The Story So Far

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We are now in the 6th week of our travels and we have packed so much in.

We've been enthusiastically welcomed, harrassed, scammed, amazed and enthralled by the sights we've seen, ecstatically happy, chilled out, constantly stared at and stressed in India; felt like we were in a European holiday resort in Bangkok; had aching limbs after trekking in the jungles in Chiang Mai (Thailand) for 3 days; and feel we are somewhat experts in Thai cooking after an intensive 3 day cooking course, also in Chiang Mai.

India highs:
Golden Temple in Amritsar in the Punjab
amazing work ethic - very humbling

India lows:
people trying to constantly scam you
seeing graffiti on the Taj Mahal

Thailand highs:
Trekking in the jungle with a fantastic group of people and a brilliant guide named Coco
Learning to cook Thai food
Friendly and helpful people

Thailand lows:
It rained quite a bit!


We are currently in Laos in a town called Vang Viang which is actually a very strange place. Before arriving here we travelled by slow boat from Chiang Kong, Thailand to Luang Prabang in Laos. The journey took 2 days and was somewhat uncomfortable but great fun and the landscapes were amazing.

Luang Prabang was a beautiful city. Very small - you could cycle round it in a couple of hours with a bit of sightseeing thrown in - but plenty of things to do and plenty of cafes to laze away the day in. A very relaxed and welcoming place which we would love to return to if we got the chance. The food was fantastic - both the local and the French inspired food was of very high quality and it was very difficult not to be eating constantly throughout the day. The Laos coffee is amazing - no matter how much milk you put in, it doesn't change colour!

Back to Vang Vieng. We arrived here 2 days ago and are ready to leave. The highlight here, is tubing down the river for 4 hours and stopping off for Lao beer at the many bars along the river bank. We did that yesterday and it was great fun. The weather was roasting and it felt rather surreal floating by the volcanic landscape in a rubber ring. The town itself is nothing to write home about.

We shall be moving on to the capital, Vientiene tomorrow and try to decide from there where to spend Christmas - visiting the sights of Hanoi and Northern Vietnam or on the beach in Southern Vietnam - decisions decisions!

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Photos

New Delhi
our first wake up call in India

Amritsar
Francis and Brij who we met in a very English looking pub

Chiang Mai
Mathew feeling the strain

Trekking
elephant trekking

Chiang Mai
who's protecting who?

Comments

[Gray]

fabulous to read about your thoughts on Lao. Sarah and I are currently in Louang Namtha. Very very sleepy.

[Paul]

Fantastic!
Love the comparative scales. The elephant trail, then the policeman in Chiang Mai - superb! Can't wait to see more pics like this - have a wonderful Christmas, relaxing on a beach, perhaps, feasting on chilli crab.

[Paul]

the Golden Temple
..also loooks great, with Alex 'gone native', lol!

[scott]

Vang Vien
I spent a week in Vang Vien too. cant remember much of it though cos I was constantly stoned off my tits. Do remember that it seemed to take ages for food to get served. Happy Xmas.

[tim]

get to the gym
don't know who looks more knackered....mat or the elephant!!

[john jacobs]

chiang mai looks like concrete lab with full PPE have a good christmas all the best.

[dave & ruth]

chiang mai
dont argue with the policeman mat, he's got bigger boots on than you