My last two weeks in Laos took me and my childhood arch nemesis north to Muang Ngoi, a little village surrounded by other little villagers. Who or what was this childhood arch nemesis, you say? What noun dares rival this story more than the beautiful green, limestone mountains, the simple laughing village children and the cushioned hammock of eternal sloth?
Ants. Ants were my childhood nemesis for reasons that can only be whispered because of the fear that wraps itself around me and sets: strangulation mode. From a five year old perspective I couldn't quite articulate the reasons why I dreaded these 'apparently' innocent insects. Well now I have it. They are all cloned workers working tirelessly, under order of the Queen without so much as a day off or an antenna massage. And not only are there billions upon billions of them but with one ants communication to its posse of where the goods are they are able to invade any sized space and take it over if they so wished it.
There were so many varieties that could be with you on every occasion. There was the regular black household-sized ant that is so commonly seen on the kitchen bench in Australia, the bull-ant minus the pincers, a red ant that really wants to be the size of a bull-ant but doesn't cut it size wise and the worst one of all (a new one for me) the tiniest ant that you could ever imagine before it got down to needing a microscope. This one in particular in Laos crawled into every visual platform that one could spy: computer, bed, clothes, books, dinner plate - every big thing, those little darn devils were there.
I'm not sure if it was the sheets of rain that ushered them inside or the pressure cooker sun roasting every tourist that had them actively sourcing me, but I have lost count in my killing spree.
I will now that I am leaving for Bangkok to obtain my visa for India, recover and attempt to write you more memorable stories that will darn your heart into a pair of baby pink socks.
For now though....
Keep smiling and jiving!
xxx
Sounds like Chinese..
ReplyDelete