Then as usual I head up to the viewing platform near Buddha’s footprint and run into Darkel (who I find out his real name is Keota) He is excited to see me and asks me to visit his temple so we get a tuk tuk and head off.
He gives me a tour of the temple and we spend a couple of hours in the prayer hall under the watchful eyes of Buddha talking and teaching each other.
It is almost noon and the Buddhists cannot eat after midday so we go to his room for lunch, he asks if I want some but the stench alone leaves me saying no thank you. He gives me a book in Lao with English translation that is a short dictionary of religious and Buddhist terms, very educational, not something you will find in any book store.
Keota wants to wear my glasses to look "smart". He smiles constantly until the camera is turned on.
The rubbish filled alley way to Keota's temple and kids playing marbles in the street.
After lunch he takes me to the markets and asks if I can buy him some ovaltine which I do then we visit another temple near by that has another Buddha footprint!
After several photos which he would like me to email to him (yes a lot of them have a computer in their room and are always asking for my email address) Scott if you had any idea when you first set up my email address fifteen years ago of the look I get from these novice monks when I write down "monkboy" ...........priceless!!
It is approaching twelve thirty now so we must head back into town so Keota can begin his afternoon lessons. We hail down a tuk tuk and say our farewells while he goes to class and I hunt down a hamburger with the stench of his lunch still in my nostrils.
Time for a nap and to try and catch up on the blog but before long Greg knocks on my door. He got an early morning call the police were coming to the village so he got an early boat back. His papers are in order but it can still cost a westerner quite an amount of money for a bribe. So we swap some photos on my laptop then head out. Greg is going to get some photos printed and I am going to finally get a long over due massage.
About five i go to my sunset bar that was empty except for me and Ingrid last week but now is full, I ask if I can join two German girls at their table to watch the sunset.
Greg joins us and after the sunset we head to an Aussie bar, Greg has heard they have bangers and mash and is desperate to try them, I have the parmigiana, the best I’ve had in South East Asia so far, the place is run by an ex-pat.
Exhausted and over eaten we walk back to the main street where we say good bye and I pass out watching TV.
