Sabaidee all First of all, congratulations to those who got to the finalist - well done! Everybody must be looking forward to the (busy) weekends. Just before you do so. Laddavanh and Keo are here again to say hello to you and wish you a good weekend. What is love? is a million dollar question. By all means, there are hundreds of things you can refer to as love. You just have to ask Phouthone, our counsellor, he'll come up with 101 answers for you straight away. [Phouthone, hope you are getting better with your migraine now]. In this episode, one definition of love will be provided by our Nang Ek Laddavanh. Wonder whether our Pha Ek Keo would agree with it? In Part 4b, Keo will project his view on love - which may be something which I guess that most men would probably agree with. Unfortunately you have to wait until Part 4b before you (men) can say whether you agree with that or not. TheDeon [Mr Ant-Eater] So your gf did not like that rough thing on your chin? Well! women are like men you know, we are individuals, we like different things and we have different taste about men too. She'll change her mind (about the rough chin) when she gets older. Guy [Handsome jone (villain)] You wrote ( I love the lines that our pa-ek Keo is using...like "Because I am looking at the person in front of me, therefore I am full"..can I steal this one? :). You have already stolen Keo's clothes trade mark by wearing a pair of Khakhi trousers and a dark brown leather belt. So why not stealing his Jeeb Sao (courting) style as well? Let me know the outcome, OK? Phouthone [The Counsellor] Thank you for reading my novel despite your migraine headache. Thanks also for your positive feedback about my translation from Lao to English. Pom Thanks for your encouraging comment despite your busy schedule. Kongkeo I am still waiting for your comment. Please enjoy Part 4a. Part 4b will follow very soon. I just need to slow down a bit, my week has been absolutely crazy! The amount of work I did in one week should be equivalent to the whole month's workload. Hak Phaeng (Euay Pauline) To Paris with Love (part 4a) WHAT IS LOVE? - LADDAVANH'S DEFINITION A green van was running from Vientiane on Road No 13, heading South, until it reached the 21st Kilometre. It then turned left where there was a small sign with a pointing arrow "To è Lao Pa Ko". It wasn't too bad from Vientiane because the road was nicely sealed but after the left turn into a small street, the road started to be dusty and bumpy with large holes. The road was so bumpy the people in the van would feel that their intestines must have been all mucked up inside their tummy. When they got off the van they may have to jump up and down so that the intestines could get back to its place. Laddavanh joined the excursion to Lao Pa Ko, which was organised by her friends from Australia and from other countries - mainly those professionals who went to work in Laos. Keo was invited to join the group. Barbara, the owner of the van and who was also the driver, was from New York. The others were from England, Canada and Sweden. Usually, these people were able to speak both English and French. Some of them could speak Lao fluently and some could even write Lao better than an average Lao person. Barbara who had been living in Laos for many years said that travelling during the wet season could be very hard, it was therefore better to travel during the dry season. "Lao Pa Ko" was situated 50 kms from Vientiane. To get there, you'd have to drive to "Ban Somsamay", park there and go by boat along Nam Ngum River for about half-hour. "Lao Pa ko" was a resort specifically designed for foreigners. Why? Because those resorts looked nothing different from "Katoob" - with bamboo walls and hay roof. Why on earth would Lao people take such an adventurous trip and spend money just to come and stay at a Katoob? There were different types of rooms, which cater for single, double, twin beds and for big groups. A mosquito net was provided in every room, the best feature was the availability of westernised style flushed toilet in each Katoob. Apart from this, there was also a bar and a restaurant. At this resort, there was no TV, no telephones, all guests were also asked to switch off their mobile phones in order not to disturb other people. The owner of the resort was a German national who worked and lived there. He was also the bar attendant and the waiter at the restaurant. He said he didn't do it for profits or anything but mainly for love - the love of peacefulness, plus a nice residence and a bit of income. But the most important was, he would like his foreign friends to have a chance to witness the beauty and to taste the peaceful nature of Laos. Laddavanh couldn't help feeling touched that someone acknowledged the value of the nature of Laos. On the contrary, many Lao people prefer the opposite lifestyle, dancing and drinking in noisy nightclubs. When the group arrived at the resort and sorted out the room arrangement, they started to disperse to do their own thing because there was plenty of time before dinnertime. Some of them used the inflated car tyres to float themselves along Nam Ngum, well that was rather cool, but by the time they had to swim back they realised that it was too far a distance to swim against the stream. So they cheated by swimming to the shore and walked back instead. Shame on them! Xaykeo and Laddavanh separated themselves from the group and did some bushwalking to explore a bit of the environment. Not bad! Along the track, there were little maps, signs and arrows with brief information at each important spot - a compatible standard of national parks in Western countries. Along the small alley, a few villagers were making some fishnets. A scene like this was really pleasant and relaxing, which was different from the concrete jungle and high rises in Western countries. It was now the best opportunity for them to catch up with each other after twenty years apart. Walking side by side, they were talking and talking. When Laddavanh asked about his family, Keo told her that he had two grown up sons, one was studying in University and the younger one was doing a final year at high school. Keo and his wife, Phonemany, decided to live under the same roof until the younger son finished high school, they would then go their own separate way. Nowadays, it was a bit like that already because both of them always had to travel due to work commitment. They agreed to still live under the same roof for the sake of the children. The fact that they avoid to interfere in each other's life allowed them to manage the relationship reasonably well. In a sense, their current situation did facilitate their work success indirectly. For instance, if one had to travel, the other tried to schedule their time in such a way at least one parent stayed with the children. Laddavanh was very impressed about their civilised arrangement and compromise from both parties. "What about you and Thavisinh?" Keo asked. "We have been separated for many years now. Well, we managed to bump into each other once in a blue moon and we did say hello, no hard feeling, being a friend is better than being a foe to each other. Of course, we can't deny that there is still some bond between us because we used to be together for such a long time. But as for love, I don't think that we have any left for each other so what's the point of being suffered for both parties". Keo who had been listening very attentively, posed a question: "It's interesting to hear that you mention about 'love' as if you know the definition of 'love' very well. Can you please tell me what you think love is?". Laddavanh was speechless for a long while, he's right, people used the word 'love' too generously and sometimes not according to the real meaning. However, Laddavanh "the life philosopher" wouldn't give up that easily, so she managed to get an answer for Keo. After some thought, she cautiously provided the answer, the way a university lecturer, standing in front of a class, would do: "From my point of view 'love' is like anything else in the world. Love is subject to changes both in terms of definition and content and of course according to the time. For instance, when we were young as teenager, love may be referred to a strong liking or even to the point of doing something crazy for love. After some life experience and with age, especially speaking for myself, I think love is understanding, care and respect the needs of the other person and to give each other time and privacy. And very importantly, we should not think that the other person belongs to you because we don't belong to anybody in this world ." the philosopher spoke at length and the listener was also listening so attentively. "Keo, what about you, what do you think love is?" came the question from the philosopher. Keo looked so confident as if he had a perfect answer for her but somehow tried to avoid answering by saying: "I will give you the answer within 24 hours at the latest. At this stage I am still thinking of the most appropriate answer". The reply sounded so professional, thus Laddavanh decided not to pursue this matter any further . she didn't want to upset the love expert. Still walking side by side, they reached a small creek where they had to jump over. Keo helped her out by offering his hand. Her hand now in his hand . she felt the warmth travelling through to the deepest layer of the bottom of her heart. After breaking up with Thavisinh, she had enough with love to the point she didn't want to think about it. Certainly, loneliness was there, but it's not worth it to have to exchange loneliness with so much pain resulting from love. But the man whom she surrendered her hand in his strong hand right now was the most "special" man for her indeed for Laddavanh. He was her sweetheart childhood and has remained as her sweetheart since. Laddavanh held his hand tightly, she was scared that this hand would vanish as it used to be twenty years ago . Keo sensed that reaction so he squeezed her hand gently to confirm his existence. The sweet breeze in the evening was blowing gently, Keo and Laddavanh were drown in happiness . Both of them, being well educated and being professionals, they surely would have known that there were billions of people living in this world. But at that very moment . they felt like . in the entire world . there were only two of them . Keo and Laddavanh . only. (to be continued) P Phoumindr Sydney, 19 May 2000