2010 January ----- The journey into Cambodia was like every other bus ride and border crossing – pay an exit fee, pay to get a health card (at least now we know FOR SURE that we are healthy – they took our temperature...), pay for visa, pay for toilet, wait 2 hours after the driver... Continue Reading →
Laos – Don Dhet
2010 January 5 ----- Our night bus with ‘real beds’ began at 8:30 pm. We were picked up at our guesthouse (the Samsenthai) and the oversize tuktuk then picked up a few more passengers; all of us heading to Pakse via the “Sleeping Bus”. The bus had 24 ‘beds’. Here’s the kicker – they were... Continue Reading →
Laos – Vientiane
2010 January ----- Ed still seems to be somewhat lethargic and has low energy. However, on 30 December we headed off to Vientiane, south of Luang Prabang. We got our bus ticket from the agency and were told that a tuktuk would pick us up at 8:00 for the 9:00 bus. At 8:15 Irene went... Continue Reading →
Laos – Boat to Luang Prabang
2009 December 31 ----- We got up Christmas morning and met up with our fellow travelers again. Dirk had booked a slow boat to Luang Prabang the previous night. We boarded the 7 meter boat and began yet another 7 hour journey down the Nam Ou River to Pak Ou, where it joins with the... Continue Reading →
Laos – Luang Prabang
2009 December 25 ----- As evening approached, we arrived in Luang Prabang. We said goodbye to our travel companions of the last few days and settled into Philaylack Guest House (recommended by a couple of Aussie ladies in Nong Khiaw) then went for Christmas Dinner at the Coconut Sunset Restaurant. The name is as it... Continue Reading →
Laos – Road to Nong Khiaw
2009 December 24 ----- We left Luang Nam Tha on 24 December – Christmas Eve. We shared a private minivan with a Belgium family, for the sake of speed and comfort. Did I mention we were in Laos? What you think and what you get are not the same thing. Our 12 seat minivan that... Continue Reading →
Laos – Luang Nam Tha
2009 December 21 ----- We began our journey into Laos on 20 Dec. It was kind of like crossing from Alberta to Saskatchewan; you KNOW you crossed the border without ever seeing a road sign. The poor roads suddenly became worse, the rubbish in the streets more prevalent, and the buildings more shabby. We were... Continue Reading →
Thailand – Chiang Mai – Monk Chat & Tour
2009 December 19 ----- Thursday: Panom toured us around all day. We thought we had a nice time at the Monk Chat in Chiang Mai, well we spent all day on a Monk Chat with Panom. He first took us to his Temple where he was a resident monk for 10 years. His friend, who... Continue Reading →
Thailand – Chiang Mai – Elephants, Snakes & Tigers
2009 December ----- Monday: The hosts gave us 2 mountain bikes and a map. We rode about 6 Km to the tiger farm. We got to pet some and pat their bellies (which they love). One of the tigers must have felt Ed’s natural aversion to cats because it started to hiss at him. There... Continue Reading →
Thailand – Mai Rim
Tin Thai Ngarm Lodge 2009 December ----- We are staying in Shangri-La!! My last entry said we were going for Thai language lessons, and we did. That turned out to be very useful. She taught us some basic words and phrases that will be very useful going forward. Hello, Thank you, not a problem, see... Continue Reading →