Every birthday, for as long as I can remember has been shared with my family, my grandparents, and my close friends..in my home, surrounded by so much love. And every year on my birthday when everyone is celebrating me, I have felt so lucky and so blessed.
And now, this year, a world away from home, away from any family and friends I am celebrating my birthday. Although, I miss my family and wish to be with them, I wish to hug my parents and my sister and see my grandma smile as she talks about the day I was born.
But still this year, like every other, I am so lucky and incredibly blessed.
Because I am here; In Laos, living my dreams.
I AM living a dream and with the person that I love. I am here on my birthday, smiling, experiencing, learning, loving and laughing with the person that I love. There is no greater gift than that.
We decided for the 16th to do a Mahout elephant adventure/project. Mahout means a person who trains elephants and they are able to communicate, control and care for elephants.
The project pays to support the elephants and the level of care they receive and gives some proceeds to the Mahout and their families.
Mahout
So, Shaun and I both became official Mahouts for the day and were given our very own elephant to learn to communicate with. We learnd to give commands such as: to stick their leg out so we could climb up onto their neck. Then once on their neck we would move their ear with our feet and tell them to move to the right/left in the direction we wanted them to walk. We fed them, pet them and played with them and the other Mahouts.
In the afternoon we were able to bathe the elephants, which was our favorite part. We rode them into the river where they were very playful as they dunked us under and and blew water at us. We were slipping off the elephants back and swimming. We laughed so hard the entire time, the elephant would grab Shaun's legs ( while Shaun was on his neck ) by its ears and go under taking Shaun with him! Shaun would scream and then be under water and then come up laughing. What a great day!
Later that night, Shaun surprised me with a romantic Indian dinner. He had a table reserved, with a bottle of wine ready and some yummy dishes pre-picked. The dinner was delicious and he even had a slice of cake with candles for dessert!
Speaking of surprises, the day BEFORE my birthday Shaun was acting funny.. He dragged me around town for 20 min trying to find a 'ticket' he insisted we needed. Then we walked through a luxurious restaurant and into a spa where I was welcomed by a Lao man who was wishing me a happy birthday! I was clueless! I had to say goodbye to Shaun and he took me into the back for a 2 and 1/2 hour massage!! Half of the massage was an oil relaxation and the second was a traditional aroma steam bath massage (where they use steam bath balls filled with herbs) I loved both, they were both very relaxing. I couldn't believe Shaun had all that planned, but then again it is Shaun and he always has something up his sleeve. He really gave me a wonderful birthday, I am one lucky girl. Thank you again Shaun. xo
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