Briefly: My last nights in Laos were on an island in the Four Thousand Islands area of the Mekong. It was a great place for biking and relaxing, and though the Irrawady dolphins can be seen there, I did not see them and opted not to take a boat trip as I heard it was anticlimactic (fin in the ditance breaking mud colored water). I then spent 10 days in Cambodia split between Siem Reap (the temples at Angkor Wat were amazing and photos will be posted once I get that capability again) and Phnom Penh which I also really enjoyed [View Full Entry]

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I know I mentioned that Vang Vieng was known for its tubing (drinking), but I only participated 1 out of my 5 days there sans tube. It was incredibly fun, but far from the safest place on earth (made clear by the countless bruises and bandages you see around town). There is a bar about every 100 m, each equipped with its own device to jettison you into the river. There were water slides, zip lines, platform jumps, and a trapeze-like swing that is about 25 ft high. The biggest problem is that most people there have been drinking all day, [View Full Entry]

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First...note I finally got some photos up, and added them to older posts as well. Where last I left you, I had just arrived in the small town of Pai. I spent a few days there, and did what most people do there...practically nothing. It is a smaller town and has the vibe of Phish lot (lots of dreadlocks, ganja, and people who've taken months off from the "real world"). Needless to say, I enjoyed my time there. I also saw my first monkey in Pai...though he was being walked on a leash and seemed to be a bit confused (he [View Full Entry]

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In case you've been watching the news lately, I thought I should let you know I am no where near Bangkok, and will not be until April. Hopefully all of the issues surrounding the government and PAD protesters will be resolved by then. I did have a flight leaving from Bangkok on the 26th heading for Kuala Lumpur, but I had canceled it weeks ago (that proved to be a good move). I'll report more soon! [View Full Entry]

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All my hard earned blisters are starting to soften and peel, having left Amee's farm 4 days ago. I will certainly miss that little farm in Lo Pahan. Unfortunately at the time of our departure, Alea (the head honcho on the farm) was stuck in Chiang Dao because he had become ill. I didn't like not being able to thank him for letting us into his house and home, but he didn't know how long he'd be gone, and we weren't about to wait another week. So we pushed on to Chiang Mai. The first evening I went for my first [View Full Entry]

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Last Wednesday was the Thai festival of Loy Krathong, so we decided that morning to skip work and venture to Chiang Rai to get in on the action. The trip was several hours on sangteuw (covered pickup truck with benches that operate like small buses), bus, and a longtail boat (long boats with the prop several meters down a shaft from the engine...very cool). At one stop on the Mae Kok River there were many elephants that are for taking rides (not interested) but I did get pulled by one because I was touching his trunk without a banana in my [View Full Entry]

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I've spent the last week working 5-6 hours a day, 6 days a week, on Amee's Farm. It is owned by a Frenchman married to a Thai woman, though they are not currently here. We get to stay in their house though, which is quite nice accommodations. The farm is run by Amee's brother Alea, who lives across the way with his wife, 2 sons (4 and 6), and "the boys" (2 workers aged 18 and 19). They provide us with meals, and plenty of entertainment, but they speak virtually no English. There are also about 6 other Lisu who come [View Full Entry]

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I was told to catch the bus from Chiang Mai to Chiang Dao, which runs every half hour. I watch as several nearly empty buses leave, which I'm later told are going to Chiang Dao..."mai ben rai" (no problem) I'll wait the 30 minutes. It strikes 4 and another nearly empty bus leaves before I realize I should have been on it, so I ask another driver "Chiang Dao?" He responds by pointing to the bus that is driving past, honks to stop them, and I get on. I try and pay the driver for my fare, and he just waves [View Full Entry]

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