http://www.travelblog.org/Bloggers/Tamra-and-Simon/ Travel adventures in journals and photos from Tamra and Simon en-us Mon, 28 Dec 2009 11:25:07 +0000 Mon, 28 Dec 2009 11:25:07 +0000 Wow hard to believe we are on our way home. I feel both a little melancholy to be ending such a wonderful adventure AND at the same time ready to go home. Here I will try to recap some of the lessons learned on this adventure. No particular format just going to let it flow out me spontaneously. Neurotic NewsBeing away from my normal environment and the habits and tendencies that come http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Thailand/South-West-Thailand/Ko-Samui/blog-363606.html We're nearly on our way home. Today is our last day on Ko Samui we leave for Singapore this afternoon. Samui has been quite an assault on the senses. Crazy loud crowded overexpozed commercialized. We spent 2 nights in the thick of the beach madness at a very nice hotel and realized we needed to find some quiet. We went to the north shore and found just what we were looking for. Worl http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Thailand/South-West-Thailand/Ko-Samui/blog-363571.html Magical MonksWe've been waiting and wanting to make this particular blog post. Thailand and Laos are the land of ancient and beautiful Wats Buddhist Temples. Sometimes you come across a Wat every few blocks. We'll be posting a ton of pictures from both countries. One of the things that I Tamra am fascinated by most is seeing monks everywhere you go. There's a monk shopping one talking http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Thailand/North-West-Thailand/Chiang-Mai/blog-361993.html Thai Cooking ClassAs this trip winds to a close we realize that there are a number of things that we really wanted to do or see but they will have to wait for another trip yes a 3rd trip to Thailand is likely in our future. Simon wanted to do a meditation retreat at a Thai Wat. Tamra wanted to explore a National park to observe unique wildlife. But today we did get to check something off ou http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Thailand/North-West-Thailand/Chiang-Mai/blog-361972.html It's been awhile since we last blogged... or emailed and the truth is it just hasn't been a priority....We entered Laos PDR from Thailand near Vientiane capital city of Laos PDR over a week ago shared a ride over the border and into the captial with a delightful young Laos man Sor college student in Vientiane. The first thing we noticed about Laos is that it operates at a completely d http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Laos/West/Vang-Vieng/blog-360533.html BATHROOMS Why would I be inspired to write about bathrooms you ask Well I just used a VERY highend bathroom in a coffeeinternet shop in Luang Prabang Laos. High end means a there is a toilet b there is toilet paper c there is a sink to wash your hands d there is a method for drying clean hands I was thrilled In Thailand toilet paper is a rare commodity. When you ask where is t http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Laos/West/Luang-Prabang/blog-360530.html A new adventure begins....We've bid farewell to Koh Chang it was REALLY hard and have hit the road.No time for photos as we're boarding a plane for Udon Thani northern thailand en route to Vientiane Laos. We've spoken to many travelers who have raved about Laos and though it's hard to give up Cambodia and Angkor Wat we'll have to leave that to another trip.We haven't planned our travel so w http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Thailand/Central-Thailand/Bangkok/blog-358408.html While most of the time we're simple idiots resting in or near the water we've taken two very fun adventures around Koh Chang. One a full day snorke trip took us to 5 islands on a speed boat no long boats on this island where each dip into the water was more delightful than the last. Without a doubt this was the best snorkeling of our lives. One island Koh Rang had such clear water ther http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Thailand/Central-Thailand/Ko-Chang/blog-357486.html TURN RIGHT OR LEFTThat's about the toughest decision we have to make each day when we want to head down the beach which way to go It appears that we really have become 'stuck' on Koh Chang meaning why the hell would we leave. We've actually slowed down so much that yesterday Christmas Day all we did wasWake upDevotionalMeditateEatMassageReadFloat in the waterEatReadWalkIt was exhausti http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Thailand/Central-Thailand/Ko-Chang/blog-357209.html BANGKOK ... YOU CAN HAVE ITWe never intended to go to Bangkok but it's almost impossible to miss if you're traveling across the country. We decided to go to the backpackers haven of Koh San Rd. It is a madhouse. Think 1 part Flea Market 1 part BarClub scene and 1 part Burning Man. Add 200000 drunk 18 25 year olds. Mix it all together with grime and the smell of rotting fish and you've go http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Thailand/Central-Thailand/Ko-Chang/blog-356025.html Plans change.... and it's a beautiful thing.We awoke on Tuesday morning the day of our departure from Koh Tao and thought...nope. We need another day. What a perfect decision that was We did more of what honeymooners do winkwink strolled around town more massage more thai food and on our way home passed a cool joint called Utopia. The owner Willem was watching a great concert video C http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Thailand/South-West-Thailand/Chumphon/blog-355191.html Wow. We have been here 3 days now and have to keep pinching ourselves to remember it's real. At first I was struggling a bit damn ego taking it all in The beauty the breeze the waves crashing the luxury the food being waited on having things sooo easy resting and relaxing knowing that there was no other place to be nothing else to do until I realized that I couldn't possibly t http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Thailand/South-West-Thailand/Ko-Tao/blog-354422.html The Samui airport is a lot like the Big Island in Hawaii outdoors small quiet and humid. We took a taxi to our 1 night digs the Little Pearl Bungalows owned by a german man and thai woman. She greeted us name forgotten with glasses of orange juice a big smile warm heart and that classic thai feminine demure affect that fills one with ease.We promptly passed out from travel exhaustion. http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Thailand/South-West-Thailand/Ko-Samui/blog-354012.html We arrived at 2am dragged out from 11 hours from LA to Tokyo and then 7 hours from Tokyo to Singapore but who can complain when you fly business class Good food movies long sleeps and good company.Despite the brief meltdown in the airport and ensuing taxi ride we awoke to have a fun day's adventure in Singapore.Highlights Being horizontal and sleeping in.FREE breakfast on the executive http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Singapore/Raffles-Marina/blog-354010.html