who had experienced the flood in 1966, this one is worse. Darn.
The soldiers were deployed yesterday and many of the colleagues at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs were also activated to pile sandbags by the river bank.
Still, it burst.
Time flies lah.
One week has passed. Thanks to all who had contributed to my well being one way or another.
Was invited to a soccer game on Fri and those who know me, well I cant play soccer for nuts! And looking at how muddy the field was, I was like, NOOOO!!! hahaa… swim in the icy cold lake maybe… soccer? Not in this life time!
After that was a beer bingeing session. I was kinda ‘warned’ about this, but didnt expect to experience it so soon… Every one or two minutes, everyone was like, Cheers! wah lau ay… And again, those who know me, I cant hold my liquor. At all! Luckily I had some heat rash so I just conveniently said that I am allergic.. which I am, if I drink too much..
Decided to shock the students by flooding their senses with visual and audio impact. Not unlike what I prepared for some lessons back in Sg.
Typical lesson here is talk and paper. I.e. the lecturer will sit at his desk, read out the important part, and the students listen. Kinda old school. The good attitude and motivation that the students have ensure that they study on their own.
Decided to finally cook my own dinner after Ying Gu’s advice.
Went to a supermart and bought pasta and tomato and olive sauce, some tomatoes and a packet of salt from France. Read somewhere the taste is different. And given the amount it cost, it better be!
Simple, easy task to do. Boil water, add salt, add pasta, boil the sauce whoala! A Naked Chef is born!
Had to go across the border town to Nong Khai, Thailand, to get my visa.
Funny thing was, when I was in Sg, the embassy said it could be done in Vientiane. But apparently not lah. Well, since I had been there done that, nothing much to worry lah. But for someone who had to do it alone, I think the process can be a little messy and daunting. The process is something like this.
1. Cross Vientiane customs
Touched down on Sunday after an almost teary farewell. Special thanks to all who had come to send me off.
Family: Dad and Mom, Sister and Bro in Law and Bro.
Buddies: TC and ML, and MH. June (Ying Gu), Clara (Socky) J Lo and Shu Xian and little U Jae!
And Fushan and Sally and Mr and Mrs Wan. Students Yan Zhi, Gretchen and Ernest. Couldn’t sleep the night before as finally, the trip was taking place!
