Went to the beach today as it is finally sunny after being cloudy since we got here.
I now have a strange rash all over my body which does not look nice. Hope no-one recognises me.
Friday, 16 January 2009
Koh PhaNgan, Thailand 10th January 2009
Got here a few hours ago and it is so nice to be back. On and Adam have made lots of improvements to the place and Jack (the dog) has grown loads.
Looking forward to relaxings and chilling out.
Looking forward to relaxings and chilling out.
Bangkok, Thailand 8th January 2009
Arrived in Bangkok this morning after a terrible journey from Laos. When we got to the bus station from the islands, they said our tickets weren't valid because the agend hadn't booked them properly. All the staff then preceeded to dither until the bus was about to leave for the border so that they could stiff us over the ticket.
After ages arguing, I finally lost it and ended up calling the guy some very rude names. We then proceeded to get on the bus anyway and refused to pay any extra. Ha.
Then, our overnight bus to Bangkok was so packed that we couldn't get any sleep. I ended up having a major meltdown and a good few tears. Not a good few days.
On the plus side I did get to speak to Dad to wish him a happy birthday and also to Mum. That always makes me feel better.
After ages arguing, I finally lost it and ended up calling the guy some very rude names. We then proceeded to get on the bus anyway and refused to pay any extra. Ha.
Then, our overnight bus to Bangkok was so packed that we couldn't get any sleep. I ended up having a major meltdown and a good few tears. Not a good few days.
On the plus side I did get to speak to Dad to wish him a happy birthday and also to Mum. That always makes me feel better.
Don Det, 4000 Islands, Laos 6th January 2009
Today we actually moved from our hammocks and crossed the French Bridge onto Kon Khon and walked to the waterfalls which were very beautiful.
I also had to walk all the way into town because David 'Shuffle Joe', the dodgiest shuffler in town dropped half the cards into the Mekong! Doh!
I also had to walk all the way into town because David 'Shuffle Joe', the dodgiest shuffler in town dropped half the cards into the Mekong! Doh!
Don Det, 4000 Islands, Laos 5th January 2009
After New Year in Kon Khong, we got the boat down to Don Det. Found a great little bungalow (read shed) in the middle of nowwhere. It's a 45 minute walk to what constitutes a town here. So it's very quiet and peaceful.
We've decided to stay for a few more days as we really like it although there is only electric for a couple of hours each night and the laptop, ipods, nintendos and radio have all run out. Book finished so have only cards. (I'm thrashing David though he he he)
We've decided to stay for a few more days as we really like it although there is only electric for a couple of hours each night and the laptop, ipods, nintendos and radio have all run out. Book finished so have only cards. (I'm thrashing David though he he he)
Dong Khong, Si Phan Dong, Laos 31st December 2008
After a nice overnight bus trip (better beds than some of our guesthouses), we are now in the 4000 islands. Met up with Kemi from Vang Vieng and spent New Years Eve at a local party. They had a local band playing which was quite funny and all the locals danced (quite traditional and all in a circle) and got drunk. A very strange New Year indeed.
HAPPY NEW YEAR TO YOU ALL. HOPE 2009 IS A BLAST!
HAPPY NEW YEAR TO YOU ALL. HOPE 2009 IS A BLAST!
Vientianne, Laos 29th December 2008
Have now moved down to Vientianne which I quite like. Very french with good food.
Put our passports in for our long Thai visa which is lucky because we only just made the pre-new year deadline. We collect them tomorrow and then it's on to 4000 islands down south.
Today also marks the end of our first full year of travelling. Who'd of thought it eh?
Put our passports in for our long Thai visa which is lucky because we only just made the pre-new year deadline. We collect them tomorrow and then it's on to 4000 islands down south.
Today also marks the end of our first full year of travelling. Who'd of thought it eh?
Vang Vieng, Laos 25th December 2008
MERRY CHRISTMAS!!
Had a great day tubing. Got pretty drunk on vodka buckets, then had a Christmas roast dinner at the Irish bar.
Phoned home, it was lovely to talk to everyone. Felt a bit homesick but still had a great day.
Had a great day tubing. Got pretty drunk on vodka buckets, then had a Christmas roast dinner at the Irish bar.
Phoned home, it was lovely to talk to everyone. Felt a bit homesick but still had a great day.
Vang Vieng, Laos 24th December 2008
Christmas Eve! (Will Santa know where I am?) Got drunk, rode round caves on bikes and swam in the river. Had PIE for dinner at the Irish bar and am now very drunk but had fantastic time dancing to Shakin' Stevens Christmas tunes. See, I told you the music was bad!
Vang Vieng, Laos 23rd December 2008
Had a great day today. Hired bikes and together with Caroline and Jessie, we went cycling to the cave 13km from here.
Hard going, but the caves and countryside were very pretty. With all the drunkeness and partying that goes on here it's easy to forget to look around you and see how beautiful this place is.
Feel very smug after my exercise.
Hard going, but the caves and countryside were very pretty. With all the drunkeness and partying that goes on here it's easy to forget to look around you and see how beautiful this place is.
Feel very smug after my exercise.
Vang Vieng, Laos 21st December 2008
Have done nothing for the last few days except lounge by the river trying to top up our tans.
We've decided to stay here for Christmas because we've met a few great travellers and decided it would be nicer to have a Merry Christmas than just the two of us in Vientianne.
We've decided to stay here for Christmas because we've met a few great travellers and decided it would be nicer to have a Merry Christmas than just the two of us in Vientianne.
Vang Vieng, Laos 17th December 2008
Did nothing today except sit in the Smile Bar beside the river watching all the drunks getting back from tubing.
We forced to leave when they started playing Status Quo! The music here is really really terrible, but because everyone is really drunk before they even get here, they just dance anyway so the staff thinks the music is great. NO IT IS NOT!
We forced to leave when they started playing Status Quo! The music here is really really terrible, but because everyone is really drunk before they even get here, they just dance anyway so the staff thinks the music is great. NO IT IS NOT!
Vang Vieng, Laos 15th December 2008
We went tubing today which was a great laugh. David got really drunk. Lots of bars along the river which pull you in for a drink as you float past on your innertube.
Some have swings and slides which are pretty funny (especially watching people doing big belly flops that must sting like mad)
Vang Vieng is very touristy and full of drunks but sadly I still quite like it.
Some have swings and slides which are pretty funny (especially watching people doing big belly flops that must sting like mad)
Vang Vieng is very touristy and full of drunks but sadly I still quite like it.
Luang Prabang, Laos 14th December 2008
Arrived this afternoon after a very pleasant second day on the boat. Yesterday everyone was wearing T-shirts and shorts, today trousers and jackets!
It's quite pretty here, but very touristy and a little lacking in soul. We did a boat trip to the PakAu caves which are filled with Budha images and statues. Very touristy and a bit crap but it filled an afternoon. Also stopped at Whiskey Village where they make Laolao whiskey from rice. Real gut rot stuff.
It's quite pretty here, but very touristy and a little lacking in soul. We did a boat trip to the PakAu caves which are filled with Budha images and statues. Very touristy and a bit crap but it filled an afternoon. Also stopped at Whiskey Village where they make Laolao whiskey from rice. Real gut rot stuff.
Pak Bang, Laos 11th December 2008
Left Chang Mai by bus to the border town where we stayed one night, then in the morning, we got a little boat across the Mekong, which is the border up here in the north.
After a couple of hours wait, we got on the slowboat which will take us to Luang Prabang, stopping tonight in Pak Bang. It was a nice journey. 9 hours, good company but blimin' freezing!
Incidentally, whilst we were waiting to get on the slowboat, the organiser made a big speech about how long the journey was, how terrible Pak Bang was, how everyone here would try to rob us etc and how miraculously, the road to Luang Prabang was now great and the bus would get us there in 6 hours if we wanted to pay an extra 800Bhat! David and I imediately decided he was pulling a fast one and passed on that but a whole minibus load fell for it and paid up. We later met some of these guys in Luang Prabang and they told us that the journey took 12 hours over potholed terrible roads that made everyone sick and they arrived in Luang Prabang at midnight! Don't fall for it - the boat trip was fine!
After a couple of hours wait, we got on the slowboat which will take us to Luang Prabang, stopping tonight in Pak Bang. It was a nice journey. 9 hours, good company but blimin' freezing!
Incidentally, whilst we were waiting to get on the slowboat, the organiser made a big speech about how long the journey was, how terrible Pak Bang was, how everyone here would try to rob us etc and how miraculously, the road to Luang Prabang was now great and the bus would get us there in 6 hours if we wanted to pay an extra 800Bhat! David and I imediately decided he was pulling a fast one and passed on that but a whole minibus load fell for it and paid up. We later met some of these guys in Luang Prabang and they told us that the journey took 12 hours over potholed terrible roads that made everyone sick and they arrived in Luang Prabang at midnight! Don't fall for it - the boat trip was fine!
Chang Mai, Thailand 9th December 2008
We hired mopeds again yesterday and took a long drive out of Chang Mai with Bee and Phil, a Canadian fellow traveller to the Dam which Bee had been raving on about for ages but we weren't that bothered to see. What a mistake that was.
It was stunningly beautiful. The dam actually holds a massive lake set in among the mountains and it was fantastic. There are a few little floating restaurants/guesthouses and a few fishermen and nothing else. Very quiet. No other travellers except a few Thai weekenders. We just sunbathed on the deck and swam in the lake.Lunch was once again tasty fresh fish.
When we got back we all went to another BBQ place and to the rooftop bar. A really great day.
It was stunningly beautiful. The dam actually holds a massive lake set in among the mountains and it was fantastic. There are a few little floating restaurants/guesthouses and a few fishermen and nothing else. Very quiet. No other travellers except a few Thai weekenders. We just sunbathed on the deck and swam in the lake.Lunch was once again tasty fresh fish.
When we got back we all went to another BBQ place and to the rooftop bar. A really great day.
Chang Mai, Thailand 7th December 2008
Yesterday we hired a moped and had a great afternoon with Bee and her friend Em at the lake just outside Chang Mai.
It was very pretty and Bee ordered us lunch by the side of the lake. Deep fried, crispy freshwater fish (delicious), fried sesame beef (yummy), sticky rice, quail eggs, chicken feet salad (I'll reserve judgement on that) and another dish that came out in a clay pot with a lid on it. David being David, imediately took the lid off to see what was in it and out jumped loads of tiny live shrimp! They are apparently killed (but not cooked) in the acid from the salad dressing. Bee and Em loved it but David and I were too chicken to try it. Davids face when he opened the pot was a picture though.
In the evening we went to the rooftop bar with Bee and had a great time.
It was very pretty and Bee ordered us lunch by the side of the lake. Deep fried, crispy freshwater fish (delicious), fried sesame beef (yummy), sticky rice, quail eggs, chicken feet salad (I'll reserve judgement on that) and another dish that came out in a clay pot with a lid on it. David being David, imediately took the lid off to see what was in it and out jumped loads of tiny live shrimp! They are apparently killed (but not cooked) in the acid from the salad dressing. Bee and Em loved it but David and I were too chicken to try it. Davids face when he opened the pot was a picture though.
In the evening we went to the rooftop bar with Bee and had a great time.
Chang Mai, Thailand 6th December 2008
Arrived back in Chang Mai after another long and windy bus trip back from Pai (one girl on our bus obviously didn't take those travel sickness pills) and are back at the Nat Guesthouse.
Yesterday was the kings birthday and we went to a local do-it-yourself BBQ restaurant with Bee. Everyone got drunk and a good time was had by all. They also had some really cute puppies that I considered dognapping.
Yesterday was the kings birthday and we went to a local do-it-yourself BBQ restaurant with Bee. Everyone got drunk and a good time was had by all. They also had some really cute puppies that I considered dognapping.
Pai, Thailand 3rd December 2008
We've both been pretty ill over the last few days, taking it in turns to dash down to the (shared and cold) bathrooms. Damn these cheap rooms! Have decided to return to Chang Mai tomorrow. Must remember to take those travel sickness pills.
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