Christmas in Vang Vieng, Laos.

Our plan for Christmas was to spend it on a beach in Southern Thailand, that clearly didn't happen. Sterry were going to Laos so we decided to go with them, it would be more christmassy with friends.

Luang Prabang. Wow Laos

After the mammoth journey to laos I had planned on our first day being very chilled. We nipped out to do some laundry and ended up accidentally climbing a huge temple. The view was quite special but half way up all I could think was what is going on?? And this was not for the first time! All I wanted to do was get my stinking clothes cleaned. For me this is the best thing about Asia. You never know what is going on or what will be happening next. Its exciting.

The one with the river cruise & how to cross the Thai - Laos border

Mekong river cruise to Luang Prabang via Pakbeng. We started off at Chiang Rai Thailand. We took a bus ride to Chiang Khong which is on the border with Laos.

Month 6 in Review

So I'm a week late with this - only just realised it was our 6 month travelling anniversary last Friday, obviously been having too much fun. Here's the review.

Places visited

Thailand - Chiang Mai, Pai & Chiang Rai

Laos - Pak Beng, Luang Prabang

Chiang Rai. The one with the maddest temple in the world.

Rain STILL unrelenting we arrived in Chiang Rai. The mini van ride was truly dreadful. Pai to Chiang Mai to Chiang Ria. Steve almost quit half way through. He powered on. We all did. Finally arriving in Chiang Rai. Feeling very tired and equally tetchy, we grabbed a tuk tuk to the rather inexpensive hotel. It was impeccably clean. It looked brand new. We could have been the first people to use room 27. The drawer handles still had their manufacturing plastic wrapping on them. The hotel owner was the cutest kindest old lady in Thailand. I never saw her without a smile stretched across her tiny face. Now let's be honest Chiang Rai isn't anything to shout home about. However, it is home to the coolest temple known to man. Wat Rong Khun. Commonly known as the White Temple

Life of Pai

Pai is a small town in northern Thailand. It is pronounced 'pie'. Pai was really very busy. This was not what I had expected. After BKK and Chiang Mai, I was looking for a little quiet down time and Pai sounded very remote and tranquil. But, they had a reggae music festival the weekend we arrived. Reggae festival with zero Jamaicans playing mind :/ even with no Jamaicans the place seemed full to the brim.

Chiang Mia to Pai. The one with the million hair pin bends

Overturned truck on the side of the road. Desolate. There is a storm brewing in my stomach. Half way through the 762 hair pin bends. The mini bus ride from Chiang Mai to Pai is multimus vomitus (latin attempt)

Oh My Chiang Mai

It's Friday 13th & we're in our riverside hut in Pai, Thailand writing the blog. Today we were supposed to rent a moped & see the sights as everyone does in Pai. We've never hired a moped before and we're a bit anxious about it but it turns out it is chucking it down so Sterry went off and got soaked but we stayed in bed. Not sure if Friday 13th has been lucky or unlucky?

Bangkok - The One Backstage

Leaving Chatrium for Howard's Boutique Hotel. It was quite the downgrade. There was nothing even boutiquey about it. As we were waiting for Saturday to come and meet up with my Uncle Alan and his band, we had a little time on our hands. 

Bangkok - Chatrium Riverside Hotel

25th of November. Finally it was my birthday. We had celebrated my coming of age for what seems like a month. My original idea of a bottle of tequila in bed was about as appealing as a tracheostomy. We ditched khasoan road and crossed the Chao Phraya River. Cat booked a super cool, expensive hotel birthday treat. That was about as far as my knowledge went.

One night in Bangkok and the world's your oyster. khaosan road.

Like in Mandrem, Goa, the girls were happy to run off in search of a cheap and clean place to stay while me and Steve sat on the street with the bags. Soon we were joined by a Thai nutjob. Arguing with herself for well over an hour. We got chatting to an ex pat called Pat. I think he was homeless. He knew the Thai nutjob well and spoke many languages. I saw him around town a few times. Each time after saying hi, I would have to explain why I knew him to the rest of the gang.

Month 5 in Review

Sawatdee Kaa! Greetings from Chiang Mai, Thailand. On Friday we celebrated our 5 month anniversary of travelling so here's a re-cap of weeks 17 - 20. I am a few days late with this but the last month has been pretty hectic, lots of partying and basically having too much fun with new BFF's to be spending time tapping away on the laptop.