Happy New Year from the Mekong River!

The Lynch family is on an adventure and we want to share it with you.  We want to bring you along for our journey to Laos and Thailand and share with you all the beautiful and exotic people and places along the way.  Laos was recently named the number one travel destination for 2008 by the New York Times - of course, we've long known the wonder and beauty of Laos - our sister company Kipling & Clark has been creating custom itineraries for our clients to Laos and Thailand for many years.  My wife and I decided to bring our daughter Zen and her cousin Sofie on a whirlwind journey here.  You can check out all the details on our blog at: http://www.kiplingandclark.blogspot.com 

Meantime, here are a few highlights from our first few days:

We have just boarded the Luang Say Cruise Vessel from Luang Prabang for a two-day cruise on the Mekong River to the Thai border and onto Chiang Rai.

I must tell you about the Maison Souvannaphoum Hotel in Luang Prabang.  Although less luxurious and small scale than Le Residance Hotel, Maison more than makes up with high touch, friendly, intimate service among its genuinely sincere staff.  We always love participating in the 6:30am rice offering to the monks down the street from the Maison Hotel.  Many of the monks are so young: 5, 6, 7 years old. 

Our Southeast Asia trips always include visits to local primary schools; Zen and Sophie brought plenty of notebooks and pens and gave them to the local Luang Prabang 1st grade class.  The girls also joined in some local songs with the students.

Our family also participated in a Baci Ceremony from the local village, it included a welcome speech by the elder with dancing and songs.  All the elders of the village tied strings around our wrists to welcome us and ward off the bad spirits.  Here's the interesting fact about the string - you must keep it on your wrists for three days before untying.  It's for good luck.

When you travel to Greater China and Southeast Asia as much as I do, I am keen on noting the best airport hotels.  Novotel Suvarna Bhumi Airport Hotel Bangkok is among the most beautiful airport hotels we have stayed - plus it has a fabulous pool!

Due to the low value of Laotian currency, use only U.S. dollars in Laos, it is accepted everywhere. 

For more details about our journey so far, check out: http://www.KiplingandClark.blogspot.com

In a few days, I'll have another update for you from a mystical remote village.

Meantime, I have a special message from Zen and Sofie:  "LIFE IS GOOD!"

Talk with you soon!

Randy Lynch