Blogs from North, Laos, Asia - page 11

After the several cocktails the night before, a relaxing day was definitely in order and was pleasantly surprised to discover I had slept till nearly 10. Another excellent muesli and fruit breakfast was followed up by doing what most backpackers to SE Asia do....catch up on what was happening at the Cheltenham Festival! I sat in the guesthouse garden and watched all the main races from the first two days, though I may have got a little carried away and received some funny looks from the Latvian girls when I started cheering Sprinter Sacre up the hill.....god know what will happen if Kauto is in with a chance when I finally manage to see the Gold Cup! After spending a few hours chilling out and sending some emails, I decided that I should go for my ... read more

Friday 9thMarch – Gibbons Experience (Bokeo Nature Reserve) Laos We arrived at the Gibbons office at 8.30. From Huay Xai to the Bokeo National Park was a 2 hour drive on road and 40 minute drive off-road in a hilux ute with 11 people on it. We arrived at the village where we met our guides and started our trek around lunch time. We trekked for three hours over a few mountains and through bamboo dominant forest before we reached a waterfall where we made the most of the cool temperatures and flying fox into the water. The first treehut where we spent our first night was only a 10 minute walk from the waterfall which with spectacular views had a separate shower and toilet and 4 mosquito nets for us to sleep under. Once we ... read more

#33- NORTHERN CENTRAL LAOS. THE SHOCK OF LAOS. It is amazing how two neighboring countries can be so different. After the noise, high-rise chaos, hustle and bustle of China, arriving in more laid back Laos was a welcome change. You even notice at the airport, especially after going thru Chinese immigration TWICE at two different airports in China (??!?). Here, the locals smile at you instead of grinning and giggling. And it’s a change to see Aussies everywhere in shorts and thongs (flip-flops) after China’s cool weather. VIENTIANE The capital city, Vientiane, feels more like a country town (like Lismore or Grafton). So now I will rest in good hotel with plenty of SPACE (even a kitchen!) for few days to recover from cold and craziness of the last week. ‘Try to do nothing for a ... read more

27th Jan ’12 Luang Prabang to Muang Ngoi via Nong Khiaw And everything we had read about Laos said nothing ever happens on time and you always have to wait at least an extra hour….HUH! once again despite being up and down for breakfast a full 30 minutes before the earliest pick up time we had been given, our drinks had only just arrived and the tuk tuk guy was there and we had to set off without any breakfast once again! We were travelling ultra-light as we had arranged to leave our ruck sacks at the Merry Laos until we get back in 3 days and I’m so glad we did. We joined another 6 people who were amazed we didn’t have any luggage and had all missed their breakfasts also! We got chatting to ... read more

On my first full day in Luang Namtha I pretty much did very little. In the afternoon I hired a bicycle and rode 4 km to the Lanten village of Ban Nam Di. I came across quite a few older women in traditional clothes making garments but felt a little awkward about taking their photo, so I didn't. I rode back to Luang Namtha along the same bumpy dusty road and stopped to take a couple of shots of the ricefields in the evening sunlight. Next morning Nina and myself hired a motorbike and rode the 60 km to Muang Sing. The ride passed by quite a few small villages and Nam Ha National Park. We didn't have a lot of time to explore Muang Sing so we pretty much had a late lunch and then ... read more