Wide-Eyed Wanderer Adventures

12-30-2010 Vientienne - day 2 The aether that has opted out Once the escape velocity [perceived] barrier of my possessions and quazi-attachments in my temporary home-base of California has been breached and I finally went into the "orbit," I began to realize something peculiar. There is a thin mobile substance composed of people going around the planet - those quirky souls that have in one way or another opted out of the entrenchment of their system and "went into orbit." Can't help but think of the network of satellites that our space agencies claim to launch into the orbit with enviable regularity. They drift just above the surface - close enough to observe and partake when they feel like it, but not far enough to be sucked in by the innevitability of gravity. In fact, using gravity itself to keep them at that perfect radius - used to the sensation of perpetual fall that others on the surface perceive as rotation.  The peculiar part is that from the surface, ...

12-30-2010 - Vientienne - day 2 Video Game "Глядя на лошадиные морды и лица людей, на безбрежный живой поток, поднятый  моей волей и мчащийся в никуда по багровой  закатной степи, я часто думаю: где Я в этом потоке?"                                 Чингиз Хан I walk on the pebbles of Van Vieng and through the dusty streets of Vientienne.....as between the statues of the Buddha Park built here by a monk-priest-shaman who wanted to compare-and-contrast-and-marry Hinduism with Buddhism in sculpture. I feel like a protagonist of some bizarre video game. The scenes change. I meet other characters, with whom I exchange some form of information - verbal and not - just at the right time....allowing me to move into other levels of the game. Although, "levels" perchance presumes some concept of hierarchy, which would be completely artificial to assume. More like rooms, perhaps. Maybe, the info they receive from me gives them access into other spaces as well. All of us wan...

12-26-2010 - 3rd day in Van Vieng [uploaded a few days post-factum due to internet access] I came here by a fluke of fate. My desire was to simply follow the Mekong down from Luang Prabang....however, despite the Lonely Planet's suggestions of a 2 day boat down to Vientiene, I found that only buses go between the two...and the only boats that go the route are of the cargo kind. The buses take 9-10 hours along a road that is like a python that was squozen into a tuna-can. Eeating for the road - not such a hot idea. On the other hand, Van Vieng is just around 6 hours away along the same route. So, I figured, to save my lungs [the Lao don't bother with the emissions testing, causing most locals to wear 3G lab-grade mask-respirators] and my stomach, I have resolved to stop over in Van Vieng, in spite of the spring-break-party-never-stops/paradise-lost rep, which has repelled me originally.  I stopped at a thoroughly idyllic guide-book suggestion guesthouse. Bamboo cabanas by the q...

Dongba Valley near Lijiang. The Dongba people have invented their own pictograph language and have a peculiar spin on animism. The thoughtful signs on balance and harmony with nature have attracted my attention.

A few post-factum sets of pix from China: Baisho Village Near Lijiang [the North of Yunnan Province]

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Journeying is hard Journeying is hard, There are many turnings.... I will mount a long wind some day and break the heavy waves And set my cloudy sail and bridge the deep, deep sea. ~~~Li Bai, "The Hard Road" ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ There is no way to plan a journey. That's what I'm learning. It was foolish of me to even attempt. Even the modicum of planning that I have done - i.e., booking my round-the-world flights - ends up being a waste. I'm skipping three flights out of five on purpose. The preconceptions and expectations [as few of them as I thought I brought with me, given that I have only one backpack] are dropping away, giving way to trusting the River. Literally. The easiest, most obvious and natural route through Laos seems to be along the Mekong. So, that is what I shall do. Down to the Great Delta and the 4000 islands. It feels a bit Huck-Finnish. I am dropping into a peaceful rhythm of ...

12-22-2010 - Luang Prabang - the Sacred City Before arrived to Luang Prabang, a few travelers I met suggested to spend just a couple days here. And I have found myself wanting to stay a bit longer - this city is timeless. It is cradled by the two rivers - the mighty Mekong and the quiet Nam Khan. It is studded with ancient wat - some of them perched on top of steep hills like some overgrown bird's nests....and the streets are aglow with the orange robes of monks and novices [of which, according to a friendly novice by the name of Khan, there are at least 1200 in this small city - and that's just the novices]. A delicious cornocopia of world cuisine cafes amidst the lush of bamboo and right by the river enlivens the taste buds....as the eyes are feasting on the array of local crafts of every imaginable kind. Something about this place feels sacred to me. Here, during the many of my Mekong-overlooking breakfasts, I've reflected just how distinct the vibe of this town and ...

Luang Prabang Glory....cannot say enough words to fit the wonder that is Luang Prabang into the black-and-white format. I'm present to the grossly reductionistic nature of words again.