Feb. 14, 2008
Oh my Buddha, what a month it's been. I have only a few minutes now to write anything as I'm waiting to board a bus to Vang Vieng from Luang Prabang.
I left northern Thailand five days ago via a two day boat ride down the Mekong into Laos. This is a slow-paced and pretty country that until only a decade ago relied entirely on the rivers here for all their transportation needs because no roads were laid in this part of the country until then. With China emerging as a major economy, however, modern highways have been built to link the economic giant with Thailand and other trading partners.
This little city I leave today is heavily influenced by French colonialism. The buildings along the main street Sisavangvong have French doors and shuttered windows with roofs in the Laos Buddhist style, pointed at the edges. Little cafes serve delicious thick Laos coffee and fresh authentic baguettes. This UNESCO World Heritage city is just entirely quaint.
I've had a lot on my mind in the past few weeks. For about a month, I was sort of dragging my feet, feeling overcome with road weariness and even guilt about spending all my money. I started thinking about coming home sooner than originally planned. But I got a burst of rejuvenation in northern Thailand after doing a three day jungle trek over my 25th birthday and then heading over into Laos by way of this gorgeous river which winds through jungles and gorges.
I've also received a job offer that would take me back to Europe. Back in October I stopped off in this hostel, The Pink Palace, on the Greek Island of Corfu on my way to Istanbul. One hazy evening there after sidling up to the bar and taking over the music selection in an attempt to avoid dealing with an annoying Canadian, I was tentatively offered a job as the DJ's assistant in the upcoming high season. At the time, I just took it as an empty offer, inspired by ouzo. However, six weeks ago, the DJ got in touch with me via Facebook and said the job is mine if I want it.
Looking at the situation at home and talking to my parents and friends, it seems like staying abroad for a little longer and waiting out this financial crisis might not be a bad idea. So now I'm trying to maneuver this giant U-Turn that will take me back to Europe in two months time. Ideally, I'd like to make a real adventure out of it, flying to Hong Kong and then making my up to Beijing where I'd hop on the TransManchurian Express for a six day train journey into Russia. Then I'd fly from Moscow or St. Petersberg into Moscow. It would be a lot of hard miles, but I think it would also bring this trip to a whole new level.
Oh boy, my bus is here in two minutes. I must run. Farewell Luang Prabang. Hello Vang Vieng.
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3 comments:
Go, Maggie, go!
Go like the wind.
Or "weeeend", as some super heroine used to say.
Travel on.
We all love you, baby.
See you at the Party Palace.
What the hell.
Maggie, I hate you. I am so jealous of your wild life. I always drop it to my parents, 'oo yea. I'll just go around the world when I graduate.' And of course their response is 'oh that is so scary alone.' Which I suppose it is. But you know, fear is the absolute worst thing to govern your transient and very temporary time here anyway. But yea, the job in Europe sounds fucking sweet. Maybe I will just swing it across the Atlantic and chill with my lil' cultured relatives for a while. What months will you be there and where exactly?
Also: the river transportation.. why oh why do such quaint modes always seem to go extinct. Aside from, you know, the obvious practical reasons of economy and globalization and modernization and all that bullshit. Annd: I'm glad you survived your TransManchurian train ride (as I'm obviously commenting on this entry a little after the fact). Did you ever see the movie TransSiberian? About drug trafficking in Russia, scary, gory, awesome.
Hello my young bright-eyed cousin,
Yes, your parents are right, it is scary setting off to travel the world alone. But the wonderful thing is there are so many other like-minded, free-spirited people doing it. You're bound to fall into good company along the way. I have in nearly every place I've visited.
I haven't yet taken the TransManchurian R.R. and unfortunately it looks more and more doubtful that it will happen, at least on this trip. Getting a visa for Russia is a major pain in the ass. So I'm headed back to Thailand in about a week where I'm going to regroup and come up with a new plan.
If Greece does happen, I'll be there from mid-April until I get sick of the job. That could be anywhere from two weeks to four months. The only thing I have to come home to is a wedding in August, so that sets my absolute latest deadline for returning to the States. Ahhhhh freeeeeeeedom.
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