Well, I am here in Bangkok trying to figure out the next step in my journey. I need to get to Chiang Mai and then to head over to northern Laos, and I just got a ticket this morning to travel on November 1, although oddly not without the kind assistance of my parents. The clock is ticking until I need to get to the That Xieng Tung festival in Muang Sing. I just want to make sure I get there in plenty of time, because I worry a bit about finding accommodations during a big festival. I think it is a great thing that I have been able to stay with my friend Eleanor here in Bangkok, but perhaps it has made me a little lethargic in getting myself together to move on. Oh well. All that will result from my slowness is a more expensive ticket up north. I guess after that I will have learned my lesson and will have to be more practical in the amount of money I spend on travel. I can’t be too hard on myself – I have a lot to recover from now that I am out of Los Angeles as well. Keep your fingers crossed for me to settle into a place in Chiang Mai easily. I suspect it will be no problem, but I do often make things harder than they need to be.

Thanks to everyone for the emails. I do love hearing from home and am thankful each day for all of the good friends that I have.

I have added a couple of other LA photos. This is probably more for me than for anyone else, so when I am out and about I can look at my blog and be reminded of good ol' Los Angeles. Of course, it probably is fun for others who do not live in LA to see its beautiful side.

another LA sunset