Hey From Bangkok,
Ive done a complete U bend and I'm back in Bangkok briefly...a brilliant mix of experiences and memories are behind me now.. I left Bangkok at the start of September and headed down to the island of Koh Tao. Here i found a new hobby to add to my list of favourite things... maybe i can combine sports physiology with divers or opt for my back up career of photography and underwater pictures.....endless imagination in my mind at present.
That's the beauty of travel your mind wonders between dreamland except its not always a dream its reality right in front of you. One truly special moment has to be when i was standing in the middle of a bridge in Nong Khaiw (Laos) surrounded by great limestone karsts with the echoing sounds of crickets and bugs filling the air. Above me a whole 180 degree spectrum of night starry sky was beaming, crystal clear, absolutely beautiful. This experience maybe lasted 20minutes but it was so beautiful any worries or burdens left my mind temporarily. This memory will stay with me for life.
Diving in Koh Tao opened the doors to travel in Laos..here i travelled with two friends Farrell the Irish guy and Zac the South African. We took the bus to Viantene the capital of Laos and enjoyed scenic views over the Mekong river with relaxing lazy days wondering the humid streets and cooler riverside strolls among the food stalls and colourful night markets .
Scooters became a popular get around. This started in Koh Tao with a gang of us venturing to hidden coves to explore and swim, then in Laos we took them out of the city to Buddha Park. A tranquil place by night. We arrived in just enough time to explore the sculptures by sunlight and then we got to see the statues change shape as dusk took over. Once the moon was out the park became completely empty except the three of us, and again i experienced this uplifting feeling with everything becoming at peace and i felt blessed to be there, lucky to be there, another special memory to remember.
We headed onto Vang Vieng i typical tourist location which is easy to see why as the views are amazing. I would love to have come across this small town before tourism had taken over, and before the Laos local charm had been ruined by TV bars and drunkenness. Still that aside i loved this place..for a few days and then the western overhaul annoyed me. The quaint island tree house bars with hammocks and bamboo glasses was a great experience, but the highlight was a day exploring the countryside on mountain bikes. Here we came across small untouched villages with such friendly people all Saibadee, Saibadee (hello). We found a secluded cave to crawl through and then took shelter in a small bamboo hut from a downpour that hit us up in the hills. We slipped on the muddy trails and we felt at war with the rain and the mud and then the puddles that grew on the trails. While it was raining this small boy was running along side us, keeping up with us as we cycled up a big hill. Zac lifted him up and he sat on his handlebars for some of our journey until he signalled we were at his house. Everyone says how friendly the Laos people are, but i don't agree..i would say that the innocent village children hearding along muddy paths in their matching school uniforms are really friendly, all smiles and waves and that's uplifting!
The thing all tourists do is Tubing on the river Nam Som and i cant fault this experience it was great fun, and puts all water parks to shame..a great experience where all tourists mingle together and be merry while clinging on to each others
tractor inner tyres and floating down the river together.
Next stop Luang Probang another tourist hot spot, but i didn't have the spiritual experience that everyone claims they have. I felt it was over priced and with little charm (especially as EVERYONE had told me how nice the town was). My highlight was probably night bowling with some Belgium people we met...no i lie it has to be a trip to the nearby waterfall. After my ventures at Victoria Falls i have fallen in love with waterfalls, however, i think it is going to be very hard to beat that experience...but Laos made a worthy effort and the day was topped by swimming in the plunge pools that collect at the base of the layered falls...However seeing a poor innocent puppy whimpering in pain because it had been hit by a car was so upsetting, and i just wanted to take him home and help ease his pain :( with cuddles and a vet !
Nong Khaiw is idyllic... small village street a couple of riverside bungalows and maybe 4 restaurants...wone being an Indian restaurant which had amazing chicken tikka masala !
We stayed in bamboo riverside huts, full of ants, but the views from our balcony were amazing. Watching boats travel up and down the river and hearing all the night sounds..it was paradise. One day we got welcomed into a locals house to drink Laos Laos ( the local spirit made from sticky rice and very strong). We sat around a table with 7 men and took shots of Laos Laos and then shared a glass which got passed around the table topped with BeerLaos.. Then the mans wife prepared lunch (yep it was only around 3am on a Saturday) and it was Lap Salad...mmmmhhh not my favourite ! One mouthful was all i needed of raw very spicy fish with chopped chillies and more chillies! Great experience though, however, we made an exit before more Laos Laos was offered and we felt obliged to accept.
A boat trip up the river was great fun, we learnt to fish using traditional mesh nets with Mr 'Fish man' our boat driver, what we nicknamed him, as he just was an animal...munching on sand and throwing himself into the river after his fishing net...a man brought up on the river in a tiny local village for sure. We caught no fish but did visit a small hill tribe village and saw lots of ducklings wandering around..soo cute..and the people all so friendly to us 'The Westerners'.
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