http://www.travelblog.org/Bloggers/CTM/ Travel adventures in journals and photos from CTM en-us Sat, 11 Oct 2008 08:04:09 BST Sat, 11 Oct 2008 08:04:09 BST The Tiger Leaping Gorge was... gorgeous Yes I know its an easy one...Friday April 25thI left the little guesthouse at 9 in the morning. The weather was mild and cloudy. I couldn't see the summit of the mountains. There is a partially tarred road where cars and buses bring tourists groups to the main view points. I soon left that road to follow the upper path that goes gradually up to the firs http://www.travelblog.org//Asia/China/Yunnan/Tiger-Leaping-Gorge/blog-271183.html Je sens que jrsquoen ai assez de voyager. Les paysages sont magnifiques mais ils ne mrsquoimpressionnent plus. Les monuments sont beaux mais ils ne mrsquoattirent plus.Les gens autour de moi sont toujours aussi sympas mais je me replie chaque jour davantage dans ma coquille. Je me mets en colre quand les prix sont surfaits et je ngocie mal le prix des objets que jrsquoachte.Il est te http://www.travelblog.org//Asia/China/Yunnan/Lijiang/blog-269611.html Ce soir jrsquoai pouss lrsquoaventure gastronomique un peu loin. Jrsquotais au centre de la vieille ville de Lijiang et aprs une journe vlo. Jrsquoai choisi un restaurant frquent essentiellement par des touristes chinois. Jrsquoai pris des escargots la mode naxi ethnie locale et des pommes de terre frites et du vin de seigle. Jrsquoai reu une bouteille de vin de seigl http://www.travelblog.org//Asia/China/Yunnan/Lijiang/blog-269609.html HelloAfter Yantze river cruise terra cotta army longmen caves we're entering Shanxi by the back door. Last step before Pingyao. We're in Yungcheng rural china as the lonely planet says. actually a 200 000 inhabitants town between Xi'An and PingYao.We visited a near by temple dedicated to a general who was promoted a powerful god after his death.The temple shows some exemple of fine chinese http://www.travelblog.org//Asia/China/Shanxi/blog-261577.html This blog is more about practical information for people who wants to do the journey.There is a night train from Hanoi to Beijing that stop in Guilin but there are only soft sleeper for 80. So I took a bus from Hanoi to Nanning for a price of 20 to 27 dependig on travel agency and day of travel. The bus left at 730 Vietnamese time GMT7. At the border I had to cross the border on foot a http://www.travelblog.org//Asia/China/Guangxi/Guilin/blog-253997.html Pictures http://www.travelblog.org//Asia/Laos/South/Bolaven-Plateau/blog-248353.html Some Pictures http://www.travelblog.org//Asia/Laos/South/Pakxe/blog-248350.html Pictures again http://www.travelblog.org//Asia/Laos/South/Tham-Lot-Kong-Lo/blog-248346.html Pictures only http://www.travelblog.org//Asia/Laos/West/Vientiane/blog-248339.html Some more pictures http://www.travelblog.org//Asia/Laos/East/Plain-of-Jars/blog-248300.html Only pictures http://www.travelblog.org//Asia/Laos/East/Vieng-Xai/blog-248283.html Text will follow soon http://www.travelblog.org//Asia/Laos/East/Sam-Neua/blog-248270.html Friday January 18th 2008I'm on my way to Sam Neua in the NorthEast of Laos. The sawngthaew for Vieng Kham leaves only at 11 a.m. It's strange and annoying. Usually public transports leave early in the morning. I hope to get a connection to reach Vieng Thong to day. Five other tourists are also heading to Sam Neua 2 Englishwoman 1 EnglishMan and 2 Dutchwoman. It's nice to travel with a group http://www.travelblog.org//Asia/Laos/West/Nong-Khiaw/blog-241817.html Thursday January 17th 2008Today I'm going by boat to Nong Kiew.Though the evenings in Luang Prabang were great meeting other travelers I'm feeling a bit down. A quiet journey by boat along the Nam Ou is what I need to reload my batteries and recover my energy. The mountainous landscape around us is amazingly beautiful and I'm spending the 8hour journey looking at it.We are on a small boat that http://www.travelblog.org//Asia/Laos/West/Luang-Prabang/blog-241801.html At the end of my 3day trek I didn't see birds but I pay a lot of attention to the local web sites design. Have look too http://www.travelblog.org//Asia/Laos/North/Luang-Namtha/blog-236400.html Comme je ne suis pas trs en forme pour crire je vous affiche juste quelques photos de Louang Prabang que je quitte demain par bateau pour Nong Kwiew.Ce qui tait chouette LPB c'est qu'il faisait plus chaud qu' Luang Nam Tha.L'autre truc chouette c'est une choppe qui s'installe tous les soirs et propose un menu vgtarien. Il y a juste 2 grandes tables communes et c'est l'occasion de faire http://www.travelblog.org//Asia/Laos/West/Luang-Prabang/blog-236393.html Friday December 28th 2007This is the 60th day of travel and the last in Thailand. Tomorrow Irsquom going to cross the border to Laos. Irsquom going around in Chiang Rai visiting some pagodas. http://www.travelblog.org//Asia/Thailand/North/Chiang-Rai/blog-234045.html Thursday December 27th 2007Irsquove been at Doi Suthep since the 24th. This stay gave me an introduction to Vipassanah meditation. Practicing meditation a whole day is quite difficult for me. The first day was hard but the second day brought me some pleasure when I could concentrate for a few minutes. The rules of Doi Suthep are quite strict no chatting between meditators especially during t http://www.travelblog.org//Asia/Thailand/North/Chiang-Mai/blog-234044.html Saturday December 22th 2007A day in Mae Sot. Irsquom going to have a look at the border with Burma Myanmar. The bridge over the river is the way to Burma. In the middle of the bridge cars change side from left to right when going to Burma. From this side of the river the burmese side doesnrsquot look to have much interest approximately the same kind of buildings and probably the same ki http://www.travelblog.org//Asia/Thailand/North/blog-234043.html Friday December 21th 2007Today I'm leaving Um Phang for Mae Sot. I'm feeling sorry to leave this place but I'm looking forward for the 100 km ride on the mountain road. I often stop to look at the landscape and take pictures. Probably they are the same as on the journey to Um Phang.I'm now used to ride the motorbike and I'm enjoying it. Nevertheless at each bent of the road I still contract m http://www.travelblog.org//Asia/Thailand/North/Umphang/blog-234040.html