New Year eve

 

December 31 2022 – A dam on the Mekong

 

I'll get pictures for this when i get stronger WiFi

Another day of little occurrence. It is New Year’s Eve and it seems like it is a big deal to almost all the people on this boat except for me. Last year on this same day, and probably next year will be the same. I fail to see what the big hullabaloo is. Even the boats cast is offering a special dinner the included steak and free wine for everyone, regardless of financial outlay. I’ll let them have their artificial celebration and maybe at 2pm tomorrow I’ll celebrate, when it is midnight at home.

Last night was a little rough in the sleeping department. Light chills and aches. 6Am magical elixir of caffeine and sugar got things mostly on the right path. The vessel's plan was 630am departure and a village or two stop and hopefully 330pm at the dam to get on the lock up before the 4pm closing.

Well the thick morning for put the end to that exciting day. What is it? Man plans, God laughs. Well you could hear the guffaws from the coming from the clouds this morn. Around eight it had cleared enough that we could see across the river and enough that we could safely (?) navigate.

The rest of the morning was motoring alone the river and motoring along the river, etc, etc. I listened to two life stories and got bored with that as so started my stopwatch and timed each of the lap walkers. It was neck and neck fr a while between the Canadian and the Swiss. In the last final seconds the Canadian edged ahead of the Swiss by Gnome.

Then there was lunch, where I am not certain that the passengers were eating because they were hungry, or out of boredom. As has been the previous lunches it was the size of dinner for most people, except Americans. After that we slid onto the bank for a village tour. I don;t think this one was any better or worse that the previous one. Vieng kept this walk more about the village and less about being children’s Willy Wonka of candy at the conclusion of the walk.

The river bank was steep and all alluvial sand. The crew was good enough to cut foot holds into the sand and the path was lined with the entire ship’s compliment stationed just far enough apart of form a human bucket brigade to pull each of us up the bank.

The two highlights for me was the distilled rice wine tasting and … Yesterday had been a big celebration and there was of course still a few men helping to clean up that was left of the party. By that I mean, they were sitting in the shade, swapping lies and downing shots. It came time for my trial by liquid fire and I got a Ladies size of a pour, which was about a shot glass full. I took a sniff and found it completely odorless as well as ice clear. Everyone was watching me, my fellow tribe mates, the locals and the crew. I thought a sip would not be in the spirit of the occasion so tossed it back like a Russian sailor on shore leave. I didn’t get an ovation, but I do feel I was at least entertaining.

Of course the tribal members was ‘Sah Be Dah”ing and one they passed . I bet even a few of them said hello to the pigs in Lao. I am minding my own business, not Sah Be Dah anyone an a late elementary school girl came over and said “Hello” Wow! She knew Hello and goodbye. She didn’t know “Name” yet, but she got the concept and after “My name is Theresa”, she came back with “My name Mong”. I thought she deserved more than a sah be dah,, or Kop Jai. (Thank you). I gave her my pen and she Kop Jai med. Then she walked a few steps away and tested it on her hand. Luckily it worked. -- gave a pen to a boy years ago and he wrote on his hand. It was a new pen and did not write, and he told me. I just need the friction of a piece of paper to get the ball to do that first bit of a roll to get the ink to start flowing. I whipped out my Lonely Planet an found a blank page and mimed scribble here. “Oh, no Madam!!”. It took some convincing him it was alright to write in my book. It was MY book! To both of our satisfaction the pen came to life and scribbled in the book. --- back to the village. Five minutes later Momg handed me a flower, and her posse also added a few more. My cynical self said she wanted something else, but all I has was cash. No more pens absolutely nothing. They hung around until we got back on the boat. I’ll have to buy 10 pack of pens at the next city we come to.

Then we were back motoring up the river. I found a unclaimed chaise and stretched out and zoned out. Three thirty came and went so we missed the boat elevator and on we chugged. We stopped in view of the damn dam and here we sit.

New Year’s Eve dinner was special with actual steak. The chef got an ovation after the meal. I am still on the ‘Let’s not get more of Theresa” program o stuck to appetizer and soup.

Now the boom box is cranked up and the girls are dancing with the girls, just like in High School. I should take over dj’ing the choices are questionable.