MOSQUITOES 101

Today while traveling in the van

Glenn showed just how fast he can

Catch mosquitoes in the air...

With one hand! None can compare!

(He caught 8 with only one miss!)

Photography by Glenn

1. Mosquitoes live in our stair well because there isn't a breeze to push them out. The air in there is still and warm and a little humid. There are a few plants in there where they like to congregate.
2. Mosquitoes are attracted to dark colors, preferably black and navy blue.
3. Mosquitoes like to hover around windows and doors and look for openings where they can sneak inside.
4. Mosquitoes like water. They sit on the drain of a sink, in a little drop of water until someone runs the faucet and they fly out as fast as they can. Be armed and ready.
5. Mosquitoes like to sit in the shower after someone has finished showering, like sitting ducks, you might say.
6. Mosquitoes will hide in your closet if you keep your closet open. Then, if you don't shut the closet door, they will fly out after you shut out the lights and go to bed. Don't let this happen.
7. Mosquitoes love to hide in curtains because there they look practically invisible. Hit the curtains then kill them as they fly off.
8. Mosquitoes are much more capable of quick changes in flight patterns than house flies are.
9. When confronted, mosquitoes usually fly straight up or straight down so you can't guess where they'll be when you swat at them. Now you know...you have 50/50 chance of being right.
10. Mosquitoes can give you diseases like Malaria, Dengue Fever and more if they are infected and bite you.

11. On Sundays, we are the only ones in and out of our apartment. So, on Sunday nights we have very few mosquitoes. On other days we have people in and out several times a day. This makes for many mosquito intruders in our apartment by nightfall. So, Sunday is a day of rest.
12. At Christmastime, the mosquitoes in our apartment liked to hide in the branches of the Christmas tree. So I shook the branches with my left hand and swung the zapper with my right hand.
13. Mosquitoes smell just like burning human hair when they are frizzled by a mosquito zapper. I have a zapper that looks like a tennis racket. They call me ace.
14. The trick to zapping a mosquito is to keep your eyes on it and never let him leave your sight while preparing to zap it. If you do lose him out of your sight....you lose. Man, he's gone. He may find you before you find him again.

15. Mosquito repellent is man's best friend when it comes to avoiding malaria and dengue fever.
16. Mosquito's hate direct sunlight. They lurk in the shade.
17. Mosquito's like florescent bulbs in stairwells. That's where they dance while waiting to enter our apartment.
18. Mosquitoes LOVE hiding in laundry that is hanging on the line. Shake all laundry profusely before bringing it in the house, especially the dark colored clothing.
19. Mosquitoes like the spaces behind dressers, headboards, bookshelves, night stands and cupboards.
20. Mosquitoes like you a lot more than you like them. You may think you have rid yourself of mosquitoes and later find that the one you didn't find is the one that finds you.
21. Mosquitoes are attracted to the sound of an electric toothbrush. I'm pretty sure it's the mating call. So, if you turn off all the lights except the bathroom, go into the bathroom and begin brushing your teeth, you can swat with your right hand and brush your teeth with your left hand.

22. If you have a computer that makes a high pitched soft sound, mosquitoes will be more apt to be attracted to that devise. Take advantage of that.
23. Mosquitoes hate fans. They fly away to escape them. This is a good piece of information to have. Also, mosquitoes have no fans. Get it?
24. Mosquitoes aren't very happy if the air conditioning is working well. They like it hot.
25. You've been warned, now go out there and kill a mosquito or two. 

This has been a public service announcement.

GOT DEMONS?

Madame Tussaud's got wax
From London to L.A.
But in Laos, a Buddha Park
Is eerier than they.

This was the first thing we saw as we drove up. The only way inside was through the mouth.

Going in

She came out in one piece. Maybe I'll try. 

Here's a close up of the dancers just outside the entrance of the globe.

Inside the globe.

Inside the globe looking down, half way up.

 

Wider view from the top

Reclining Buddha?

You're in Asia now

I wonder what it all represents. I am at a loss to know except that the cobras over the heads of royalty are protecting them.

This is a view from the small exit you crawl out of when you climb up the center of the globe.

Inside the core of the globe are three levels. This is to represent Heaven. It is the top inside level.

 

This middle one represents earth life we are living. Notice they all have serpent bodies.

This one represents Hell. Many are being held by their hair and are being tortured. Creepy.

This statue is holding a young woman. Her hair is hanging down on the right.

No words.

Still no words.

This is a bigger reclining Buddha than the one at That Luang.

A couple of relics. This was a very fun preparation day. We rode here in a little tuk tuk and it took at least an hour each way. Much of the ride was on a dusty road.

  Our tuk tuk driver and our new friends, the Stewarts from Alberta, Canada. They are missionaries in Mongolia. They were assigned to check out the medical facilities here so we know what to do if we get sick. I'm glad we're here in Laos. It's cold in Mongolia. We thawed them out and sent them on their way, warmer.

WAY DOWN UPON THE NAM NGUM RIVER

"How about a little lunch," he said,
In the quaintest little spot.
Have you ever seen the likes of this?
I'll bet you'd say, "I've not."

This is on the Nam Ngum River

The river is low now. Sometimes the floating restaurant rises to sit where this garden is now, a lot higher on the shore.

We had just signed an agreement to put in a well for a school nearby

We had two more schools to visit after lunch.

This was such a nice place to stop.

The last time they were here it was raining.

But today was perfect.