Travels with Shelley and Muzzy: Time to go

Muz 'n' Shell

Muzzy and I started traveling in 1990. Our first trip was to Thailand. Muzzy was in the Merchant Marines in another incarnation and had traveled all over the world. I had done a lot of internal traveling, but waited a lifetime to be able to really travel. After that first trip I was definitely hooked. We went to Bali in '93 with our daughter Sarah and her partner Don. In '96 we returned to Thailand to visit Sarah at her Peace Corps site in Petchabun province and to celebrate her marriage to Don on the island of Koh Phangan in the Gulf of Thailand. In '99 we went to Nepal and Thailand, in '03 to Laos and Thailand, and in '05/'06 back to Thailand, Laos and Burma. It was a trip the whole family took after the death of our eldest daughter Lise from breast cancer in February of '05. In '07 we returned to Nepal, Laos and Thailand with our dear traveling companion Kyp. Ever since that first trip to Laos, we have been in love with the country. There is something timeless and magical there and if there is any balm for my soul, it is in the warm breezes that blow across the peninsula in Luang Prabang. Muzzy and I have been incredibly fortunate in making the trip up the Nam Tha river twice to Luang Namtha. Laos is so special to us that I hesitate to tell anyone about it, but life does go on and no place is immune anymore from tourism. I just hope we get to keep traveling. The photos posted on this site are all by Mr. Muz unless otherwise stated, and he is a grand and wonderful photographer! I could go on forever (we both could and often do!) but really, thats why we started the blog!

Tuesday, January 11, 2011

Time to go

Friday morning is coming fast. One bag each. Mine is nearly packed but I am still trying to figure out which books to take. Nothing precious because I will dump them in a local travel library when I am finished, so I have ratty paperbacks, Innocents Abroad, A Moveable Feast, something trashy and something else...Henry James? Wish I hadn't read The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo trilogy...that would be fun. The trip is loosely plotted, some of it depending on the availability of train tickets and plane tickets, but it is firmly anchored with Bangkok at the start and a week on the beach at the end. Time for 2 visits to Chatuchak Market, plenty of time at the night market in Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai, as well as the night market in Luang Prabang, a trip out to the hill villages around Muang Ngoi and even a visit to the Pie Lady outside Chiang Rai! I left lots of downtime, realizing that I have lots of downtime here at home, but downtime in a Lao village is so much better. No internet, no electricity, no English. No problem.

2 comments:

Linda Sue said...: Exciting! Can't wait for you to return to tell tales and you haven't even left yet! Travel well as always...my love goes with you, on your shoulder, in your pocket, where ever it will fit.; January 11, 2011 8:34 AM
Penny said...: It sounds like an amazing trip! In what area will you be where there is no electricity in China ? It sounds like you have some good books picked out. I like for my travel books to be light and easy reads :); January 11, 2011 9:28 AM