Loved your take on Laos Visited there last April. I get the same reaction from people who think I must be bonkers for not only going there but loving it. Vientiane was a bit of a surprise because of the stinkin' SUV's and 'upscale' morning market that sold more electronics than anything else. Loved L. Prabang. Stayed in a very small boutiquey kind of hotel one street from the river but on the direct route of the monks when they made their morning walk through town to get their food for the day. Our place arranged for us to get some freshely cooked rice( at 5:30 a.m.) and we sat in the street and carefully put it in their bowls. It is imperative that a woman never touch a monk or his bowl :-) One of the best memories is a 2 hour boat ride up the river in a long boat for just myself and my travel companion ( arranged on the street with the boat owner/driver) and stopping for gas at a 'gas station' that was located aboard another boat. Sweet, sweet place. It is certainly not for everyone but that's okay as those of us who really appreciate places like that won't be so crowded.
Carolyn( aka 'gunga')
Jealous,moi? 2 kids with chicken pox ,a halloween party full of toddlers and a 3 year old who appears to be Pol Pot reincarnated.Why would I be jealous! Just keep swimming,just keep swimming......!!
WOW! wow ..... Great blog and awesome photos !!! just loved it. I visited there in March this year and though it was amazing to say the least. Apart from being sick from day 1 on the trek ( its ok... I recovered after a few days) .. thought I might have to get the medi-vac helicopter out. !! .... and a struggling up the pass at the weeee hours of the morning. Really just an eye opener and relaxing ... if you call walking 6-8 hours a day... which I do !... fantastic !
An informative blog You maintain your diverging path from the rest of the world - it's an excellent course to take. We need more bloggers who ride on the cusp of good taste.
Three cheers for tangents!
Great Blog! Ian Flemming would be proud :) So true, I wish I'd seen some of the Thai islands pre-2005- will I have the same feelings in 2015? going back and reminiscing about the days where there was only one 7/11 and only a couple of mega-resorts...
Dammit! That gives me somewhere else to visit, and I thought we were almost home! Sounds like you're having fun in Estonia. Have they grasped the basics of Aussie Rules yet? Going to Angkor Wat in Cambodia tomorrow, but that's another story....
Nice stuff Heya,
I really enjoyed your blog about Helsinki. I'm from Sydney, but am currently living in Estonia and they certainly know how to enjoy a sauna and a bottle of vodka too. Estonians are essentially cousins and neighbours of the Finns but who unfortunately ended up on the wrong side of the Soviet fence back in the forties. The beer here however is fortunately muuuch cheaper than in Helsinki, which is why their is a brisk trade in shipping Finns backwards and forwards between Helsinki and Tallinn just to buy alcohol. I agree with your take on Nthn European folk although if given the keys to humanity I'm not sure they'd really know what to do with people who weren't blonde and civilised like themselves. There unfortunately is a degree of xenophobia within these idyllic communities. Otherwise, it is lovely being in northern Europe.
Although I've been to Helsinki, Stockholm and Iceland, I've only written the first parts of a blog about Iceland. You can have a look here www.mytb.org/Alt-Gr if you're interested.
All the best and keep up the great blogging.
Regards,
Geoff
So true Great Blog Andy and once again fab photos to accompany.
Having just got back from the U.K I completely agree with all of the above. You managed to put most of my thoughts into a wonderfully eloquent script! A truly interesting read. (How's that for teacher report stylee!!)
" There is a green-eyed yellow idol to the North of Kathmandu..."- did you spot him? Cracking pictures by the way. Look forward to reading more. Cheers Steve, Em and the girl.
Jealous! Jealous, very jealous! You really didn't need to add the comment about it all not being there in a year........... that was smug........... many of your readers (self included) have no hope of escaping to this place for at least ten years....... again condemned to living my life vicariously through my little brother! I am very glad you two enjoyed it all before it goes. I totally agree about walking poles- they enable you to simultaneously break your ankle and poke your own eye out!
Prospect of new job exciting if not a little nail biting! Ken and I found the little hills of northern Italy (only Nevis sized)and the Large Hadron Collider at CERN refreshing after a hard term (I was very pleased with myself as I actually sort of understood what they were trying to do..... looking for Higgs Boson (?), recreating first nanosecond after Big Bang............ no........... the rest has gone........... still I did understand it......... for approximately a nanosecond. Best snorkelling off Menorca of the last three years- all three boys now proficient and ready for the Barrier Reef! George beat the other two and his mother in getting up on those water skis- I have declared myself too old for such a silly and potentially damaging (internally) sport after yet another undignified attempt! If I put this comment here you might read it and not simply delete it!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am not spam!
It was lovely to see you and I hope it will not be so long until next time we meet! Look forward to hearing about the continued adventures.
Lots of Love to you both!
Alison, Ken, Jack, George and Callum XXXXXXXXXXXX
On Ya A bit rich, this tale- coming from a Dentist!!!! Now you have experienced first hand what it feels like when someone inflicts unspeakable horrors upon your imagination. What it feels like when someone hooks that nerve and keeps prodding it, ""Does that hurt sir?"" Makes the bleach, tapeworm and Sulphuric acid seem like an experience to look forward to, doesn't it!!! :)
PS. You do seriously have my sympathy- sounds like an experience one would rather do without, especially when on holiday!
A man after my own heart. I have been very vocal for years about the horror that is the fruit-meat combination, truly the devils work. You do have my interest piqued with the mango beer though. Good work fella.
The poor old friend What did your old friend the hat do to deserve an ending like that !! Your blog is really funny - cheered me up. Give up teeth and become a journalist !!
Lou
So that's what a snatch strap is! Here's me thinking a snatch strap was something entirely different. Glad to hear that Em isn't the only one to be shedding toenails, although yours sounded altogether less traumatic. Happy camping and keep up the good reportage.
They say your whole life flashes before your eyes just before you die.
But the big question is, will it be worth watching?
Andy & Debbie have been traversing the globe for twenty-odd years in search of the answers to Life, the Universe and Everything.
From all the signs so far it's unlikely to be 42, though in fairness, we've yet to come up with a better figure...
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Carolyn Taylor
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Loved your take on Laos
Visited there last April. I get the same reaction from people who think I must be bonkers for not only going there but loving it. Vientiane was a bit of a surprise because of the stinkin' SUV's and 'upscale' morning market that sold more electronics than anything else. Loved L. Prabang. Stayed in a very small boutiquey kind of hotel one street from the river but on the direct route of the monks when they made their morning walk through town to get their food for the day. Our place arranged for us to get some freshely cooked rice( at 5:30 a.m.) and we sat in the street and carefully put it in their bowls. It is imperative that a woman never touch a monk or his bowl :-) One of the best memories is a 2 hour boat ride up the river in a long boat for just myself and my travel companion ( arranged on the street with the boat owner/driver) and stopping for gas at a 'gas station' that was located aboard another boat. Sweet, sweet place. It is certainly not for everyone but that's okay as those of us who really appreciate places like that won't be so crowded. Carolyn( aka 'gunga')