More photos!!

Our scorpion friend who travelled with us in Eddie's backpack back to Bangkok


Eddie and Aidan, the 17-month old son of our friends Justin and Dana, with the Hong Kong skyline in the background



Eddie and I at the Peak in Hong Kong




Golden Buddha in Luang Prabang, Laos






We've found a bit of time in our very busy holiday schedule to post some photos. The last post was a bit rushed and I forgot some very important events, so we'll show you instead.

We visited several Buddhist temples (vats) in Luang Prabang, Laos, where apparently it is not taboo to photograph Buddhas, so we took the liberty just once. They say you can pray to the Buddha to forgive you for photographing his soul and it's ok. Hmmm....

When we returned to Chiang Mai, Eddie wanted to go see Muay Thai boxing and there just happened to be a fight that night, so I indulged him. I was a bit skeptical as it just doesn't seem right, as a health care provider, to watch people beating the life out of each other. The first match, I almost cried and then I got a bit more accustomed as the women and the nine year olds took the stage. It was a good experience, but one I don't think I need to have again. Eddie was happy to have the chance to take in the national sport.

Then we headed to Pai, where I really wanted to do yoga, which I did with one of the more colorful people we've met on our trip. We found Mama's Yoga studio and walked under lots of bells and tapestries into a bohemian bamboo and steel home to be greeted by the most flexible, 60 year old Thai Hindu yogini with dreadlocks down to her bell adorned feet. It was pretty amazing to watch Mama drop into the splits and contort in all sorts of very uncomfortable looking ways.

So when we got back to Bangkok, Eddie found that he had a hitchhiker. He opened his backpack and felt something funny. It was after he pulled the "critter" out that he realized it was a scorpion, which he thought was dead. However, after further inspection and when it's tail stood straight up, we realized he was alive and well and probably ready to attack at any moment. We sprayed him vigorously with DEET and watched him wither to a lifeless skeleton. It was a bit scary to say the least. We hope any further companions will present themselves first.

Ok, more later. Hope everyone is full of delicious holiday victuals! We are getting ready to celebrate Eddie's bday in a couple of days at the Big Buddha Ivery appropriate since Eddie's such a sweet little Buddha)and will write more later.

Peace, Laurie and Eddie