A brief summary of the last week or so and where I am headed.....

From the the left side of the map, above.....working to the right.......

*  From Chiang Rai, Thailand,  to Ban Houayxay, Lao PDR, by second class bus.

*  From Ban Houayxay to Pak Beng by long boat on the Mekong

*  From Pak Beng to Louang Prabang by long boat on the Mekong

*  From Louang Prabang to Phongsavahn by van. Phongsavahn is not on the map, but it is in the dark blue colored area on the map above

*  The dark blue area is the extent of the Plain of Jars

From Phongsavahn will head west to Vang Vieng, by bus. It also is not on the map....too small...but it is a bit north of the light blue lake in the south.  Several days in Vang Vieng,  then south by bus to Vientiane, the Lao PDR capital, for several days.  Will then fly south from Vientiane to Siem Reap, Cambodia and spend a week exploring Angkor Wat and its surroundings.  So much to see there.  It is the largest religious monument in the world.  Have read that there is more stone at Angkor than in the pyramids.

Depart Siem Reap on 2/5/14 to head home.   It pains me.

Can already feel the travel window closing......although I could stay and explore much longer. Unfortunately, the pneumonia knocked 2 weeks out of my ability to travel.  

But I can now say I have been to Keng Tung.  

I have dreamed of taking a trip like this for most of my life, especially for the last 25 years.  This journey has only primed the pump.  Do not see how I can ever spend another winter in Portland, unless it would be at the time assisted living or health problems nail me to the floor. 

Hopefully, many more years to explore the world.

Peace.

Byron