"Live the Cover!" Contest: Thailand

Great Travel Moment

After a 3-day trip up the Mekhong amidst water buffalo and floating villages, the arrival in Luang Prubang was a breath of landed relief. A day of French-run cafes and shopping at the day market left us ready for adventure, we'd headed off to the waterfalls a ways out of town. On the way back, sheer exhaustion, coupled with an unruly throttle, drove our rented Honda Dream scooter off the dirt road and into a ditch, leaving us relatively unharmed but rattled and frustrated - not to mention blazed by the harsh tropical sun.The view of these three monks on an afternoon stroll with their matching umbrellas gave us renewed faith that civilization and help was close enough, and a reminder to take a deep breath and let the country's spirit of"no worries" rule the day. We followed that Eightfold Path right back into town.