It’s funny how I’ve just started to enjoy this city, on what is due to be my last day here. I spent a lovely Wednesday and Thursday crusing aboard a junk on Ha Long Bay. It all felt rather luxurious – the constant supply of seafood, the cabin to myself, the sundeck. The highlight for [...]
I realized that at some point recently, I crossed the half-way mark of my time in Asia.
Starting a two-day cruise of Ha Long Bay tomorrow morning. Should be good. After that, a sleeper from Hanoi to Hue and from there, bus to Hoi An.
Spent today wandering Hanoi. Circumnavigated Hoan Kiem Lake, visited the Hanoi Museum [...]
Woke up feeling mostly better. Today’s mission is to find a cheap guesthouse with a common area, make some new travelling buddies, and book a trip to Ha Long Bay.
Took advantage of the network cable in my room to upload my photos from the last week or so. Mekong voyage here. Luang [...]
My last few days in Luang Prabang were pretty fantastic, in general. On Saturday, we took a little bus to the village of Pak Ou and a longboat across the Mekong to limestone caves, set in the cliffs. Inside the caves are hundreds upon hundreds of buddha images. The upper cave was deserted when I [...]
This is possibly the nicest place I’ve been. Spent yesterday wandering around the old French-colonial city. Silk shops, cafes, markets. Street food. Fried seaweed. Chilli in everything. Bliss.
I could spend a lot longer, but I’m running out of time. Heading to Vientiene tomorrow morning, and from there to Hanoi.
Still have a lot of photos to [...]
My first full day in Luang Prabang, today. Had a lovely breakfast of a french baguette filled with an omlette, tomato and cucumber (and, of course, some chilli). Looks to be a lovely town. I’ll be exploring on moped or bicycle, this afternoon. Not much traffic, but they drive on the right side of [...]
Had a great time with St. Patrick’s day, last night. I played two hands of switch with a group of Irishmen and women, and came out 200B ahead. Paid for my drinks all night. Also headed to the rockin’ Heaven Beach bar, with the best cover band I’ve seen in ages. They played Teen Spirit [...]
It doesn’t take much to remind us that we, the invincible backpackers, are actually quite fragile. My friend Dafne is in the Chiang Mai private hospital with some kind of fever, tonight, after what sounds like an awfully uncomfortable night in Pai. She still has a high fever, and is absolutely exhausted after a few [...]
Today started brilliantly. The full monty to ease my savage hangover (the horrors, as Jo would say, and my first bacon in a week), then back to Hofp Coffee, where I intended to check my mail but instead spent three hours talking to the beautiful, erudite, and all round pretty awesome girl, Mercedes, [...]
Just spent the last three days strolling through the jungle. Had a fantastic time, in general, and got to know my Hua Lumphong friends a little better. Anja, Jo, Dafne and I were together for pretty much all of the time. We were joined for the first day of the trek by the lovely Chris [...]