I'm now in Nong Khiaw, but last I wrote we were still in Huay Xai. The slow boat to Pak Beng departed late and was overfilled, but once away was peaceful with lush mountains and quaint villages on either side. The next day to Luang Prabang was longer, even more packed, and the views didn't change much. Still, I had time to read an entire borrowed book, have a nap, and witness the boat get flagged down like a bus by locals. Luang Prabang is indeed a wonderful li...

I am now in Laos, but it took me a little longer than planned. Chiang Rai is a nice little city, and I met a bunch of nice people there, Thai and otherwise. Whilst there, I visited the White Temple and the Black House, ambitious projects of two Thai artists. The White Temple is a proper Buddhist temple, but it is filled with and surrounded by pop culture references: American comic book superheroes, the matrix, terminator, aliens, dragonball, etc. I think the idea...