A few days ago in Vientiane (the Laos capital), I was feeling pretty frustrated. I don't know if it was because I was constantly changing cities, continually packing and repacking my bags, or attempting to be social and make plans with large groups, only to be frustrated by delays or changes or cancellations. Desiring a change from this miserable perspective, I started to think about what made me calm down and recenter: quiet time, coffee, and running.
I spent the morning just relaxing, taking some time to talk to my family back home, return a couple of emails and just generally settle my mind again. I read my book, drank some coffee, and kept reassuring myself that it'd be fine... I just needed to relax and enjoy the new experiences with the strangers I was traveling with, and if things weren't going to work out, that I just needed to walk away and venture out on my own.
As a way to find that sort of centre again, I started flipping though my LP travel book and browsing the internet, looking for running routes I could maybe do along the Mekong to help relax. After a few minutes, I came across a Vientiane running group named the Vientiane Bush Hash Harriers. I didn't know much about the group, but it said they had a Monday night open run and after checking the website for details, I got an address, found a tuk-tuk, and was on my way to the middle of the southern part of the city, VERY far from my guesthouse.
I arrived, checked in, paid the drop-in fee of about $7 and started milling around. People were still arriving here and there, so I just kinda kept to myself. One of the organizers chirped up a few minutes later, asking where my "Home Hash" was, and how long I'd been "hashing" for. Well, I just assumed this was a funky word for "running", so I said I ran at home with the PI Harriers in Victoria when there and that there wasn't much recreational running in DongBei, where I'm currently. She kinda pushed a little further, asking me if I'd "hashed" before. Again, thinking I knew what I was talking about, I said "only a little". It didn't take me long to figure out how wrong I was.
We had a little circle beforehand where they introduced each other, talked about the route and what to look for (look for??? huh???) and then we were off. But as we left the house's parking lot, no one knew where to go. Then someone spotted the "hash" (the marking made by the route creator) and so we started heading that way.
Well, it turns out that a "Hash" is not your regular running club. Hashes involve a member (oh... all members have their own personalized nickname... "Where's the beef?" was joining from Tokyo and "Mother Trucker" was the route maker) who sets a course using specific markers and symbols, and the other hashers have to problem solve and kinda seek out the route as the go. It's part treasure hunt, part run, and all fun. I was also the youngest person running by about 7 years, but that's not so important. We spent the next 75 minutes running and backtracking and searching for markers through the quiet streets of rural Vientiane, going through temples, back alleys, being chased by dogs and being waved to by kids and local adults alike.
After finishing up the run, we cooled off with some water and snacks before the "Circle In" was called. The "Circle In" consists of everyone introducing themselves (if they're not local members), evaluating the route, making fun of eachother, hassling each other, and then after every series of witty remarks, the people under the spotlight are treated to a song and the expectation that they chug a half glass of beer. This is after running 10k. Not what I expected. But most of you know me well... "When in Rome..." :)
We spent almost an hour going round and around the circle, making jokes, telling stories, and hassling each other. Afterwards, we were treated to more drinks and a homemade spaghetti and salad made by that week's running hosts. So amazing. I met some great people, one of which was a PYP teacher at the Vientiane International School who told me all about living and teaching in Laos and being married to a local guy. Pretty amazing.
Once the food and drink and sweating was done, I realized that I was supposed to meet MK, an English bloke who's been traveling with me for the past 10 or so days, and the Dutch girls we'd met on the slow boat from Thailand to Luang Prabang, Laos. So I thanked everyone for the fantastic time, bought a club t-shirt, unwittingly agreed to return in April for a crazy bike race, and took off.
It was such a fantastic way to recharge, and I couldn't wipe the grin off my face after I met up with my traveling crew. You can be sure I'll be seeking out Hasher families in the future to tag along with. The only drawback was the nearly 2 hour walk I needed to make back to the centre of the city because no taxis or tuk-tuks existed in that area of town. If I wasn't sweating so much here, I'd be wearing my new souvenir shirt for the rest of vacation.
T
No comments:
Post a Comment