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Vietnam, Cambodia, et. al.

Baku National Park

MALAYSIA | Monday, 12 Jan 2009 | Views [1160]

The #6 bus from Kutching is on its last legs but it costs only two ringgits, about 70 cents for the 45 minute ride to Baku Village.   Once you pay the ten ringgit entry fee you are free to negotiate a boat ride to the park proper.   The open boats ... Read more >


Borneo; First Impressions

MALAYSIA | Friday, 9 Jan 2009 | Views [1196]

Borneo conjures up images of steamy jungles, murky rivers, smoky longhouses and head-hunters with blowpipes.   But you would be surprised, neigh shocked, if you found yourself in, let’s say, Kutching, Sarawak.   The first thing you would notice as ... Read more >


Melaka

MALAYSIA | Monday, 5 Jan 2009 | Views [1183]

Melaka (also spelled Malacca) has been an important center in the spice trade since the 15 th century, initially as a Chinese port.   The Portuguese ran the show for 150 years until the Dutch East India Company took over in the mid-1600s.   Melaka, ... Read more >


Taman Negara National Park

MALAYSIA | Saturday, 3 Jan 2009 | Views [2421]

“Look at the size of this one,” I said pointing to the leech on my calf. It looked like an inch worm when it attached itself but had grown to the size of my thumb as it filled with my blood. These aren’t the water living leeches of “The African Queen” ... Read more >


Kuala Lumpur

MALAYSIA | Tuesday, 30 Dec 2008 | Views [1096]

Most travelers would find a lot to do between Penang and Kuala Lumpur, assuming, of course, they were far enough off the beaten track to be in Malaysia.   There are national parks, beaches and the Cameron Highlands, but we have been to many similar ... Read more >


Christmas, Malaysian Style

MALAYSIA | Saturday, 27 Dec 2008 | Views [684]

Christmas in Penang, Malaysia is a bit non-traditional.   First of all the weather in Georgetown is about 85 degrees and humid.   The majority of the people are Chinese with their Tao/Confucius style of Buddhism.   The rest of the people are either ... Read more >


Gallery: Malaysia

MALAYSIA | Saturday, 27 Dec 2008 | Photo Gallery


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Malay Bound

THAILAND | Wednesday, 24 Dec 2008 | Views [1096]

There was plenty of room in the tiny pick-up when we shared it with Ron and Rose but it became downright cozy on Tuesday morning with seven of us and seven backpacks; it is a good thing Pak Chong was only five miles away.   They held the 8:30 bus for ... Read more >


Gallery: Our Favorites

THAILAND | Monday, 22 Dec 2008 | Photo Gallery

Places and Memories
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Khao Yai National Park

THAILAND | Sunday, 21 Dec 2008 | Views [638]

Remember that old saw, “You get what you pay for?”   Well, it’s true.   We rode the rails Friday from Ayuthaya to Pak Chong, gateway to Khao Yai National Park and were met by the folks from the Greenleaf Guesthouse.   It was our chosen lodging and ... Read more >


Ayuthaya

THAILAND | Thursday, 18 Dec 2008 | Views [555]

We arrived in Ayuthaya (I-U’-T-ah) yesterday afternoon and checked into the PU Guesthouse.   Everything is more expensive than reported in the guidebook and you don’t receive all of the services advertised on the signs but this place will do for a ... Read more >


Sukhothai

THAILAND | Tuesday, 16 Dec 2008 | Views [483]

Schedules suck!   But now that we have made up our minds not to extend our 14-day Thai visas we have to keep moving to squeeze in everything.   Sunday afternoon, our day last in Chiang Mai, we visited two more wats and got foot massages at the Sunday ... Read more >


Of Hill Tribes and "Long-necks"

THAILAND | Saturday, 13 Dec 2008 | Views [2324]

Tourists come to Chiang Mai for many reasons.   Some come cleanse the mind and body with Buddhism, yoga, massage, tai chi, meditation and such.   Others come for the trekking, both by foot and elephant, and to visit the hill tribes; the Karen, white ... Read more >


Chiang Mai

THAILAND | Friday, 12 Dec 2008 | Views [874]

Entering Thailand from Laos at Chiang Khong is the same as dropping into Oz from a tornado like when Dorothy opened the door and stepped from monochrome to a Technicolor world.   It is a shame that our last memory of Laos was Housay.   Thailand is ... Read more >


Gallery: Thailand

THAILAND | Thursday, 11 Dec 2008 | Photo Gallery


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Up the Mekong

LAOS | Wednesday, 10 Dec 2008 | Views [977]

A plane to Chiang Mai, Thailand takes only a few hours and costs $150, twice the price of the 3 day boat/bus trip.   Speedboats are much faster but deaths are not unheard of.  But we have the time and want to see some of the country so we booked the ... Read more >


Luang Prabang

LAOS | Sunday, 7 Dec 2008 | Views [731]

There are people who whinge about a 6-hour flight to Europe.   I wonder what they would say about our 11-hour bus ride from Vientiane to Luang Prabang.   It can’t be much more than 350 km but I estimate several thousand hairpin curves and countless ... Read more >


Vientaine, Laos

LAOS | Wednesday, 3 Dec 2008 | Views [478]

Everyone was excited about the “Happy Face” in the sky last night, two planets (Jupiter and Venus?) and the waning moon.   Perhaps it was a sign of good things to come.   Or maybe just the heavens laughing at us. It was odd to fly once more.   ... Read more >


Gallery: Laos

LAOS | Tuesday, 2 Dec 2008 | Photo Gallery


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An Eye Opener

CAMBODIA | Saturday, 29 Nov 2008 | Views [627]

Like a lotus blossom in the morning sun, each day unfolds in its own special way.   Plans discussed the night before are discarded over breakfast and a new itinerary is adopted.   That is how we happened to take the 20 mile “Grand Tour” of Angkor.... Read more >


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