I have been somewhat under the radar the past couple of weeks. A combo deluxe of lurgey (a bronchial bleurgh), intense work schedule and travel. This evening I am peeking out of the void gently and gingerly.
Last Friday evening I arrived home, shook my sleeping travel bag and hastily threw in the essentials I would need to be away for 11 days. I am becoming so blasé about travel, I really do fear that I will land in Bangkok one of these days without the essentials. Particularly bank cards which I do not use in Yangon. I have even had nightmares about this, and have no idea how on earth I was deal with the situation if it did arise, so I send myself text messages and emails to remind me!
Early Saturday morning, I again sipped my departure cup of tea, zipped and closed the travel bag, checked ticket, passport and those essential bank cards, and waved goodbye to hubby and doglets. This time I was to transit Bangkok and travel onwards to Vientiane, Laos. The distance is not great, but connections are not great either so it takes the best part of a day to get to Vientiane, so I was very glad to reach safely and without any interference in the form of storm clouds this time.
This is the first time I have been back to Vientiane since my first visit 12 years ago so I have been looking forward to the trip. Unfortunately, some reprise or new lurgey descended not long after I arrived and all of my energy has gone into the day work and I have not yet had the strength or energy to visit the city and see how much it has changed. So the photo below is not one of mine! It is a Lao tourism pic, just to give a flavour while I regroup enough to venture out and about.
Vientiane, Lao
While I have been ploughing on and trying to banish feeling rough, I have received something very exciting. Something which made me squeal with excitement and not quite jump, but at least animate me! The Dragonfruit Anthology is getting more real! Our editor, Shannon Young, has received a REAL copy of the book, with REAL PAPER PAGES. How exciting is that?! Our contributor copies will arrive soon, and then be sent on to us and then I will be able to hold the book in my own hands!
This is what it looks like!
The BOOK!
Dragonfruit Anthology
It is now only 11 days until 10 June, when our Dragonfruit Anthology (as we affectionately call our book) will be published!
I am not sure how many images I will be able to take of Vientiane, but I can guarantee one thing – I will be unbearable when I have my own copy in my hands and there will be MANY images of Dragonfruit!
Very exciting, indeed!! I hope it helps you feel better soon so you can visit all those lovely locations around you. Rest up. 🙂 ~Catherine
Thanks Catherine – yes, it has been a boost, certainly psychologically 🙂 I have a couple of hours free this morning so hoping to have a gentle explore 🙂
dear philippa,
I am over-the-moon thrilled for you, soon to have a real copy of the book in your hands! I hope you got to have your gentle explore and I hope that yucky lurgey is soon departed. oooooo, More Dragonfruit!
much love,
Karen xoxox
Thank you so much, Karen, I am squealy-keep-pinching-myself excited about it! The :Launch date is 10 June and I will have all the details here. It will be on Amazon and in paperback but not yet sure where the real book will be available.
Love, sunshine and more dragonfruit to you 😉
xxx
Congratulations, Philippa!! I’m hoping I can purchase this book. Sounds fascinating!
Thank you so much, Beth – I know that you will understand what a Big Deal this is! I will have details for the launch date – it will be on Kindle for sure… There are stories in there which I know will resonate with you xox
By the way, feel better soon!
Thank you – this week has been garbage – in such a lovely place and struggling to get through the days. Today has been a bit better and have ventured briefly outside 🙂