The Countdown Begins...

Eighty seven days to takeoff for my return trip to Laos. I will return to a land far away where my childhood memories have been silently buried for 36 years.

After a trip to Kauai earlier this year, where the dirt is brick red, the roosters run amok, and tin sheds dot the countryside, I was called back to a place I once called home. Laos.

I arrived in Laos in May of 1966, as an 8 year old child, soon to be a fourth grader. I returned to America in November of 1973, in the midst of my junior year of high school. It was more difficult returning to America than it was arriving in Laos. That's an entirely different blog. Stay tuned...

Today, just 87 days from departure, the final details of my trip are in my forefront. There are vaccines to finish up, a visa to acquire, electronics to purchase in order to record my trip, and allow me to plug my computer in properly, and finally, make a trip to the bank to exchange dollars to "kip" ($1 = approx. 8500Kip), so as to have money on hand when I arrive. I remember the exchange rate being $1 = approx. 500 Kip when I lived there. It seems this is going to be an inexpensive trip.

My trip begins on December 15th, 2009. I will depart from San Francisco International Airport via Japan Air Lines (Business Class round trip, thank God for miles), fly to Tokyo where I will have a short layover, and continue onto Bangkok, Thailand. I will arrive around 12AM, will need to clear customs, and head to a very inexpensive hotel near the airport, as I have an 11:45AM flight into Vientiane, Laos. I will arrive on December 17th around 1PM. I'm certain I will be overwhelmed with emotion and memories the second my face is exposed to the Laotian sunlight.

I will be blogging intermittently beginning with this first blog posting, up to my departure. I will then blog regularly from Vientiane, and Luang Prabang (Northern Laos where I hope to spend a couple of days).

I encourage you to join me on this journey. It's going to be an incredible trip!

Sabaidee,

Liz