Sometimes we find happiness at strange times. The other day, while being stuck in a snow storm in Seoul, I blatantly walked right into a pole and bumped my head. A little stunned and embarrased, I held my forehead for a minute until I looked up and found three little Korean ladies at my side with friendly and concerned expressions on their faces. I had to laugh, after all I did walk into the pole because my unbrella blew into the reverse posision. The odds were against me, yet at that moment I was so happy to be where I was, [View Full Entry]

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After looking at the social and political situation in Cambodia, a traveller could be left with a disturbing perception of this tiny country. After all, Cambodia is one of the poorest countries in the world. So poor, in fact, that over 40% of the population lives under the poverty line at less than US$1 per day. There is over 1,200 street kids in Phnom Penh alone, and many more that are street working children. In the countryside, 25-40 land mine victims are claimed by the 6 million mines still hidden underground. The mines also hampers agricultural production, obviously because a field [View Full Entry]

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I wrote a long entry about my time on Koh Phi Phi, but I erased it because nothing can do justice to the time I had there. The people I met were amazing, and everyday was too much fun for you to even imagine. I can't write about it, so I"m just posting some pictures of my little paradise on earth... [View Full Entry]

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I recently experienced the first episode of cultre shock on my trip. Sweaty palms...feeling faint...spinning walls...strange sounds and foreign smells. Hot dogs rotating in a heater and pop machines humming that faint hum, the 'beep' when the door opens, and the flourecent lighting. Sound familiar? I was in one of the 4,000 7 Eleven's in Thailand, in the Northern city of Chiang Mai. Everyone says they love this town, but coming from the jungles of Laos it was too much to handle. I quickly left and met up with Ross and Barry in Pai. Now, I've discovered that every country has [View Full Entry]

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We all have preconceived conceptions of travel destinations. For Laos, I pictured wateralls, jungle, and wonderful people. Usually my immagination gets the better of me, but this time I seem to have got it right. Since Vientiene i have headed North, into a part of the country which has exceeded my every expectation. I have visited places from the tops of mountains, to deep under the ground. The Swiss ladies I had met in South Laos found me again (or perhaps I found them), and we went off caving and lagooning in Vang Vien. We biked to a cave where there [View Full Entry]

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Just when I thought life couldnt get any better, along came Laos. Well, I guess I came along to Laos. Either way, I've got a whole lotta love for this country... I shared the bus on the way to the border with a bunch of ducks. This I have done before, but this time the ducks were pretty angry (who blames them!) and they got loose in the van, flying around in quite the panic and pooping on the seat beside me. "One last frollick" one quacked to another, and then the owner kicked them and the party was over. I [View Full Entry]

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Dear Vietnam, oh my dear Vietnam! I'm sorry to say goodbye. It has be so pleasant visiting you this past month (except for when you rip me off). My last stop in your great land has been Hue, a city of great history. I have also rented a bike and explored your backwaters. Weaving in and out of small suburbs...stopping in the shade of your trees...goofing around with young students...swimming at your beautiful beaches and eating your delicious food. Ahh, the life you have given me! This seems to sum up my travels in your great land, just getting lost and [View Full Entry]

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So, i write this blog as about five kids surround me saying "hello hello" and Xin Jao. THey are also pulling my arm hair, which actually hurts because I am so sunburnt. One girl is so cute, and she has the curliest hair and a big smile. Anyways, that sums up the people of Quy Nonh, a fishing town that I've been in for a week now. It's one of those places where one day turns into six, and then you finally realize that you have more places you want to see before your visa expires. The first day I got [View Full Entry]

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It's easy to travel with the flow in Vietnam, taking the tourist busses to all the cities that have highlights in the Lonely Planet. Leaving Dalat (one of the reccomended places and quite lovely), we headed to the wonderfully secluded and rustic Jungle Beach resort. Here, it was just sunning (and burning) on an empty beach, swimming in turquoise water, and eating the most delish food. This was combined with drinking Vietnamese red and rice wine, the latter not being so tasty! Leaving the place was hard to do, as we went to another city, which is famous for it's night [View Full Entry]

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Soft seat train rides in Vietnam are luxury. I splurged on a soft seat for the trip from Hanoi to HCM city, and i was pleasantly surprised with a reclining chair (did you say reclining Kristen? Yes i did!) and free food (well, it was included in the ticket price). However, crappy Asian pop music transcends boarders, and I was not pleased to once again be deafened by the endless aray of cheesy songs. I dont know why, but it seems like Asians either have very poor hearing or I have enlightened senses. I'm most certain that it is not the [View Full Entry]

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