On the Virtues of Taking the Slow Boat

In March of 2003, I left my life behind to travel.

I flew to Bangkok on the 3rd, and by March 27th, I was floating down the Mekong River on the slow boat next to a tall, mysterious fox in navy and green. You have two choices in the northern Thailand crossing into Luang Prabang, Laos: the slow boat takes two days in a leisurely drift, whereas the time taken by the fast boat can be measured in mere hours. With the fast boat, however, they hand you a crash helmet upon boarding, which sufficiently ensures the popularity of the slow boat, no matter the rush.

Within three days of meeting him, I fell treacherously in love.