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I departed on 12/17.  Home on 2/6 .    22 degrees F.   Snow, wind.  Unusual weather in Portland.

A good walkabout. 

Never bored but often sick.  Could not taste or smell anything the last 5 weeks.  

Saw lots of native culture, took as few tours as possible (you MUST have a tour guide on The Plain of Jars because of all the UXO everywhere).......and made as few advance reservations as was necessary......but saw many times more than those that did take tours and made reservations.

Took a few risks, but never had a negative outcome.  There is always a certain amount of risk in foreign travel.......

Had many, many memorable moments.

Walked alone many times and in many places.....with hundreds or thousands of locals and not another westener in sight for hours on end.

Threats, intimidation, pressure - never.

Someone short changing me - never.

Best food - Chicken curry at the Bamboo Nest.

Best room view - Vang Vieng, Lao.

Best local market - Keng Tung, Myanmar.

Worst Room view - Vientiane, Lao.

Best lodging -  "The Bamboo Nest" in Chaing Rai, Thailand.

Most colorful arts and crafts - Thailand.

The Hospital - Chaing Rai, Thailand.

Friendliest people - a tie - Lao, Cambodia, Thailand.

Poorest country - Myanmar.

Best arts, crafts and souviners - Luang Prabang, Lao.

Most enjoyable people I met - Robin (the Brit at The Bamboo Nest in Chiang Rai that I met again in Louang Prabang), Andy and Rondi (the couple from Portland that I met in Chiang Rai and traveled to Louang Prabang with by long boat down the Mekong), Mr. Sarann (my personal tuktuk driver that took me all over Angkor, to the rural Cambodian fishing spot and to the Cambodian birthday party), Mr. Yang (my guide on The Plain of Jars, around Phonsavan and over to Ban Ban, Lao), Francois and Latitetia (The French couple that I seemed to run into everywhere), The "Boys" (who played traditional Lao music just for me and were so unbelievably hospitable and friendly in Phonsavan), Waew and her son Jiab (that cared for me when I had pneumonia in Chiang Rai and took me to the hospital 3 times), the Thai Nurses when I was hospitalized in Chiang Rai.........and the list could go on and on....enjoyed everyone I met.

Most relaxing - the 2 days by long boat down the Mekong from Ban Houayxay to Luang Prabang.

Most scared - a tie- 

     *  the "Oh Shit" van ride from Louang Prabang to Phonsavan.

     *  the midnight tuktuk ride from the airport in Siem Reap to my hotel through all the unlit streets with Mr. Sarann.

Most surprisingly enjoyable afternoon - "The Boys" in Phonsavan, Lao.

Best pizza - Vang Vieng, Lao.

Most cosmopolitan, western - Luang Prabang, Lao.

Worst alcohol - either the plain or the flavored rice wine anywhere in Myanmar.

The most inexpensive country - Thailand.

Worst roads - Myanmar

Hottest - Cambodia.

Coldest - Thailand, Myanmar, LAO.  It was cold......as low as 40 degrees many nights.