DeanMobley

Vang Vieng is a tourism-oriented town in Laos, located about four hours bus ride north of the capital Vientiane. Nestled beside the Nam Song (Song River) amid stunningly beautiful limestone karst terrain. Vang Vieng today is mainly a backpacker town. The main street, now called the Khoa San Road, is littered with guest houses, bars, restaurants, internet cafes and tour agencies. The area’s main attraction has always been the dramatic landscape surrounding Vang Vieng. The Nam Song, meanwhile, plays host to kayakers and tubing - travellers floating along on tractor inner tubes, a pastime so thoroughly enjoyable and popular that it has become one of the rites of passage of the Indochina (region in Southeast Asia, east of India, south of China) backpacking circuit. 18 December 2009 Got up and had breakfast then boarded mini bus ... read more

Tuesday 01 December 2009 Kieran met me off train which was 2 hours late. Checked into T K's, single room comprising of a double bed and a single bed!? Hired a bike and went to Chiang Mai Sports Complex, played tennis then went to the outdoor swimming pool. They had an olympic pool and 5 diving boards. I started diving off each board but only made it to number 3, as I hit the water my shoulder came out and went back in. I managed to ride bike back to accommodation, had some pain killers and went to bed. It was very annoying as many physical excursions in Chiang Mai, like zip wiring through juggle and downhill mountain biking. Chiang Mai is a big city which is busy, not what I remember or expected. On the ... read more

Thursday 19 November 2009 Got bus to coach station then coach to Ranong about 6 hours. Elaine pre-arranged our accommodation from the Lonely Planet and they agreed to pick us up from Ranong Bus Station, which entailed a lift to the pier and speed boat to Ko Phayam. The speedboat was around 5-5:30 so we watched the sun going down. We stayed at Vijit Bungalows (Ao Kwai), 300 baht a night, which was on beach front with amazing white sand. From Ko Phayam Pier we had to hire bikes to get to accommodation as no cars or minibuses on island just paths wide enough for motorbikes to pass each other. Ko Phayam is really nice and quiet, only 500 inhabitants. We had meal at accommodation and I was in bed by 11. Electricity goes off at ... read more

Thursday 05 November 2009 Got bus from Krabi Town to Ao Nam Mao (port) then boat to Hat Rai Leh East (Railay) which cost 130 baht. Checked into Ya Ya Resort 375 baht a night. Ate in Ya Ya's restaurant, had whole Red Snapper, mixed kebab (chicken, beef & barracuda) with 2 jacket potatoes for 360 baht. Went to Last bar which had live band and free pool, most waiters were lady boys! Friday 06 November 2009 Weather not very good, cloudy with heavey showers. Went to Last bar for a few games of pool then to Diamond Cave (limestone formations and golden stone waterfall). On the way back from the caves we saw wild monkeys coming down the mountain. On the evening went to Bambu Bar as they had fire show and Thai boxing. Thai ... read more