You might have noticed a hint of agitation in our last post. Laos is really a beautiful country with laidback and interesting people. We’ve had some time to think and reflect on our trip and I thought I’d point out, at that point we had been in Asia for nearly eleven months and on the road for six months so there is a strong chance we were a little fatigued. Did I mention that it was…hot? After the bus driver dropped us off we walked a few kilometers trying to hitch a ride. A nice man driving a pharmacy truck picked us up and drove us to town near a cluster of guesthouses. After checking the price of a few guesthouses we gave up and found somewhere to sit down. The first priority was to forget ... read more

Making our way to the South of Laos On the tourist trail, certain people attempt to lock-in fat profits in particular situations. Take a busload of tourists arriving at the bus station as an example. One thing we noticed about Laos’s transportation was that drivers set a price per person instead of by vehicle. When we arrived in Vang Vieng there was only one Tuk-Tuk at the bus station. Another thing we noticed was often they wouldn’t compete. So, despite the fact that many Tuk-Tuk drivers were around, only one would be available for service. The rest would sit around and watch American wrestling (as was the case in …). My guess is they split the profits or take turns. Good on them for creating a successful cartel but frustrating as heck for anyone used to ... read more

After a few days in Huay Xai we decided to head farther North to Muang Sing. We caught the bus to Luang Namtha for 55000 Kip which climbed and twisted through jungle clad mountains. Then we changed buses to Muang Sing 30000 Kip. It was a long twisting journey that passed some beautiful jungle hills/mountains and through roadside villages. The journey to Muang Sing was a really windy gravel road through a narrow jungle mountain pass that eventually opened out onto a large flat valley. It was not the most pleasant ride with a sore back but the jungle valleys and passing tiny villages plotted on the sides of jungle hills made the ride worth it. Geoff picked up a giant pineapple, from the one roadside stop. One of the best pineapples we've ever tasted. Muang ... read more

Flying back into Bangkok from Myanmar we decided to take it easy in Thailand. The rest of the time spent in Thailand was mostly relaxing, eating and sleeping. In Bangkok the large Siam Mall was pretty much our second home. We went to the mall almost everyday and spent our time at a cozy internet cafe or we went to a really nice movie theatre in the mall. We also ate at the mall's cafeteria quite often. The cafeteria was not the typical food court back in Canada but this one in Siam Mall was massive. The lay out concept resembles street vendors out on the street but its indoors. I guess the vendors in the mall looks cleaner then outside but sanitary standards are similarly laid out with out cover. The food was really good ... read more

From Monywa we crossed a hot and dusty plain to Pakkoku stopping shortly for us to pick up a couple of giant mangoes. We were unnerved to see our driver enjoying a drink or two with his meal. Along the road we were stopped twice to present passports so the immigration police could jot down our details. At Pakkoku a Myanmar couple, wearing neat western clothes and both carrying cellphones, invited us to share a horse cart. Along the way we passed an old teak monastery shaded by big Tamarind trees and saw the beginnings of a market/festival taking place but we didn't get a chance to visit. The couple helped us get to the ferry which we caught to Nyaung U, near to the Bagan temples. They were heading towards Yangon after visiting relatives. It ... read more