A voodoo priest once told me...

That my journey wouldn't truly begin till the fourth day. That the first day would be spent saying "What have I just done?!" (now I"m paraphrasing here...) thinking of all the things to come, the second day would be lost to "What have I just left?," getting caught in homesickness, a lack of toilets and other such ameneties once seen as basic. The third day all that would be left to ask was, "really? really?" as I can begin to settle in to the choice that I have made to shed my skins and my old life in exchange for this crazy new one. The fourth day my journey could begin.

He was dead on. It's day three now and I have gone through my day of confusion, and then my day of homesickness and things are now beginning to settle in to a reality. A fantastical reality but a reality nonetheless.

We spent the first day and a half in bangkok which did not suit me terribly well. It's smoggy and dirty and smelly and none of it was in that charming kind of way. We broke free as quickly as we could, getting scammed all the live long way, on to what was supposed to be a 10 hour luxury bus ride-with a bathroom, which to me was a deal breaker. Clearly none of these things were true and we spent way too much time and money on a bus that was far from luxurious and definetly without a bathroom.

We made it to the Thailan-Laos border early this morning where we caught a ride on a boat across the small river border. As soon as we stepped off it was like a million cliches come to life. We could breathe easier, there was a giant load off our backs, we could smile again, we were happy to be alive, and many more cheesy things that makes Laos my new home!

We did however arrive to late to make it to a connecting bus out of this small border town and have spent the day lounging around, chatting with monks and australians, soaking in the sun and catching up on sleep. I certainly can't complain.

Tomorrow we are off again to Luang Nam Tha to do some eco-trekking in the mountains, which I am rather excited by.

I have pictures that I would love to download but this computer is way too slow, so they'll have to wait. I also want to write to all of you have written me, but again it will have to wait till there is more than one internet spot in th whole town!

Dad you were right, there are Israelis everywhere, and it does make me feel more at home...

I miss you all and will email as soon as I can, till then happy trails wherever you are.