Back in LP

I’m back in Luang Prabang after a three-year absence. As you can see, it’s not that bad. It sure was bad in those days and it’s taken me this long to even think about coming back. I heard that the crook that took off with close to a thousand dollars worth of my books scammed other people too. Misery likes company. I’m not going to think much about other books unaccounted for. In the big picture, if I can still do something good for Lao education, I’ll swallow those losses. I’m employed now. I like the job and it’s my first salary in ten years. Honest.

Swimming in limbo

Bitten by a dog in Cambodia. Not a good thing, but good thing I’m on my way to Bangkok where I can go to the Red Cross Clinic for Rabies within 24 hours. Between the exit office from Cambodia and the entry office into Thailand is a beach. I asked if I could swim there and I was waved on down. I haven’t been in the ocean in what seems like years. Ocean water is good for making me believe rabies won’t immediately consume me. If it comes at a later time, it’s not that unreasonable, but I hear I’d froth, have paranoia and chew on table legs. I’d also heard that rabies shots involve thousands of dollars and massive syringes plunged repeatedly into the abdomen. But then, we can find any scary story on the Internet and can play with any worst-case scenario in the depth of a sleepless night. It’s not going to faze me. I’ve just spent a meditative work/holiday in some of the nicest hidden corners of SE Asia. I only need 5 shots over the next month. A piece of cake.