Have you ever ridden for an hour each-way on a Tuk Tuk, hair blowing in the wind, breathing exhaust and dust the whole way, bouncing up and down on the unpaved jungle roads, telling the kids to hold on tight or they'll bounce out, to see 4,000 Buddhas placed randomly inside a cave in the middle of Laos? Now I have. I am far too safety conscious to really enjoy breaking all safety rules in many circumstances when overseas. I am the kind of mom that in the States doesn't let my kids drive around the block without a proper car seat. But I amaze myself at the circumstances we are often placed in and how quickly we adjust. I mean, would you let your entire family sit in the back of a golf cart on steroids while zipping down I-15, telling them to hold on for dear life while you weave in and out of traffic? They are even so relaxed about it they fell asleep today on the Tuk Tuk. Not me. But we all made it so I can write about it and almost laugh. Almost. Safety issues aside, it was a splendid day. The shrine cave we visited houses 4,000 Buddhas of all shapes and sizes that worshippers have placed strategically throughout. The air was clear, the Mekong river swift, and the kids had enough room to climb and get some energy out. We attract a fair amount of attention, not because we are the only tourists through here, but because we are the only ones with four young children. Yared's head has been patted as many times as Addie has been picked up and nearly whisked away by admiring strangers. As always, many photos of them are taken. Will my children grow up
thinking we are celebrities? Often we are just stared at as a crowd gathers while we eat or have a snack or handle a tantrum. Keeps things interesting. It's different here than in India so far. The people are warm, the crowds are small, and it's manageable. India was another story entirely. My highlight was a serendipitous outing with my oldest that ended in a this-is-why-we-do-this-magical-experience. We went to find something to eat and had crossed a handmade bamboo bridge across the Mekong River to get there. We sat on pillows around a small ceramic table, ordered Lao-style fondue, and played Scrabble while we waited. They came out in an entourage to deliver our food, first removing a ceramic insert of the table, then placing a deep bucket of coals inside, then covering it with a cooking dome of sorts, then bringing the food. We had such a great time sizzling beef and veggies and eggs and glass noodles through the soupy broth, tossing in a few spices, and talking about what he has gained from our travel experiences so far. The whole meal cost under $10, but I would have paid far more just to experience that with my son.
thinking we are celebrities? Often we are just stared at as a crowd gathers while we eat or have a snack or handle a tantrum. Keeps things interesting. It's different here than in India so far. The people are warm, the crowds are small, and it's manageable. India was another story entirely. My highlight was a serendipitous outing with my oldest that ended in a this-is-why-we-do-this-magical-experience. We went to find something to eat and had crossed a handmade bamboo bridge across the Mekong River to get there. We sat on pillows around a small ceramic table, ordered Lao-style fondue, and played Scrabble while we waited. They came out in an entourage to deliver our food, first removing a ceramic insert of the table, then placing a deep bucket of coals inside, then covering it with a cooking dome of sorts, then bringing the food. We had such a great time sizzling beef and veggies and eggs and glass noodles through the soupy broth, tossing in a few spices, and talking about what he has gained from our travel experiences so far. The whole meal cost under $10, but I would have paid far more just to experience that with my son.
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