LAOS | Sunday, 10 Jun 2007 | Views [2688]
Our guide has been a bit of a challenge for us. It's not his fault... the government tourism manager we contracted with for this trek put him in this situation, so it's truly an issue for the manager. So we're trying to be patient and supportive with ... Read more >
Tags: Adventures
LAOS | Saturday, 9 Jun 2007 | Views [2546]
We awoke to the sounds of animals below the cracked floor boards upon which we slept. First the crowing of the roosters woke up the cows, the buffalo groan and the pigs let out squeals of hunger. I got up and asked our guide where we were supposed ... Read more >
Tags: Adventures
LAOS | Saturday, 9 Jun 2007 | Views [3326]
It was 5:30 am, and we've woken up to the noise of roosters, cows, chickens and other animals... the sounds blending into a real rhythm, and I honestly thought I was hearing school children chanting and singing in the distance. We stowed our big packs ... Read more >
Tags: Adventures
LAOS | Friday, 8 Jun 2007 | Views [2772]
The Government in Laos is very keen to educate visitors to this country on how to behave while visiting. It's actually quite helpful, and they do it in a way that's quite entertaining- through cartoon strips. These "etiquette or rules" cartoons ... Read more >
Tags: Culture
LAOS | Friday, 8 Jun 2007 | Views [1089]
In Northern Laos, there is very limited tourist infrastructure. There were five of us together, wanting to do a trek (Darrin, I, an Argentinean, Italian, and Spaniard) We wandered the streets trying to communicate with people, in search of a trekking ... Read more >
Tags: Adventures
LAOS | Thursday, 7 Jun 2007 | Views [2977]
..."good luck to everybody" reads the sign at the bus station, above the ticket window. That sign says it all, so clearly. It means, we hope our bus gets you to your destination; it will require much luck, as our non-serviced, overly packed ... Read more >
Tags: Misadventures
LAOS | Wednesday, 6 Jun 2007 | Views [1415]
Our experience getting our Laos visas and crossing the border through immigration went so smoothly, it was a bit scary. Our agent had our visas and passport departure stamp from Thailand already organized. We soared through the Thai border and were ... Read more >
Tags: On the Road
LAOS | Tuesday, 5 Jun 2007 | Views [1097]
Our bus from Pai to Chiang Kong took all day. We had to backtrack to Chiang Mai, and then proceed north to the border town of Chiang Kong. We stopped off at a cashew and sesame factory enroute, and stocked up on some yummy treats for the ride. We were ... Read more >
Tags: On the Road
THAILAND | Sunday, 3 Jun 2007 | Views [940]
The only way to keep cool was to rent a motorbike and cruise around all day, wind blowing in our faces. We hired just one - a little scooter type bike, and helmets that were more like a helmut you'd give a child to wear on their "hot wheels,"... Read more >
Tags: Culture
THAILAND | Saturday, 2 Jun 2007 | Views [1064]
Thailand is truly not like we remember it to be years ago. When we were here 10 plus years ago, children and adults waved and shouted "sa wat dii," and were all smiles. I recall the outskirts of Bangkok where locals were still surprised and ... Read more >
Tags: Food & eating
THAILAND | Thursday, 31 May 2007 | Views [1193]
We're using this trip to open our minds to new career possibilities. Being away from the traditional office grind environment has allowed us the chance to listen to our creative sides and explore old and new passions. Darrin has always been super creative ... Read more >
Tags: Food & eating
THAILAND | Tuesday, 29 May 2007 | Views [757]
We are back in Thailand, and have made our way up to Chiang Mai, on a cheap Air Asia flight. It's about 100 degrees Fahrenheit, with 90 percent humidity, and we're seeking refuge in an air conditioned guest house finishing up our web content to share ... Read more >
Tags: Food & eating
THAILAND | Monday, 28 May 2007 | Views [900]
Americaannnn Mannn.... coos the young Thai boy in the hostel next door to us, as Darrin walks over to inquire about wireless service for the third time. Thailand, like Rio and Sydney, is a great place for people to just "be themselves." There's ... Read more >
Tags: Friends
MYANMAR | Saturday, 26 May 2007 | Views [1108]
We saved the most majestic site for last... The grand Shwedagon Paya in Yangon. From afar, you'd think you might be near Disney's magic kingdom. This glittering golden monument rises 98 meters and can be seen throughout the city. It's over 2500 years ... Read more >
Tags: Culture
MYANMAR | Friday, 25 May 2007 | Views [1153]
As if we haven't had enough torturous bus rides here, we again opted to put ourselves through it again. 15 hours, no A/C, windows that don't open, and a busload of betel-nut spitting zealots... Yep, our last bus ride in Myanmar, from Bagan to Yangon ... Read more >
Tags: planes trains & automobiles
MYANMAR | Thursday, 24 May 2007 | Views [1014]
Another scorcher today, I was feeling a little better after managing to keep some toast in me, so we decided to rent a couple of bicycles to explore the ancient sites. The hotel rented beach-cruiser type bikes equipped with baskets and bells. We spent ... Read more >
Tags: Culture
MYANMAR | Thursday, 24 May 2007 | Views [823]
Behind the big beautiful smiles and cheerful "hello's" and "mingalaba's", several locals told us that the Burmese people are generally sad and troubled. They used to fight it, but have been so crushed, both physically and psychologically ... Read more >
Tags: Culture
MYANMAR | Wednesday, 23 May 2007 | Views [1042]
Looking out over the land here in Bagan, it's a surreal landscape... with thousands upon thousands of Buddhist monuments protruding up into the sky. It's like having landed on the moon, it's that unusual. A 100 degree Fahrenheit day, with next to 90 ... Read more >
Tags: Culture
MYANMAR | Tuesday, 22 May 2007 | Views [893]
As if we hadn't had enough of the bus, we took another to Bagan from Mandalay. We had wanted to take the full day boat, but it didn't leave for a few days because it's low tourist season now. Our bus this time was truly a local experience. We thought ... Read more >
Tags: planes trains & automobiles
MYANMAR | Monday, 21 May 2007 | Views [1065]
We had the opportunity to be taken into a local town today by our driver, for a special local Burmese meal. While we've had the ah so tasty roadside bus pit stop meals at local diners, that really doesn't count as a home cooked meal. We got served up ... Read more >
Tags: Food & eating
MYANMAR | Monday, 21 May 2007 | Views [920]
We have outdone our Indian experience of being the tourist attraction for the locals here in Mandalay. So much so, that the local girls wanting their picture with us - after working up the nerve to ask us, ended up blowing it up into a glossy postcard ... Read more >
Tags: Laughter
MYANMAR | Sunday, 20 May 2007 | Views [2627]
We opted to take a "share taxi" to Mandalay, as the cost was similar to that which we would pay for a bus, and we're kind of burned out on Myanmar busses at the moment. Not sure quite what to expect, we half thought it might be a van with a ... Read more >
Tags: Misadventures
MYANMAR | Saturday, 19 May 2007 | Views [1015]
We awoke early to the sound of long-tail boat motors revving up and speeding down the river channel en route to another days work. Life on the river and lake buzzes with activity. Men stand in long, narrow wooden long-tail boats scooping out massive ... Read more >
Tags: Markets
MYANMAR | Friday, 18 May 2007 | Views [921]
The road to Inle was no different than all the other non-maintained roads in Myanmar; big potholes, curving narrow strips of road. We boarded a local bus in Kalaw (as if we hadn't had enough bus experience our last trip) and they packed it full, inside ... Read more >
Tags: planes trains & automobiles
MYANMAR | Thursday, 17 May 2007 | Views [1255]
Trekking through this beautiful countryside, dotted with Buddhist stupas, one begins to appreciate the devout followership and belief of Buddhism that fuels these people to strive for a better life in the next to come. In a country where people essentially ... Read more >
Tags: Culture
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