Dengue in town

Living a simple life here. No air conditioning – just acceptable. No hot water – just acceptable too. There is a laundry machine. The TV is broken, there is no internet – good, it makes me read more. Murakami, Coetzee, Dutch author Verstraten’s book about Korea. To read and write email I go to a coffee shop offering wifi – usually every other day, for a couple of hours. Seems a carefree existence.

But there is dengue in Luang Phabang, someone has died already, he had just turned 18. Laos is often a hearsay country. ‘There are many more victims already, especially in the village across the river.’ ‘The hospital is often full and can’t admit people.’ Clear and solid information is hard to come by.

A car with a sound system drove through town to warn the people. My friends keep their young daughter indoors as much as possible. Outside she is covered in mosquito repellent.

In town people don’t seem bothered by the threat. They wear shorts, T-shirts and sarongs – no clothes that will protect against mosquitoes.

Born as a worrier I wear long pants and socks – all day, every day. They have come to spray the garden (10.000 Laotian kip = 1 euro per household, unless you can proof you are poor), but that makes me wonder which poison it contains and what harm that may do me.

Always something.

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