Apocalypse Lao

So almost two weeks ago we packed up our little West Perth semi-detached to move to Vientiane, Laos. Laos. Apparently with an 's'. It's between Thailand and Vietnam and Cambodia and China and Burma. Asia, man.

The whole move - from Tom applying for the job that got us here to manic city/site visit to goodbye parties to getting on a freakin' plane with a one-way ticket (and my puppy dreams being dashed, but we won't dwell on that) - only took about 8 weeks in total. Strangely though life in Perth seems like an age ago and while we have been slowly settling in over the last few weeks this feels like some weird holiday-limbo where any second we'll be leaving again to go home. I think it's because we are living pretty much on top of each other in a studio apartment which has a pool and daily cleaning service etc. Hotel life! With no room service. Boo! But you can buy beer (Beer Lao of course) for under $1 from the pool area. Yeah!

Truthfully, it's been pretty cool so far. It's not as humid as this blog may suggest so I have been enjoying reasonably good hair days. We have been getting by alright with our 'Sabaidee' (hello) and 'Kop Chai' (thank you) and big, overly enthusiastic smiles which I'm hoping endear us to the locals who are just lovely. We're feeling so relaxed we've even nicknamed the Mekong River (or the Mighty Mekong as it's called by many, apparently) the Kong.

I'm definitely still in honeymoon mode with the city: the appeal of the Asian street grit hasn't worn off yet. God, I LOVE Asian street grit - all overgrown greenery, trash being swept to the side by those bamboo brooms, rattan bins, broken drain covers - yeah. We have also been getting into the ultra-cheap-and-tasty food... actual Chaisan (cheap Asian food) where giant bowls heaped with fresh noodles and steamy pho cost less than $2 (!!). Chancing it at a few roadside diners, turning blind eyes to weird cats hanging around and swatting the occasional bug off a tabletop like seasoned pros. Don't worry guys, we'll take you to the best places when you come visit. 

We have even found time to be a little social. I've met some pretty cool people so far who I'm hopeful will become great friends. Yay! 

I know this whole move will become a reality as soon as we move into a house, and I'm excited to say that we may have found our total dream house... but no more details until the lease is signed and it's ours.  Next time perhaps I will regale you with my brief foray into the Lao real estate market. Here's a teaser: it involves lots of random babies in empty houses. Seriously. Shudder. 

The brooms!