My Friends on The Amazing Race

Patara Elephant Farm was on "The Amazing Race" this week.  It was wonderful to see my elephant friends as TV stars.  The race was in Chiang Mai and the challenges were set near APIS.  Several participants had to collect frogs in a rice paddy, right next to APIS and below the restaurant I called the rice paddy.  Other groups had to measure the dimensions of the elephants and then calculate their weight.  Great fun.  Season 30 Episode 9 (I think- close to the end of the series) in case any one watches The Amazing Race.

A hot bike ride

Yesterday's training ride for next month's Team Dai Challenge was fun, but long and hot.  Karen was slightly heat stressed and had to get home to relieve her child minder.  So we stopped in a small village and hailed down a song taew (communtity taxi).  The driver loaded her bike on to the roof after he had loaded in the bag of chickens and box of ducklings the local passengers wanted to take with them into Vientiane.

It was 34 C and after midday and we had been out since 7.30 and covered over 100km. No wonder we were all hot and exhausted.

Thank you very much to those who have donated to support our ride for the Association of People Living with AIDS/HIV.  All donations welcome HERE

Mekong Market Garden

A woman with character and style walking along a lane in market gardens near the Mekong downstream from Vientiane.

Pillion Riding

You have to admire Laos ingenuity and design.  Saw this office seat as pillion seat attached to a motorbike out in the countryside near the Mekong. 

Wedding Season

Its wedding season in Laos and Vientiane.  A typical scene is to see the street blocked for a wedding party like this with photos, flowers guests and tables under a marquee over the road.

Team Dai Challenge - Go Fund Me- Please

Next month I am off an another crazy and challenging adventure - cycling 400km over 4 days.  As usual I will be one of the slowest in the group but I am sure I will make it.  I have been training, but a bout of bronchitis has limited preparation.  

We are running a raffle here in order to raise funds through for the Association of People Living with HIV/AIDS here in  Laos.  A marginalised and needy community here.

Please support the cause and my ride, not by buying a raffle ticket, but making a donation on our Gofund me page.

TEAM DAI GO FUND ME PAGE

Birds and Lilies

The bird life at the Red Lotus Sea was rich and diverse.  I saw more birds in one hour there than I have in the last year in Vientiane.  This (egret? heron? ) was very regal.