Living Well in Luang Prabang

Luang Prabang is a place I loved, and yet am unsure if I ever want to return to. A UNESCO World Heritage Site of around 50,000 residents, the town sits at the confluence of the Mekong and Nam Khan rivers. What makes it so appealing may also lead to it’s inevitable downfall, as more and more travelers flock to it’s serene banks. Inexpensive hotels and guest houses abound along with a variety of great restaurants, both international and of local Laotian cuisine. The thriving night market is made up of street after street of astonishing handmade goods, and the daily Alms offering to the monks is a highlight. All of this, combined with great natural beauty, makes Luang Prabang an easy to place to fall in love with.

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Meeting Dorothy Inglis

As the woman in front of us at Costco talked to Jim about her love of the memory foam pillows we were purchasing, I was fading in and out, thinking of what needed to be done when we arrived home and what to make for dinner. My fragmented mind suddenly heard the words “in my Roadtrek camper” and my attention returned to her like a laser beam.

On our way into the store, Jim and I had stopped outside to admire the gorgeous Roadtrek camper in the parking lot. Along with Tiger campers, Roadtreks are our top choice of “dream camper we can never afford without winning the lotto”. Now, in the checkout line, our exuberant pillow lady, turned out to be the owner of that amazing ride. I congratulated her on her beautiful camper and she proceeded to tell us how she sold everything several years ago and became a nomad. As we enthusiastically took in this news she said “the price of stuff  is your freedom”, and we literally were frozen in our tracks.

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The Joy of Long-Term Friends

We recently spent a long weekend with our friends, Ron & Dario and Dave & Anne. Having camped solo so far this year, it was an excellent reminder of the joy of camping with friends. Shared meal preparation, good food and wine and conversations around the fire made for a relaxing and enjoyable weekend. We’ve known all of these friends for years, shared triumphs and tragedies, and often words were not necessary, the mere presence of longtime friends was enough.

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