Just Another Day

Today was a day that I didnt do very much.  The day was simplistic but showed what this city can do for visitors and why people are drawn here.  It started out simply enough waking up rather late checking my email and sports scores from America.  Blazers finally got their first win of the playoffs!!  Then like many days I got on my bike and meander into town in search of food.  Nothing happened on this drive it was just one step in an calming day.  I got my sandwich from one of the many vendors although today they seemed less rabid than normal.  I made my way to the library a normal stop to see if any falang need info about CLI of which I am little help or if Chanta needs help which she rarely sees use for me. Yesterday I had helped hang a swinging chair outside which was an endeavor and I wanted to check how it looked today.  Sadly some naughty neighborhood kids one boy and one girl who must have been around 5 had caused such a ruckus today that they took the chair inside until they left.  This could be a big pull for visitors to relax in a swinging chair and read a book while watching the people pass by.  Chanta was busy but I talked with some falang friends who were also helping out at the library and then I headed home.  I ate my sandwich while watching Inception for the 100th time.  The sandwich was good as always(so was Inception).  A mid afternoon thunderstorm hit for about 15 minutes it was a real downpour.  Things settled and 10 minutes after it was as though it never happened.  The day was warm yet humid but not enough to be uncomfortable.  It was just hot enough to make reading on the couch a difficult task with the urge for a nap trying to break through.  LingLing came over just as it was about to take hold and gave me a sock of mine which had missed the laundry basket.  I hadn't put much thought into the missing sock but I was glad this mystery was solved without any real effort on my part.  She bugged me for a while so I decided to show her how to play a video game on my computer.  She eventually caught on how to do it.  I studied some Lao and looked on giving her pointers.  More often than not these pointers were turning the car around after she drove it into a wall.  I didn't get much studying done.  I paused my video game coaching to drop something off with Chanta who had gotten home by this point.  She quickly invited me to go to the temple with her, her sister and some friends.  I went home changed told LingLing to get ready and then we were off.  We drove around the peninsula which had a relaxed feeling with some people walking around but it wasn't busy.  The town felt very at ease which was a complete 180 from Pi Mai.  We arrived at the steps of the temple and walked up to see a golden Buddha which was about 4 feet tall with two monks on either side.  People were lighting candle praying and then stepping up a ladder to poor water down a shoot that would then cover the Buddha.  This water would then be collected by the monks and redistributed to the visitors.  After going through the ceremony we got some water poured into your hand then you took that hand and patted it dry on your head.  Next I went inside the temple knelt, gave some money and got a wristband tied by a monk which should symbolize good luck for 1 year.  So I got that going for me, which is nice*.  Around the temple were stands set up with games.  The most popular of which involves a wall of balloons and 3 darts.  For 1000 kip or roughly 15 cents you need to break a balloon with every dart.  I tried and failed.  Twice. From 6 feet out.  Its much harder than it looks.  We piled back into the tuk tuk and finished our drive around downtown.  There were no crowds, just some people leisurely walking around taking in the relaxation that LP has to offer.  We got home and Chantas sister made fish.  Which is literally the entire fish.  I found out that Song Noi (Chantas son) really likes the eyes.  It was great as most meals are and then I headed back to write this post.  I guess the reason I wrote this post is to try to get you all to visit.  In all seriousness this is a very special place that I would hope you all get a chance to enjoy for yourselves.  Nothing is perfect but in a place like LP many days can be highly enjoyable.

I haven't heard back from any of you with questions.  The offer stands and I would to read them.

*Caddyshack Reference  I am sure some of you got it.