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Hey everyone
I realise I Haven't written a blog in about 2 months, but I guess my only poor excuse for this is just that I've been way too busy and having way too much fun to write about it. However I feel I should give a general reflection and over view of my time since I last wrote! I know I'm going to babble and quite frankly don't know where to begin, ill start by saying I absolutely love south east Asia, well sometimes it's a love hate relationship but the majority is love!
So from the 4th of June I set off to north Thailand to Chiang Mai via over night train. This is a really quaint town boxed in with ancient city walls and moats. There I went white water rafting, bamboo rafting, trekking the rainforest bare foot, watched thai boxing, watched lady boy Cabaret shows, visited the night markets, temples, and finally rode an elephant sitting between its ears which has to be one of the best experiences ever!
Then I headed up to the beautiful town of Pai situation and hidden high in the mountains. This place was a mix up of oriental kitsch boutiques,laid back hippie bars and the most beautiful mountain views. We chilled here visiting the natural hot springs and walking along the dusty roads taking in the scenery and stayed in a little hut in the middle of a herb garden for 1.75 a night!
After this we headed back to Chiang Mai for a bus to Chiang rai for a short stop to visit the white temple, this is one of the most modern temples in Thailand and is currently still being built however that doesn't lessen it's beauty as its breathtaking .. Inside it even has painting of the twin tower and angry birds, standard Asia for you.
The next day we crossed the river also the border to Laos. Which so far has to be one of my favourite countries due to its amazing culture, history, the locals and the views. It' may be one of the 20th poorest nations in the world, yet that doesn't seem to effect them with their warm kind personalities.
Straight away We took a slow boat down the magnificent Mekong river with breath taking views all around, the first day took 9 hours and the next 7. It's so desolate and untouched which is lovely, we didn't see anything for miles until we stopped at our home stay with a local hill tribe village of around 40 family's.This has to be one of my favourite experiences yet, we were one of the first people to ever stay with them, they spoke no English, had no electricity and no running water yet they were so hospitable and lovely. We went and played with the little boys in the waterfalls and rivers, we had to cover up as I should note that women here are very much second to men with the old fashioned ideals. We then got made a traditional Laos feast which was one of the nicest meals I've had in Asia all whilst sat outside with only candles for light. The elders then performed a bassi blessing ceremony for us, where they tie string round your arm whilst blessing you and chanting. It was a really nice thing to be involved in, and was the beginning of me opening my eyes and realising how happy these people are with just the basic necessities of life.
Next day we were back travelling down the Mekong, stopping on the way visiting some caves full of hundreds of Buddhas and giving them our offerings that the home stay had given us. We then continued until we arrived in Luang Prabang, this place was so beautiful. The beautiful thing about Laos is that even the main towns are fairly untouched and not yet ruined by tourism. We visited the Quan si waterfalls which were the most crystal blue prettiest falls I'd ever seen. We ate all you can eat buffets for 60p and bottles of whiskey for 80! There's an 11 o'clock curfew for drinking, unless here you go bowling so you can imagine every one heading there is pretty fun. One of my most favourite days was just renting out a little bicycle and biking round the whole of Luang Prabang then climbing up to their temple which had some of the most breath taking views of the mountains that I'd ever seen, pictures didn't do it justice.
Next up was vang vieng, this meant climbing higher up into the mountains, driving along side people living in wooden shacks. Everything here kind of reminds me of jungle book! Vang vieng consisted of tubing down the river, stopping at bars along the way surrounded by amazing limestone rocks, sitting watching friends in restaurants for hours on end and visiting a locals night club of which you had to cross an air field and wade through a river to get there. Going out at home is going to be so dull! I forgot to mention the hostel we stayed at here was the worst yet, nails coming out of the beds, bars around the windows, and glass smashed around the walls to stop being coming in. Not to mention the owner who used to steal your flip flops and drive his car with roller blades haha was a funny experience!
Once on the move again we stopped in at a cope exhibition centre for cluster bombs and survivors. This is because Laos is the most bombed country in the world as during whats known as the secret war America dropped millions of bombs every day whilst fighting with Vietnam. This was so insiteful as really made you appreciate what the people of Laos had been through and how positive they still are despite that, the same I soon found out could be said for Cambodians. That night was interesting, we camped at an 'off the beaten track' waterfall however due to wet season had to stay in the parks museum.. We had cats and dogs sat on our table at dinner, stray monkeys come steal our food, rationed candles and I woke up to find one side of my face had had a reaction to something and had blown up twice the size aha!
Next night -constantly on the move- we stayed at kong lor, home to rice fields and towering limestone rocks. This was so desolate and so beautiful, like stepping back into the 1800's with its old style farming using buffaloes,bare basics and not any other tourists in sight. We visited the 7 km long caves, which we incredible even more so that people hid in them for years during the war!
Up next was Xe chomphone another remote village home to hundreds and hundreds of monkeys! We fed these crazy creatures lots of bananas, walked to the library where old monk scriptures were written and ate another delicious meal- bugs included. Again not stopping the morning after we left to visit an old turtle lake some 200 years old and said to be sacred. We stopped at paske for the night for a good old curry and then went to a bar where 200 locals stared at us as we were the only 'Falangs' (white people) there ha! Again going home is going to be so boring!
Our last stop in Laos was to be don det.. An inland hippy island set in the Mekong river surrounded by many other tiny little islands. It was so nice to chill here, lying in our hammocks watching the most beautiful sun set I've ever seen! Spent a day cycling to another island called don khon, which was so beautiful. So many water buffaloes and locals washing in the river! We made jokes and moaned about our shower being Mekong river water and being smelly, but for these people they have to do it every day of their lives! We watched these little boys jumping off the highest bridge into the river, just playing and having fun!
We went fishing the next day, Laos style and of course I caught nothing but weeds and baked myself silly in the sun. But the views were incredible riding past people washing in the river, children waving at us and people farming.. This is their lives and made me think what do I ever have really to be in a bad mood about?? I'm so lucky to have the life I'm given, especially as these people will never probably leave their country. We just take so much for granted, yet the people here are so kind, hard working and truly grateful for all that you give them.
Was truly sad to leave Laos, minus the hundreds of squat toilets and bug infested food it's been amazing. I've learnt so much about their culture, religion, way of life and history and so grateful I got to see it.
To be continued; Cambodia & Thailand part 2.
- comments
Nanny Sue Gracie, Wow,what at experience. It sounds like you didn't stop for breath while you were there!! Keep safe, travel safe and can't wait for episode two.
Spamala Ha loving it!! As soon as u mention Falang it made me smile and so much came back to me.. might have to take a trip to combodia by the sounds of it. Glad u liked the white temple and still loving it. Looking forward to a Gracie Laine piss up but yes its never the same... camp out on yarko beach wih a bucket of booze and a hoola hoop for thai style ring of fire haha... hence the eng version seeming dull to me haha. Love India babe!! Xx
MD G... just got around to reading your blog. its been so long since you wrote the last, i have not reminded me to check... glad i did as it is truely heart felt. glad you have experienced so much and found yourself ( it would seem) . cant wait to see you in less than a week now eeeeeekkkk! love Ma x