You know, there's nothing more aggravating than loading myself into the wheelbarrow, navigating the insane traffic and hills in the wheelbarrow, and arriving to the wheelbarrow lane at the border only to find it closed.

Hmm, I'd ask you to bring some of the dried frogs, but I've got all I can use right now.

Be careful with your back!

I think that the chicken is back at home telling the young teenage chickens the scary story about Boof, the Chicken Tingler.

They have guilty looks on their faces, I'd say...

Those eyes!

Perhaps the lingering effect of a nightmare about The Tingler?

Yes!!

I had earplugs in this year and heard nearly nothing.

My favorite sound to bring in the new year.

I'm taking a screenshot of this and saving it with our January photos.

You look mahvelous!

And happy. 🌞

Wow! I love the angle of this shot.

If you had asked your readers to guess the location, I think 'hotel room' would not have even made my list.

Your bikes are the *most* festive of all the festiveness happening here.

If you think so the Tingler will find you.

And all of those factors are still in play, but definitely muted at this point. We are in an area with very little food because of the New Year holiday, but suddenly Peng is making us fried rice. All is well.

I haven't checked in to read what you are up to for a long time, but your writing brought it all back home in an instant. Heat, anxiety, getting your travel legs while actually traveling, I feel all of that with you. And then you stick the landing. You are safe, you have each other, you are doing what you love in your own way. Thanks for my midwinter warm-up.

That's awful!

Horrifying!

I never thought of that but you are right.