I spend the lunar new year in Hong Kong. Which was great with a big parade, and massive fireworks. The way they celebrate this here is very different than back home, however. Where we all have a big countdown to the climax at 12 o’clock. Here the lunar new year takes 4 days. And actually, there is no cuntdown at all. The festivities are spread over these four days, and are mainly in the daytime (fairs) or evening (parades, fireworks).
Personal
Hi to all!! Sorry it took some time, but here it is! Where did I leave you? Oh, yes, back in Chiang Mai. Well, I did the massage course and it was great! The massage course was specialised in nerve massage, so a lot of twitching of nerves and related muscles are a part of the massage. And ofcourse the typical thai way of bending and stretching your head, arms, legs and back.
Okay, that _was _a long trip. After three days traveling, two days by boat and one day by bus, I finally arrived in Chiang Mai in Thailand. Back in the city I visited about 10 weeks ago. Although this time the city looks different, it is more.. hmm modern? Yes, I am pretty sure it is. Many cars, supermarkets, small cinema. Was that here before? Must be. It is funny to see how your vision gets blurred by the culture or country you compare with.
Hi there! Another message from Luang Prabang, a small town in the northern part of Laos. While the government in the Netherlands will be central afterall, the americans retreat from Iraq and Windows Vista hits the market, life in Laos goes on like usual. Workin in the ricefields, building houses, renewing roofs, going to the market. Yes, quite a difference again, even with Vietnam. Laos is apparently one of the least developed countries, but compared to Cambodia it comes across me as a more wealthy nation.
The weather here wasn’t that good, but it could be worse. Heavy weather now in Holland: big storms blowing away trucks from the roads! I hope everybody survived and is now reading this while enjoying a nice hot cup of coffee or tea. If you’re not, maybe you should. I would. One of the things I miss the most from back home? Good proper D.E. coffee. As most coffee here is sweet instant-coffee, it tastes just like that.
