I pull another leech off my leg as Lan, my guide, sprays it with a lemongrass and water mixture he carried in a fanny pack. “You just donated blood to nature,” he says, laughing. I’m unbothered by the little leech. I’m walking in the jungle of Laos on a day when the heat isn’t insufferable…next to elephants. And all thanks to the conservation efforts of Mandalao.
Read MoreI was surprised for my birthday with my inaugural night back in Laos spent at My Dream Boutique Resort. The little jungle getaway lies away from the tourist side of town and right on the river, making it feel like a hidden oasis. The driver that picked us up from the airport asked if it was our first time in Luang Prabang and we both kind of laughed to one another. No, it definitely was not. Upon learning that Luke formerly worked at the free Children's hospital and that it was my birthday, the man insisted that our accommodation be upgraded. And that's what lead to me having a Mowgli-style birthday.
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