So, two of our UGrad friends, Onee and Bea, left this week for the U.S. Our good friend Sai will leave on Wednesday and Tay on Thursday. I’m so sad… I’m going to miss them so much. Well, this is why Facebook is so great.

Saturday we all went to Dam Naa [plant rice] in a village near Vientiane.  Sandra was so enthusiastic about the whole trip along with our Lao friends, Nang, Noy, and Da. Right after planting the rice, we drove the opposite direction to the Buddha Park. Oh goodness, it was SO warm!! But do you know what I keep forgetting to do, but is the main reason I wanted to go in the first place? Getting my stick-fortune! First we climbed up a huge Hindu-Buddhist rock statue/structure to “Heaven” (the artist had created 3 floors with carvings to represent Hell, Earth, and Heaven). Then I remembered about the fortunes because I saw people doing them, but after coming down I was so preoccupied taking pictures of the sculptures that I forgot. I can’t believe myself. I’m so disappointed… The only place I’ve done the stick-fortunes was at Tham Thing in Luang Prabang. I missed doing it at PhouSi in Luang Prabang, and also at Buddha Park. So sad.

So when sending Bea off at the airport, we saw one of the Lao guys we met at the Outdoor French Music Concert the first week we were here. I don’t know why, but every time I meet someone who can play the guitar, I can’t help but be totally entranced. Maybe it’s because it’s the only instrument I ever wanted to play but typically fail at. But I really really wanted to learn! He’s so nice, we exchanged numbers and he agreed to give me 2 lessons before he leaves to go back to Singapore. I’m so excited!! So my first lesson is on Monday at 4 [after Lao class]. Wish me luck. What’s sad is that the reason I only get 2 lessons is because the day he’s leaving is the day after Sai leaves and before Tay leaves. But hopefully he’ll teach me to play a goodbye song for Tay. HOPEFULLY.