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Our SE Asia Tour 2013
Although it is not yet the end of our travels we have decided to end this journal. We are together with our friend Rerk at Hua Hin for three days then we head home via KL. We are both a little weary of travel. What are our impressions? Burma: Overpriced. If you have been to the other, greater, attractions of SE Asia then Burma is probably not worth the visit. Good to have visited at the present time of rapid change which will make following the future development of the country interesting. Provided they can make a smooth change to democracy Burma will become a powerhouse of the region. Nice people. Boring food. Vietnam: This visit was quite short and restricted to Hanoi and Sapa. Hanoi is fun and interesting. Sapa was not. Not worth the effort and expense of going there. Laos: Nostalgic visit for us. No, we would not like to live there again. Overall, it would probably be an easier place to live in now but maybe not as much fun or as pleasant. The Plain of Jars was interesting but the accommodation the worst we have experienced in a very long time. The drive to Luang Prabang was scenic. Luang Prabang was interesting and a very nice place to spend a few days. The boat trip on the Mekong was great and highly recommended and the hotel in the middle of the jungle at Pak Beng excellent. Thailand: Disappointing. Chiang Mai, not to mention Chiang Rai, were exceedingly boring. Hill Tribe Tourism: Dreadful. Don't do it. Our two brief encounters, in Sapa Vietnam and Chiang Rai Thailand were depressing experiences. Other tourists: we have seen both ends of the spectrum, from the well heeled European seniors tottering along in their "Old Geezer" group tours in Burma to the awesomely scruffy young backpackers chilling out over their all-day breakfasts in Chiang Mai. Now, in Hua Hin, we have the fat aged Europeans escaping the winter cold and exposing their "all" to the tropical sun. Ick! Having nearly completed this quite long trip of six weeks and visited all of the notable attractions of the area we can now say that we have no need to come back to SE Asia. We may choose to come back for some specific purpose (eg trekking in Nepal) but it would be to one, or at most two, places and for a much shorter period. Travel can be exceedingly tedious and the Air Asia slogan ("Now Everyone Can Travel") sums up why we are no longer so keen to do so.
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Mick Watts Hi Clive and Cheryl, Decided to have a late look in the hope that your moral had returned by the end of the trip ... seems not. However the photos are fantastic as always. We hope Rerk returns home soon as he could have prevented our recent drama in a local Thai restaurant where we order Chicken Surprise. After a long delay the waiter brought the meal, served in a lidded cast iron pot. Just as the Janet was about to serve herself, the lid of the pot rises slightly and she briefly saw two beady little eyes looking around before the lid slams back down. She asked me to lift the lid and as I reached over the lid rises again before slaming down again. I called the waiter over and explained what happened. The waiter then asked me to confirm what we ordered?' I told him 'Chicken Surprise’! And to my surprise, he said 'Ah! So sorry, I bring you Peeking Duck'. I guess i should go quietly and sit in the naughty corner. We are looking forward to catching up.
Mick Watts Ops. Need an edit: Add an 'e' to 'moral'. Do'h!