"SUMMER'S" OVER

We arrived in Nong Khai on December 9th and one week later it was time to leave. No big thing,we've done this many, many times before. So why was it so difficult to leave this time? Nong Khai was a nice city with lovely people, but it wasn't Nong Khai that was tough to leave, it was Mut Mee Guesthouse.

This place was different from any other place that we have stayed. It wasn't an accommodation, it was like a "summer" camp. Here in the common garden, we ate together, played together, socialized with each other and shared information. Not just our family, but everyone who was there. Age didn't matter, young interacted with old; background didn't matter, the French interacted with the Australians; marital status didn't matter, the singles fit right in with the families.

After reading our blog one day, our friend Dianna commented "Do you just ever take a week off to totally zone out, watch TV, or just do nothing?" Well Dianna, we didn't have a TV, or radio, or CD player...but we sure "zoned" out - all week!

We met so many wonderful people at Mut Mee, some with whom we had extended conversations with over multiple days; with others, it was in passing while waiting for a meal. These are just a few of the many people that made our week at Mut Mee memorable.


Charlotte and Erwan from Paris who left it all behind to travel for a year. Our paths will cross over 3 airports as we enter/exit the same city on the same day in Sydney, Auckland & Papeete. Hope we meet up with you somewhere!


Leslie and Dino from Ann Arbor, MI who we met in Luang Prabang and then again in Vientiane and yet again at Mut Mee (were you guys stalking us?).


Vince, Petra, Annouk and Norgca from Holland who have been on the road for 3 months now with their 5 and 3 year old daughters and were heading to New Zealand to see if they might like to settle down there.


Ben from NY/CA who is in Nong Khai to create a community garden and a healing center.


Cara, from Montreal, who after finally admitting she didn't like her job, fired herself, and took off to travel by herself. Hope to see you in New Zealand!


John and Shirley from Greece. They left it all behind in England to an old stone cottage on the island of Lefkada 7 years ago. They were out doing Thailand and Laos for 2 months.


Marta, Luis, Lucille and Carola from Spain. A lovely family who arrived the day we were leaving. How very sad. They quit their jobs and are doing an around the world with their 4 and 7 year old daughters. Hope to meet up with you in Sydney!

Thanks to each and every one of you who helped nourish our souls.