Jewel of the Mekong

A realm of wonder,

of genuine warmth and sincerity.

of toothless grins and wide eyed innocence to melt and capture the coldest of hearts.

of creativity and adaptability

of a people who may be of humble backgrounds, but carry themselves with the utmost dignity and have every reason to stand tall.

of rolling hills of green, of towns and shanties, of lonely huts with stories untold

of running streams, of crashing waters pooling into steps of flowing jade

of giant stone sentinels silently watching over the land

of hammers and sickles fluttering proudly in the wind.
Communism may be long dead but Communalism lives on.


A most wonderful journey, (that cannot be possibly encompassed in words)

of bottomless, endless pots of rice

of giant unseen geckos

of garang scars, garang shoes, garang slippers, garang gloves; welcome to the garang club

of drooping candles and flaming joss sticks; of prayer and hope and laughter

of friendships forged under the burning sun; affirmated in intertwining bands of yellow blue green pink and black

of cloudless nights and starry skies

of wizened faces chanting blessings; binding the soul from wanderlust


Thank you, Noot and Nook Noi. Thank you people of BMK.

Thank you, the special 22. The deep. The leader. The angelic. The fighting. The strong. The (high) screamer. The observant. The jolly. The (high) princess. The brick. The cool. The affable. The spunky. The reflective. The (pirated) facilitator. The holy. The pro. The half-Laotian. The Laotian. The whiny. The random. The spontaneous.

Places will change. Memories will fade.
To quote Morpheus, Omina Mutantur

and for me
the best way to remember this whole experience
to is live differently
with their heart in our actions
with their spirit in our minds

Everthing changes, but nothing is truly lost