Laos at last! Wanted to travel here since I can remember. Crossed over the Thai Laos Friendship bridge and caught a bus to Vientiane. In the capital Vientiane and only word that comes to mind is Isnt. Vientiane just isnt like any other South East Asian capital. Isnt big, isnt noisy, isnt dirty! Just very friendly, very clean and very French! Old French colonial buildings everywhere. And best of all is Beer Lao! Its awesome stuff! Had loads last night along the Mekong then in various bars and the girls here are so pretty! Think Im gonna like Laos! [View Full Entry]

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Moved from far North West of Thailand to Nong Khai on the East. Arrived in the dark and woke up the next morning and the first thing I saw was the Mekong! Nong Khai is a very relaxed little town and staying at the wonderful Cycled to the very bizzare Sala Kae Kou sculpture garden, huge sculptures of Bhuddist, Hindu and Christian figures. Very amazing. Met one of the old men involved in its construction who now reads palms. He told me I had a very good wife! Where? Then I got chatting with a really cool monk at one of [View Full Entry]

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Visited the amazing north of Chiang Mai in the Mae Taeng Valley. As far as I know this is the only Elephant park in the area where you cant ride the elephants and the elephants dont perform at all, thats what makes it so good. You just get to see and interact with 40 or so elephants in thier natural environment. The park is committed to the rescue and rehabilitation of injured and mistreated elephants from all over Thailand. If you go to one Elephant park in the area please make sure its this one, as well as meeting the elephants [View Full Entry]

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Hired a bike for a trip around the Samoeng loop and the Mae Sa Vally from Chiang Mai. Very easy and picturesque 110Km loop. Visited the Tiger Kingdom, where within a few minutes of arriving you find yourself face to face with lots of tigers! Inside thier enclosure! You can choose baby cub tigers, young tigers or the big tigers. I said big ones please! Cool but slighty unnerving experience, but they are so beautiful up close. Came out smelling of tiger! Then on to Mae Sa falls, which are a series of 10 waterfalls in amazing surroundings, wish I had [View Full Entry]

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Third day was long ride north from Mae Sarieng to Mae Hong Son. Really liked Mae Hong Son and spent extra day there. Found amazing little restuarant and ordered Larb as never tried it before. Wow, best thing Ive tasted here yet! Spent day on the bike going to see Huai Sua Tao village and its settlement of Padaung Longneck women. Really wierd experience as you try not to stare at thier necks but cant help it! Also went right up to Burmese border to visit village of Mae Aw famous for its tea growing and Chinese village. [View Full Entry]

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Last leg was from Mae Hong Son to Pai, then back to Chiang Mai. Roads around Pai were amazing, hairpin bends all the way! Liked Pai, very chilled out place but loads going on. Spent day just riding around the countryside doing big loop following the river. Finally back to Chiang Mai. Really enjoyed the loop, especially on the Kawasaki, missing it allready! [View Full Entry]

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Second day was ride due West towards Burmese border to town of Mae Sarieng. Day didnt start well as raining up in the mountains and very cold. Sun soon came out, and all was well! Roads were fantastic and no other traffic apart from 4X4s loaded with cabbages! Started to really get to grips with the Kawasaki and was throwing it through bends and roaring up the hills with ease! Liked liitle town of Mae Sarieng, right on a bend in the river but very quiet place! [View Full Entry]

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Decided to rent a bike and do the legendary Mae Hong Son loop. 6 days, 906Km and 1648 bends! Bought the loop map and on the front it said "North Thailands Rugged north-west frontier! Wasnt sure what bike to choose, but Kawasaki 250 D Tracker looked good, so off I set. First leg was from Chiang Mai to Doi Inthanon National Park. The park was great, full of waterfalls and the summit of Doi Inthanon is the highest point in Thailand. The roads were fantastic, full of bends but a bit chilly up in the mountains! [View Full Entry]

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5 hours by bus north of Sukothai to Chiang Mai. Very laid back city famous for its food. Went out to nearest little restuarant and had amazing curry fror 25 Baht! City is full of temples, dont have to walk too far and find one. Nightlife pretty good too! Loy Krathong in full swing so fireworks everywhere, got very drunk and persuaded two Thai girls to send up beacon for me for 20 Baht! Always make a difference when you find great guesthouses and staying at CM Bluehouse was fantastic! [View Full Entry]

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Off to Ayuthaya by train, never been on a train in Thailand, but how tricky can that be? Found Hualampong Station in Bangkok easy, checked on my ticket and with the Station Kiosk, defintely platform 7 they both said. So there I am sitting on platform 7 and no sign of any train. Waited 15 minutes, still no train. I showed my ticket to some Thai guys and they called a Platform Attendant, he looked at my ticket, looked at me and shouted no good, come quick! We jumped off platform 7 onto the tracks, up into the train at platform [View Full Entry]

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