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Chiang Rai to Chiang Mai
Today I travelled the short distance from Chiang Rai to Chiang Mai by bus. The trip was very straight forward leaving from the central station in Chiang Rai. The journey took four hours and was longer than expected as the road over the hills between Chiang Rai and Chiang Mai is being improved from a single carriage to a dual carriage road. Much of the way the road was reduced to a dirt track whilst the expand the old road. I arrived in Chiang Mai where I will be spending 10 days until I fly to India. I’m looking forward to staying in one place for a longer time as…
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Chiang Rai Day 2
Today I did a very touristy thing and went on a organised sightseeing trip of the countryside around Chiang Rai. Most of the main attractions are 20 – 40 minutes from the city and so you need transport to get around. I booked myself onto a one day trip organised by the hostel. A car arrived to pick me up at 8.30 am. I was surprised that there was only two of us taking the tour along with a trainee guide Jenny and our driver. The other guy was a structural engineer from Gangnam in South Korea (as in the song Gangnam style) who was called Soo. He was 64…
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Huay Xai to Chiang Rai
Today I crossed the border from Laos back into Thailand via Friendship Bridge. I brought a cheap bus ticket to Chiang Rai from the hostel. A tuk tuk picked me up at 8.30 am and took me to the bus station where I boarded the Chiang Rai service. The tuk tuk driver explained that the bus would first stop on the Laos side of the bridge where I would need to get out and complete the immigration control and then get back on the bus to cross the Thai border were I would obtain a Thailand visa. The bus would then continue to Chiang Rai. The first stage of the…
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Slow boat from Luang Prabang to Huay Xai
Today I started a two day slow boat journey along the Mekong river from Luang Prabang to Huay Xai on the northern Thailand border. The journey started at 7.30 am when I was picked up from the hostel by a tuk tuk van. After picking up several other tourists we arrived at the slow boat pier just outside of the city. We boarded the local boat service for the first leg of the journey from Luang Prabang to Pak Bang. The boat route is very popular with tourists but is usually taken in the opposite direction taking the river down stream from Huay Xai as this is much faster. The…
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Huay Xai to Chiang Rai
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Luang Prabang Day 4
On my last day in Luang Prabang I went to the visit old Royal Palace in the centre of town. It seemed strange to me that a communist country would preserve reminders of the old monarchy and colonial rule which was abolished in 1975. I was not allowed to take photos inside of the palace which was built in 1904. It has a very simple interior compared to European palaces with many french influences and gifts from the US on display. The palace grounds also house Wat Ho Pha Bang which contains the sacred Pha Bang (a solid gold statue of the Buddha) from which the city gets its name.…
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Luang Prabang Day 2
I hired a motorbike to explore the countryside around Luang Prabang. The main attraction is Tat Kuang Si waterfall. It was a 40 minute drive from the city and I headed out early before the main tourist buses and vans arrive. The falls have many tiers cascading over limestone formations. The limestone had turned the water a beautiful turquoise blue. The falls were great with a high series of tumbling cascades. Within the national park is Kuang Si Rescue Centre where wild asiatic moon bears captured from poachers are rehabilitated. The bears were very cute and it is sad that they are poached for their bile which is used in…
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Luang Prabang Day 1
I woke refreshed having had a great nights sleep after the exhausting bus trip the day before. I went to visit the central market in town where the locals villages sell their produce. Alongside the fresh fruit and vegetables I was surprised to see various wild animal meat being sold openly both dead and alive. There were rodents of various kinds moving around in nets, skinned rats and squirrels, bats and wild birds. Many Lao people are unable to afford farmed meat and so are dependent on wild animals and insects as a major source of protein to supplement their rice diet. The impact of this on the environment was…
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Don Khon to Luang Prabang
Today I travelled from the very southern tip of Laos to the northern city of Luang Prabang. It was a long journey covering over 1200 km and taking 27 hours travelling by boat, two rickshaws, three minivans and a sleeper bus. The ticket only cost 360,000 Kip (£37) which was very good value. The journey started from Don Khon where I was picked up at 3.30 pm by a longboat to be taken to Nakasong. It was a perfect sunny afternoon for the boat ride. At Nakasong I transferred to a minivan for a 2 hour trip to Pakse. It was a smooth journey with a very careful driver. I…
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Kayaking at 4000 Islands in Laos
Today I went on an organised kayak trip on the Mekong River at 4000 islands. I had learnt a lesson from my previous kayak adventure and left my camera at home and kept my phone in a water proof bag. I strapped up my broken toe and wore sports sandals to protect my feet. I was picked up by long boat at 8 am from the guest house I was staying at on Don Khon. The boat took me neighbouring Don Dhet island for breakfast at Mr Mo’s restaurant over looking the river where I met our guide and the other 4 people taking the trip. The trip started by…
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Don Khon Day 2
Today was a day of chilling out on Don Khon island. I hired a bicycle and toured the small island and neighbouring Don Dhet. In the morning I found a quiet place by the river to hang my hammock and relax. I cycled to the Don Dhet for lunch and to find out information about how to Luang Prabang in two days time. I had lunch in a lovely Indian restaurant overlooking the river. In the afternoon I cycled backed to Don Khon island to visit the Li Phi waterfalls which were only a short cycle ride from where I was staying. The waterfalls are impressive and provides a view…
Mark's year of world adventures
