Seems that northern Laos had a little less electricity than I expected. But I'm back in civilization now with oodles of time, electricity and food in my stomach and am just raring to write. So, instead of giving a concise summary of the past week in Laos, I've decided to disregard all readers other than myself and give a day-by-day account of March 17 to date, leaving out few details and giving an insufferably long account of the past week. Skip, skim or send hate mail as needed.

I could write a long account of the eight hour trip from Luang Nam Tha in the back of a pick up truck getting coated in dust the whole way so that when it was over, I was a new color of brown as if I had been soaked and breaded in it.

Sit in hammock. Read book.

Max left for a two day boat ride to the border, finally making his way to Thailand for his air conditioned buses and hot showers. I signed up for a two-day trek (ugh, walk) into the Nam Ha NBCA, a protected monsoon forest where wild animals such as elephant, rhinoceros and monkeys roam free, but not during the trekking hours. That's when the wild animals sleep.

Sitting in the single solar powered Internet cafe in Northern Laos and paying a lot of money to do so. Will supply more news of my travels when I reach northern Thailand next week. No worries for an American in deep Laos. Laa kawn.

The next leg of the journey was to get out of Mong Ngoi and head west to the town of Luang Nam Tha. Although Luang Nam Tha is only 110 kilometers west of Mong Ngoi, this journey required one boat ride and two bus transfers. The problem with bus transfers in Laos is that there is no bus schedule.

We agreed to pay a little more than the asking price to take a four hour walk to a waterfall, pass through three villages on the way and then take a boat ride back to town, a walk that most villagers said was not possible.

I could have stayed longer in Luang Prabang, the charming city with its flower lined streets, slow motion movement and embroidered pillowcases that I intended but failed to buy.

Fourth day, third city. Slowing down, but still the fourteen day visa in Laos and a need to get back to Bangkok by April 2 for a flight to Nepal and see some of northern Thailand between Laos and Bangkok keep the pressure on. I'm traveling faster than I prefer, but I do have to come home sooner or later.

Vientiane Laos, day one. One evening stroll through the capital city. One delicious evening meal that passed through me very quickly 24 hours later. Four hour bus trip north on a local bus sitting next to a Laos student of 23 who was surprised (and maybe disappointed?) that I was 30.

Fourteen days on my Laos Visa. An April 2nd flight to Nepal to rearrange in Bangkok. And some days in Northern Thailand to squeeze in between Laos and Bangkok. Feeling rushed for the first time.