When checking into hotels, or guesthouses you sometimes get asked to fill out some sort of signing in sheet, giving your name and passport number, along with Nationality. I understand this, and I guess if you do any damage to the room they have some degree of security, not that I am sure how accurate these forms are filled in that people could actually be 'traced'. However one thing we find quite strange is that when you buy a ticket for a train, or boat, or even bus you get asked to fill out your name on the ticket. I find [View Full Entry]

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After spending most of our time in Laos at more popular destinations we wanted to get away from the busy (if you can call it that!) and more into the 'REAL' Laos. The guide book describes Nong Khiaw as a 'sleepy market village' and it certainly lived up to its name! We arrived from Luang Prabang via minibus, but many people travel upstream in a boat, which we had considered, but takes 8 hours and while it sounds very picturesque travelling through the countryside a few people said it was a tough journey. Once off the bus we secured a cosy [View Full Entry]

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We arrived in Luang Prabang with a cool bunch of people who we made friends with the over the journey from Vang Vieng. The usual tuk tuks pestered us all for our business upon arrival but we all jumped on one bike and haggled for the best price, which was rather amusing. We all cheered when the driver managed to change into 2nd gear and think the short journey into town did his bike no good at all. Luang Prabang has a curfew enforced to be back at your guesthouses by midnight and no cars or buses are allowed through the [View Full Entry]

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Traveling is a funny thing to do. I guess you cannot quite anticipate the roller coaster of emotions that you go through, even on a 'normal' day, but here's a glimpse.. Everyday you wake up in a different environment, and your first thoughts are where am I, and after your brain has realised that you are traveling, you immediately think about which country you are in and so on... After that episode you then stagger to the shared bathroom area and brush your teeth next to another traveler, so far for us normally Dutch, German or Aussie. Breakfast is usually the [View Full Entry]

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The final leg of our journey to the Thai Lao border (known as friendship bridge) ran smoothly and after a one hour bus journey and a short tuk tuk we arrived at the border crossing. We were so exhausted with the heat and the weight of our rucksacks that our first destination just had to be a local cafe for the long awaited Lao beer, which did not disappoint. After a twenty minute walk we arrived at Joe's Guest house which is facing the Mekong river. Rooms were clean and cheap and you can't grumble at six pound fifty a night. [View Full Entry]

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Firstly happy new year!! We decided to try and get our last blog on of 2008.. only 4 hours to go!! Well after our grueling 5 hour bus journey to Ayuthaya we arrived at a guesthouse that we had booked only to be told that they had forgot to check us in!! GREAT!!! We stayed at another place called PU guesthouse, only to discover the owner was a psychopath! Ayuthaya was cool if you love Watts, it has thousands of them!! we managed to hire some bikes and spend Christmas day visiting some. Now if we are really honest we really [View Full Entry]

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We finished up our adventure in Bangkok by going to the hugely popular Chatuchak weekend market, which hosts up to 15,000 stalls all on one day!! To be honest its OK, but not great. The Thais have a saying, and it goes like this.... 'same same' !! A lot of the stalls selling the same tat. I guess it really does depend on what you are looking for but it didn't live up to our expectations. After being in the capital for the second time we decided to head off to somewhere new. We have the North and the south planned [View Full Entry]

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Hi Everyone! Ko Samet was paradise! We just chilled and didn't really get out and explore. One day we did manage to explore a bit of the island and after a touch of rock climbing we discovered a secluded picturesque beach which we almost had to ourselves. We did take some photos but our memory card decided to break on us (great!!). I'll describe it for you.... Snow white sand, with crystal clear warm water lapping onto your toes. Swaying palm trees over look the emerald blue sky, without a cloud in sight. If you close your eyes and imagine the [View Full Entry]

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Hello, we finally have managed to get our first blog up!!!,, in fact we did this 3 days ago, but have been on the beach chilling and was'nt able to move!!! Well, we arrived in Bangkok airport Sunday evening after a long long flight! to be honest Emirates were really good and one of our friends managed to sort some extra leg room for us!! (thanks Rich). We had some dodgey passengers next to us on the way including some chap who got held back at Dubai airport for drug related offenses! We jumped in a cab to take us to [View Full Entry]

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