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September 16, 2017 – 2:31 am

In this insightful gem, journalist and life coach Wanda Hennig writes wisely, hilariously and sometimes poignantly about sex and food; living for three-and-a-half years at the San Francisco Zen Center; moving solo from one continent to another; meditation; creative mindfulness strategies and more. Cravings: A Zen-inspired memoir about sensual pleasures, freedom from dark places, and living and eating with abandon (Say Yes Press). Edition Two (Mouth Orgasm edition) published August 2017 (ISBN 9780996820523 paperback; ISBN 9780996820523 eBook).

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Articles tagged with: boomer travel Laos

Spicy sisterhood stirs gourmet halaal in Durbs

March 28, 2023 – 10:05 am
Chilli Chocolate Chefs

Creativity, passion and their Muslim faith inspire chef sisters Zainab and Faatimah Paruk. Their success is flavoured by Durban’s diversity.

Laos 25: Cheers to Luang Prabang, 3 Nagas and Mango Garden

August 30, 2016 – 5:12 am
Or Lam bamboo in Luang Prabang.

It says “traditional Lao stew” on the Mango Garden restaurant menu. They do themselves an injustice saying on the menu that the dish has sweet basil, coriander, spring onion, chili, young eggplant — and I choose the beef for the meat option — period. It is, in fact, a pretty good version of the Lao specialty, Or Lam, which the manager admits to when I ask her and point out the wood ear mushrooms, the twist of lemongrass and the yard-long beans.

Laos 23: Massage and monk chat

August 27, 2016 – 10:54 am
Luang Prabang monks.

When I see a young monk sitting at a little table inside a temple ground reading, I smile and he smiles and says Hello across the short distance and the wall. And tells me he is practicing his English and invites me to come and check the book he’s taken from the library. His English is good and his name is Bakh and he says he became a monk to get an education and he is turning 19 the next day. He is from a Mekong village where they had no high school.

Laos 21: Cafe Ban Vat Sene Luang Prabang and how to travel solo

August 12, 2016 – 9:34 am
Delilah's pancake Luang Prabang

Almost stop in at a place called Chill. But not quite right, even though what “right” is, I won’t know, till I find it: a Lao breakfast menu at a pretty elegant place that also has a bakery. When I search I find it in my Rough Guide too. At Café Le Ban Vat Sene on Sakkaline Road I sit outside and order the Khai Jeun Jaeo Mak Len (omelet cooked with herbs and served with tomato relish, sun-dried beef and sticky rice) 30,000 kip and Lao coffee.

Laos 20. From Luang Prabang’s Delilah Cafe to Mount Phousi

August 10, 2016 – 7:29 am
Home repairs on the way down from Mount Phousi.

At Delilah’s Cafe in Luang Prabang I order the Rough Guide brekker suggestion. The banana pancake that comes with lemon, ginger and cream and a Lao coffee. Here, like everywhere, there is WiFi. (Sometimes I doesn’t work but for the most part does).

Laos 19. Snapshots of Luang Prabang and Laos

August 8, 2016 – 6:56 am
Luang Prabang umbrellas.

The first thing I notice when I strike out on my first Luang Prabang recce is the texture of the sound. It is, best way to put it, like a damper pedal has been pressed. The scooters are abundant and buzzing. They are one, two, three, four-up. Sometimes five. The streets are busy. But the noise… It is cut by several decibels compared to, I would say, everywhere I have been so far.

Laos travel 18: Mekong two-day slow-boat and Pakbeng

August 6, 2016 – 12:08 pm
Slow boat mom and kids.

In Laos on the Mekong slow boat to Pakbeng, there’s a boy of maybe eight. His mom makes sure he has an afternoon nap and later, it is he who helps his dad with the landings. This is their life. Their business. Their survival strategy. We are passing through, each of us on our own paths, living our lives; ours dissecting theirs for this brief intersection of time. The engine putters. We pass inpenatrable jungle and hide-away settlements.