Cheese or blowjobs?
Laos is GREAT!! We've been in Luang Prabang for a couple of days now and just loving the relaxed vibe. There's this wicked restaurant/bar called Utopia which is all garden and games and tables set amongst the greenery and a whole area of bamboo floor and roof with mats and pillows that looks out (and hovers over) the river. Very cool. I love sitting on the floor around low tables. I love the "no shoes" rule. And I love that it's all open air, including no railings off the edge even though there's a 50 foot drop. Forces people to be adults.. or something.
It took us one day in a van and two days on a boat to get here, but it was totally worth it. Actually the journey was great. Spending two entire days on a boat you get to know people. We met three Italians (Lapo, Michele and Renato), a handful of English, a couple Kiwis and a whole bunch more. Very very fun!! The first day we just hung out with the Italians, drinking and hanging out the windows.
That night we spent in this jungle town along the river called Pak Beng, where we had Buffalo Lap (a minced meat and fresh herb dish, soooooo tasty!) and then I made out with Michele (pronounced Mick-ell-ay). It was nice at first, but he got really aggressive, pinning my arms down and not letting me get up, putting his hands places even though I repeatedly moved them AND told him very explicitly NOT to.... Sometimes men just piss me off. It completely ruined the night and my opinion of him.
The next day the boat was more mellow and I spent more time sitting up at the front, on the floor, under the open roof, playing "Either Or" with a cute Canadian named Amy, a nice Brit named Simon and a disgustingly gorgeous American named David. It's a great way to pass time and get to know people, you just ask a question giving two options and everyone has to answer which one they'd choose. An example? "If you had to choose between giving up all cheese for the rest of your life, or giving up oral sex - giving and receiving, which would you choose?" The men always choose oral sex, the women nearly always choose cheese. Funny.
We're staying in a hostel called "SpicyLaos Backpackers." It's all wooden floors and sketchy staircases and there aren't any doors, let alone locks. It's surprisingly awesome, mostly because of the social aspect. Last night after Utopia closed (at 1130pm, the whole town has to be indoors by midnight) we brought a whole bunch of people back to the hostel and I convinced the beautiful American and another dude to play guitar for a couple of hours while everyone else just got ridiculous. Totally fun!!
Speaking of the American, I've been trying for two entire days to convince him he needs to make out with me, it's totally not happening. What's wrong with him?!?! It's gotten a little bit amusing, but last night I was actually super bummed out about it. Dating sucks. Even when it's not dating! We're travelers, it's what we're supposed to do! Meet a beautiful stranger, discover a mutual attraction, enjoy each others company - and lips and hands - for an evening, and then you move on and take the sweet memories with you. So what the hell is his problem?! He's 27 and absolutely knows just how gorgeous he is. But he's extremely confident without projecting a shred of arrogance, which is a very fine line to walk. He's also incredibly nice and will talk to anyone and everyone. He definitely uses his looks and charm to his advantage, yet he never takes advantage of it even though he most definitely could. It's awesome and frustrating too. How the hell is he perfect? And why do I want him so badly? It's not even that I want him, I just want him to want me, or at least notice me, acknowledge my presence.... Wow, when did I revert to being 15?? How is it that beautiful people can reduce me to this mental state? It sucks.
Anyway, we saw some cool temples and some very cool Buddha statues. We went to a waterfall today. We've eaten at an outdoor $1.50 buffet and perused the night market, and been pretty damn social. It's been good.
A few days ago Mike sent me a message that was really cold and it just made me angry. In fact I was so put off by it that I seriously considered contacting him and telling him that things were definitely over. Then today I got a message telling me, well, everything I wanted to hear.
>> I want to make you happy. I want you to wake up and enjoy every day. I want to love you, and make love to you every day. I want us to make the best of life and have people say
"man! Those two are awesome!" I don't want people to be envious or jealous, but I want them to be proud and happy for us. I want to work hard, and play harder. I want us to travel the world and find a place that suits us best. I want US to talk about kids, and maybe have them, maybe not. All depending on what WE decide. I want to make you my wife and do as much as I can to make the rest of your life the best I can. I want to make you feel sexy no matter how old we get and how gross we feel. ;-)
I want to come and see you in January and love you and make it work.
My plan is... When it comes to us...
I'm not working after this job for a while. I'll collect EI, come to you for a month or so. Then we move somewhere, Vancouver, so you can be with your sister and friends. I go and build another wind farm in march and fly home to van every time I can. I will make tons of money. We can Tavel all winter long. Like 4 to 5 months. Plus save money, and find a place to live or find a second home. I want you in my life, if your not then... I know nothing.
Lobe you. Love you. Love you.
I hope that is not the last time I say that.
I love you. >>
And it makes me think that we can actually do this... Jade surprised me when I made an offhand comment about "I wish somebody would just make the decision for me!" She said she was rooting for Mike, and would choose him if I put her in charge of arranging things. Interesting.
Then, of course, later in the day I got a message from Nick, not touching on any of the seriousness but simply commenting on my FB status and saying he'd love to hear more about my travels, asking a few questions and wanting to know details. I've been sharing all the details with Mike, but he never responds or comments or seems to care. So what I really want from Mike is assurance that we'll learn to communicate better, and that we're compatible and have things in common, and while he's telling me all these brilliant things that make me excited, the basics aren't improving. Yet Nick instinctively is fulfilling those exact holes.
Mind boggling. And frustrating.
But in general, life is good. I heard that Southern Alberta was the coldest place in Canada a couple of days ago, -23C and 20 cm of snow! Man, I'm sooooooo stoked to not be there!!!!
It took us one day in a van and two days on a boat to get here, but it was totally worth it. Actually the journey was great. Spending two entire days on a boat you get to know people. We met three Italians (Lapo, Michele and Renato), a handful of English, a couple Kiwis and a whole bunch more. Very very fun!! The first day we just hung out with the Italians, drinking and hanging out the windows.
That night we spent in this jungle town along the river called Pak Beng, where we had Buffalo Lap (a minced meat and fresh herb dish, soooooo tasty!) and then I made out with Michele (pronounced Mick-ell-ay). It was nice at first, but he got really aggressive, pinning my arms down and not letting me get up, putting his hands places even though I repeatedly moved them AND told him very explicitly NOT to.... Sometimes men just piss me off. It completely ruined the night and my opinion of him.
The next day the boat was more mellow and I spent more time sitting up at the front, on the floor, under the open roof, playing "Either Or" with a cute Canadian named Amy, a nice Brit named Simon and a disgustingly gorgeous American named David. It's a great way to pass time and get to know people, you just ask a question giving two options and everyone has to answer which one they'd choose. An example? "If you had to choose between giving up all cheese for the rest of your life, or giving up oral sex - giving and receiving, which would you choose?" The men always choose oral sex, the women nearly always choose cheese. Funny.
We're staying in a hostel called "SpicyLaos Backpackers." It's all wooden floors and sketchy staircases and there aren't any doors, let alone locks. It's surprisingly awesome, mostly because of the social aspect. Last night after Utopia closed (at 1130pm, the whole town has to be indoors by midnight) we brought a whole bunch of people back to the hostel and I convinced the beautiful American and another dude to play guitar for a couple of hours while everyone else just got ridiculous. Totally fun!!
Speaking of the American, I've been trying for two entire days to convince him he needs to make out with me, it's totally not happening. What's wrong with him?!?! It's gotten a little bit amusing, but last night I was actually super bummed out about it. Dating sucks. Even when it's not dating! We're travelers, it's what we're supposed to do! Meet a beautiful stranger, discover a mutual attraction, enjoy each others company - and lips and hands - for an evening, and then you move on and take the sweet memories with you. So what the hell is his problem?! He's 27 and absolutely knows just how gorgeous he is. But he's extremely confident without projecting a shred of arrogance, which is a very fine line to walk. He's also incredibly nice and will talk to anyone and everyone. He definitely uses his looks and charm to his advantage, yet he never takes advantage of it even though he most definitely could. It's awesome and frustrating too. How the hell is he perfect? And why do I want him so badly? It's not even that I want him, I just want him to want me, or at least notice me, acknowledge my presence.... Wow, when did I revert to being 15?? How is it that beautiful people can reduce me to this mental state? It sucks.
Anyway, we saw some cool temples and some very cool Buddha statues. We went to a waterfall today. We've eaten at an outdoor $1.50 buffet and perused the night market, and been pretty damn social. It's been good.
A few days ago Mike sent me a message that was really cold and it just made me angry. In fact I was so put off by it that I seriously considered contacting him and telling him that things were definitely over. Then today I got a message telling me, well, everything I wanted to hear.
>> I want to make you happy. I want you to wake up and enjoy every day. I want to love you, and make love to you every day. I want us to make the best of life and have people say
"man! Those two are awesome!" I don't want people to be envious or jealous, but I want them to be proud and happy for us. I want to work hard, and play harder. I want us to travel the world and find a place that suits us best. I want US to talk about kids, and maybe have them, maybe not. All depending on what WE decide. I want to make you my wife and do as much as I can to make the rest of your life the best I can. I want to make you feel sexy no matter how old we get and how gross we feel. ;-)
I want to come and see you in January and love you and make it work.
My plan is... When it comes to us...
I'm not working after this job for a while. I'll collect EI, come to you for a month or so. Then we move somewhere, Vancouver, so you can be with your sister and friends. I go and build another wind farm in march and fly home to van every time I can. I will make tons of money. We can Tavel all winter long. Like 4 to 5 months. Plus save money, and find a place to live or find a second home. I want you in my life, if your not then... I know nothing.
Lobe you. Love you. Love you.
I hope that is not the last time I say that.
I love you. >>
And it makes me think that we can actually do this... Jade surprised me when I made an offhand comment about "I wish somebody would just make the decision for me!" She said she was rooting for Mike, and would choose him if I put her in charge of arranging things. Interesting.
Then, of course, later in the day I got a message from Nick, not touching on any of the seriousness but simply commenting on my FB status and saying he'd love to hear more about my travels, asking a few questions and wanting to know details. I've been sharing all the details with Mike, but he never responds or comments or seems to care. So what I really want from Mike is assurance that we'll learn to communicate better, and that we're compatible and have things in common, and while he's telling me all these brilliant things that make me excited, the basics aren't improving. Yet Nick instinctively is fulfilling those exact holes.
Mind boggling. And frustrating.
But in general, life is good. I heard that Southern Alberta was the coldest place in Canada a couple of days ago, -23C and 20 cm of snow! Man, I'm sooooooo stoked to not be there!!!!