Sabaidee Laos!!!

Our next destination was the People's Democratic Republic of Laos, the destination on our itinerary that I knew nothing about except that it is the least well known country in South-East Asia and you can go tubing on a river. To get to Luang Prabang we had to cross the Thailand-Laos border at Chang Kong, about 8 hours minibus drive from Chang Mai. The Mekong River serves as the border between Chang Kong and Huay Xai. We had expected to take a two day slowboat from Huay Xai to Luang Prabang, as is the customary backpacker method, however due to dams being built in China upriver, the river was too dry and shallow to be able to take the slowboat so we had to take a minivan. A minivan for eleven hours on windy mountainous unpaved roads. Though the drive was less than comfortable it gave us a great way to see the undeveloped lush and sprawling mountainous landscape of Laos.

I fell instantly in love with Luang Prabang, a tiny French village on a peninsula of the Mekong River. Shops and cafes are built in colonial France style, orange-clad monks wander from temple to temple and cafes serve up sumptuous Laos coffee and croissants. We explored the temples and shops around the main road, getting suckered into buying too many silk scarves at the night market.

Our most memorable day here was our visit to the Tat Kuang Si waterfalls. Ashley and I decided to be adventurous and bicycle to the waterfalls... 35 km from Luang Prabang. Did I mention that Laos was mountainous? And that we don't cycle? The 10 km mark was the hardest. Sitting on the side of the road dizzy and regretful, ready to give up and hail a tuk tuk to take us the remaining 25 km, the passing tuk tuks with laughing passengers, Jessie included, encouraged us to put our pride first and finish the ride. The ride to the waterfall was a test of the body and spirit. We enjoyed the beautiful countryside at a more leisurely pace than one out in a tuk tuk. We arrived at the waterfalls 3 hours after setting out and about one hour before it shut. The waterfalls were a true Eden. Lush foliage lined the blue waters of the waterfalls and swimming lagoons. One of the swimming lagoons had a ropeswing attached to an overhanging tree and after a 35km bike ride we didn't hesitate to swing into the freezing cold lagoon in a manner that would make Tarzan proud.



The following day we set off for Vang Vieng. We were told by many that the tubing on the river is the thing to do. We had no idea what exactly this entailed. Much like Koh Phi Phi, Vang Vieng turned out to be like a European spring break with less of the westernization... We found cozy bungalows on the other side of the river away from the town. Stunning limestone cliff faced mountains surround the area encapsulating this hidden gem destination. The nightlife was a line of bars set on an island in the river. Bucket Bar (yes, they serve drinks in buckets) started the party off, which would move to the neighboring bars throughout the night and into the early morning.

After a good night's sleep in our bungalows we decided to check out the tubing experience. Beers in hand we set off on our tubes for the first populated bar on the river. Every bar had a trapeze pendulum swing - so dangerous... for those unskilled non-Bermudians anyway, yet so much fun! We spent the day jumping off of high dives, and shocking the crowds by diving off the swings. A lot of our day was spent cringing at the people who would realize their fears of heights, barely making it off the platform before they ditched the swing... way to close to the rocks that jutted out at the foot of the platform. The best bars are at the top of the river and quickly regretted renting tubes.



We got in touch with our adventurous sides and dallied scooters through the countryside and over some rickety bridges to discover stunning limestone caves and lagoons that rivalled Bermuda's. Our much needed tour guide equipped us with headlamps and took us through a cave crawling with big cave spiders. Fears of the dark and spiders (and particularly spiders in the dark) were challenged.



Our final stop in Laos was the capital city of Vientienne. Wanting a break from spending several hours travelling on the bumpy unkempt roads around the windy mountains in a minibus, we decided to kayak down the river from Vang Vieng to Vientienne (well technically we drove an hour and a half, kayaked for a couple of hours and then drove another hour). Vientenne was much more developed and western than everywhere else we saw in Laos but it was still incredibly charming. Unfortunately we did not have the time to do the city justice. We ate some wonderful food and hit up the local bowling alley which was strangely and wonderfully playing recent hiphop - definitely forgot that we weren't at Warwick Lanes!

Laos was the biggest and best surprise of the trip so far and I had the time of my life. Laos, thank you for the wonderful memories!

Always with us.

My thoughts, heart, and all of my love is with my Mitchell Family for their unbelievable loss.

Peter, I will miss you dearly. You have always shown me such an amazing amount of love and made me feel like part of your family - it has meant the world to me. I am truly thankful to have had the opportunity to know such an amazing man who has given so much to so many. I love you.

Jessie, I miss you already. I love you and wish I was there with you... Stay strong and remember that he will always be with you.

X

Thailand: From Dancing in Phi Phi to Zipping around in Chiang Mai

Thailand - After a late night flight we arrived bright and early in beautiful Thailand and headed straight for the popular backpackers area, Khao San Road, Bangkok. As it was so early, rooms were not available so we ditched our bags and headed down the road lined with stalls. What a change from India where we often were searching for other backpackers, the road and restaurants were packed with Westerners. With only one night in Bangkok this time around, we explored a bit of the city by Tuk Tuk. Our driver was a mad Thai man who popped wheelies every chance he got. Bahhhhhht!

We headed South by an overnight bus from Bangkok to Krabi, a port to get to the Western Islands. This bus was slightly more comfortable than the overnight bus in India, but annoying because we had to switch buses at 5am. From Krabi it was a ferry to Koh Phi Phi.

Koh Phi Phi is a beautiful island in the Indian Ocean with high cliffs and flourishing greenery. With over 6,000 new tourists arriving daily, many of which were European, it is like a European Spring Break destination for a good time, good weather and good views. We spent five days here enjoying massages, snorkeling, diving, hiking to viewpoints, drinking buckets and dancing.

From Phi Phi we headed to Phuket. Where unfortunately Sarah left us and headed to Vietnam. We miss you Sarah, can't wait to meet back up with you in Cambodia!

For our day in Phuket we rented bikes and explored the coastline. We enjoyed freshly cooked seafood at a little fish market, gazed at the breathtaking views from the "Big Buddah" and did a bit of shopping in the lively town of Patong Beach. It was quite an adventure, especially navigating in the dark back to Phuket town. We got slightly lost, drove in circles for a bit and had an interesting encounter with two local police men. Remember to take your license if you ever rent bikes in Phuket!

We flew North to Chiang Mai next where we spent eight days enjoying the city and surrounding areas. Chiang Mai has the largest market I've ever seen, The "Walking Street Market" on Sunday. It spans for several blocks down one road then branches down two side streets for a few more blocks. We spent four hours walking up and down the streets buying trinkets and getting massages, still not managing to get through the whole thing! We also visited a Thai Silk factory where we observed and learned how to make Thai silk using a manual loom. You have to be quite coordinated to handle it!

To feed our wild side we ventured out of the city and up the mountain for some Zip-Lining with the Thai run company Jungle Flight. It was a rush to swing from sky bridge to sky bridge staring out over the Thai rainforest. We highly recommend this company, the guides (Capt. Jack Sparrow & Tom Cruise especially) were very comical and made the adventure that much more interesting and fun.

Chiang Mai is home to "The Tiger Kingdom" where you can go and cuddle with the beautiful animals. We had a great day snuggling up to big, medium and small tigers, even a small lion.

Rachel turned 24 while we were in Chiang Mai. HAPPY BIRTHDAY RACH! We enjoyed a lovely evening in celebration starting with an all-you-can-eat buffet at one of the nicest hotels in town - the Shangri-la. We followed this with some Muay Thai boxing, and ended the night at a Rasta bar where we bopped to the beat of a great live Ska Band.

After Chiang Mai we headed to the border in Chiang Khong to cross the Mekong to Laos...

Rishikesh: A Little Slice of Heaven

Rishikesh, Uttarakhand - also known as the Land of the Gods, made for a perfect and bitter sweet ending to our exploration of India. We were very lucky to have stumbled across the Shri Sant Shiva Ashram which couldn't have been more perfect. Situated right beside the famous Lakshman Jhoola suspension bridge, our very large balcony overlooked the holy river Ganges, framed by the majestic Himalayas in the background.

We spent many days here pampering ourselves with yoga, massage and Reiki appointments, and enjoyed many fantastic meals at our favorite restaurant in town - the Little Buddha Cafe. We enjoyed a hike to the waterfall, a dramatic run in with Char and a grumpy monkey, and a very authentic cooking course - making for a very fulfilling week.

Goodbye for now India.....

Rajasthan: Squatting and Seduction

Our longing to return to Pushkar faded quickly on the long drive back to Delhi, with an over night stop off in Mandawa. It was on these drives through Rajasthan that we noticed so many intriguing things that are commonly seen around India. We learned that Indians know how to make things fit - if there is not enough room inside a bus, they'll just hop on top!

We witnessed hundreds of Indians in the squatting position that men and women commonly use when chillin with their buddies on the side of the road. Also, it became apparent to us that only women are seen working in the fields in the heat of the day, or walking the streets carrying heavy loads on their heads, while the men sell food and useless items from their stall or sit around chatting with their mates.

My respect grew even more for these women when I noticed how each one wore their beautiful, brightly coloured sarees even when hard at work... What I love most about these sarees is how they help a woman look beautiful and innocent yet slightly seductive, as it covers the majority of their skin while framing their figure in a very feminine way. I've noticed that they are always graceful with the way they carry themselves and their confidence shines through as they walk with their heads held high and their gazes focused.

We realized how uncommon it is for Tourists to visit these villages one day, when we decided to purchase some fruit from a small vendor on the corner of a village street. We managed to attract a large crowd of boys and men, each one with the same look of excited astonishment on their faces as they stood just a foot away from us, staring. It was a very strange experience... but worth it - the oranges tasted amazing... although they didn't top Bermuda's oranges!

We learned later after speaking to a fellow traveller that the boys in the village were probably standing there with hope that we would choose one to fall in love with and marry. Apparently marrying a westerner is one of the best things that could happen to an Indian man as it would free them of their caste. The caste system is still very strong in India and most men are expected to do the jobs that their families have done for hundreds of years. It is common to find a rickshaw driver or a waiter at a family run restaurant with a medical or law degree. We have heard many times not to say thank you for these services as "it is their duty to serve us."

One thing I do envy about the Indian people that I have met, is how content they all seem with their lives... and the certainty of their life's path.

Racing Camels & Broken Scooters in Pushkar

We arrived in Pushkar, Rajasthan after a long drive through many very small, authentic Indian villages and lush scenery. Pushkar is a very old, holy city at the edge of the desert surrounding a lake. After arriving at our hotel, we immediately decided to extend our stay. Just like most places in India, Pushkar is very unique, with a good balance of locals, pilgrims and westerners strolling though the main market street in town. Vendors were stocked with silver jewellery and bright natural stones and crystals, along with the typical travel apparel that can be found all over India.

When hoping to explore a temple beside the holy lake we were bombarded by hundreds of pigeons and a number of men who proceeded to sit us down individually and take us through a blessing process where we sent thanks and love to our families and made a wish as we threw pink flower petals into the water. As expected we were asked for a donation which supposedly goes to the children in need around Pushkar - although skeptical, we all gave a small amount hoping that it would find its way to them. We were then given a piece of string to tie around our wrist as our passport to Pushkar - which shows that we have been blessed.

We had the intention of exploring the neighboring villages but found ourselves stranded on the side of a road because the scooter we rented decided to breakdown. Luckily the breathtaking scenery helped us keep our cool, while we met many friendly Indians. It was amusing to us that each and every person that drove passed us whether on a bike, truck or tractor stopped to lend a hand. We got a tiny taste of what an Indian party must feel like... in the middle of a road!

Later that same day a couple of us discovered the amazing world of reflexology and yoga, while others literally raced camels through the desert and played with the locals amongst the sand dunes at sunset.

After only a few days, we felt at home in Pushkar and found it extremely hard to leave...

Jaipur: 3 Idiots & Saree's Galore

Jaipur, also known as "The Pink City", is the land of Saree's and Jewelry... and is where I fell very deeply in love. The city market streets, Johari Bazaar in particular, were lined with store after store, all packed with from ceiling to floor with the most beautifully embroidered and brightly coloured silk and georgette sarees, pashminas and bed wear. Jewelry stores were decorated with a range of cheap to more pricey ethnic gold and brightly coloured stoned jewelery... As Rachel said, "It was to die for!" The amounts of bangles that lined the store walls was overwhelming but never failed to excite us. We left Jaipur with very, very heavy backpacks.... and even more amounts of inspiration. I hope the tailors in Vietnam are ready for us!

While in Jaipur, we enjoyed our first Bollywood film - 3 Idiots, a very entertaining and more dramatic than expected comedy. The theatre, the Raj Madir, made for a very fulfilling movie experience. Filled with hundreds of excited middle class Indian children, the inside of the theatre was a spectacular site to see. This replica of a giant pink birthday cake was the perfect setting for a very involved audience to enjoy a Bollywood film. Slightly lost at times, Harry's very high pitched laugh made it easier for us to join in at the appropriate times.

One of our favorite activities in Jaipur was exploring the massive Amber Fort high up on the hills right outside of the city. We met two very enthusiastic boys at the Monkey Temple, who followed us up the hill yelling useless facts at us and asking 50 questions a minute, while telling us their life stories all at the same time. After declining their services multiple times, their adorable persistentcy eventually won us over and we finally accepted that they would be our tour guides and new friends for the day... However, they weren't our friends at the end of the day when the tip we offered them wasn't good enough. Either way, I was happy to have met them. We witnessed some of the most amazing and breathtaking views of the beautiful 'Pink City' from these sites, putting Jaipur high up on my list of favorite cities in the world...

With a new addition to our foursome - Char, a journalist from London, we paid a visit to Chokhi Dhani - an all inclusive night of traditional Indian activities that is popular with locals. We enjoyed a buffet of Rajasthani food, with all the curry, chapati & salad you could ever imagine, a replica of a typical village, dancing, elephant rides, slides, carousels and our favorite, and most interesting activity - palmistry. It made for an entertaining night of laughs and hilarious photos opts...

I can't wait to go back to The Pink City!