The Bus Ride from... Hello Operator...

Ahh! The bus. The lovely lovely bus!

A sample of huts from the villages we passed in our van.

Cambodians at work in the fields. A scene from one of our many "van's overheated" stops!

Feb 25th.
Let me talk about the bus ride from Laos to Siem Reap. Oh my goodness!!! It was the craziest bus ride I've ever been on. First of all, we had a 12 passenger van with 16 people crammed in it. There was no air conditioner so we were literally sticking to the person next to us. We were skin to skin with the stranger beside us and everyone looked like they wet their pants it was so hot and sweaty! We traveled on dusty dirt roads and because we were sans aircon we had all the windows open to try and encourage some air flow. However, it turned out to be a battle of two evils. Unbearable heat or loads of dust to cake our hair and skin and I'm sure our lungs! We chose the dust and dirt over heat stroke! At the end of the trip I looked like I had this crazy dark tan, mostly consisting of dirt!

When we arrived at the border this skinny little Cambodian man with a long metal stick in hand approached us and started speaking to us in English explaining we needed to pay a fee for the departure and arrival stamps ($6 US) This seriously weird little man came out of nowhere and was hassling everyone. I'm embarrassed to say that everyone of us were scammed by this guy and paid him $6. Well, he made a lot of money that day to say the least...He tried to charge Tiffany $5 b/c she lost her departure card but she went over to the border guys smiled and said $2? and they said "for you, ok." It's basically like that in Cambodia. If you flash a bright big smile you are likely going to be liked back instantly. Cambodians are such friendly people, with the exception of this border guy! On the other side of the border our van wouldn't start so we had to push it to get it going. We all coughed at the black smoke pouring out behind us. A good sign I know.

The rest of the trip was crazy. Our driver was going so fast weaving back and forth across the dirt road to avoid gigantor potholes. Not to mention we had to stop every hour b/c the engine was overheating. The worst was that he would race through all these little villages and I was so worried one of the children playing on the side of the road would get run over. We did kill two dogs along the way though and our driver just laughed hysterically. We all looked at each other in bewilderment. Tiff was sitting in the back and had to wrap her head in her fleece to prevent a concussion because she kept banging her head on the roof, the window, and the girl beside her!She was definitely a sight to see!

About 10:00pm we switched drivers and vans and now there was a man on the roof shining a big spotlight where to go. If our driver took a wrong turn he would bang on the roof and point with his spotlight the direction to go. We were being taken on a very deserted road deep in the forest. One of the guys was convinced we were going to be robbed (he told us later) and had his Swiss army knife ready. I was really skeptical too, it all seemed very strange and eerie. But alas we arrived in Siem Reap at 2:00am (18 hours of travel) and set out to find a guesthouse. We took showers before bed and I could not believe the dirt that came off me!

Even though it was a wild ride it was the kind-of travel I had envisioned in Cambodia. Apparently that was the worst stretch of road in the country. It'll only get better from here =)

A Little Taste of Paradise

Neal and I.

Tiff and Ali
Lao children playing on the river at dusk. How lovely =)



Tiff in the hammock on our porch. Showing off the view, oh yeah...



View of the beach Ali, Neal, Tiffany and I rode our bikes too. Also where we found cliff jumping and took a little boat ride to see some fresh water dolphins. Ali and Neal are two English blokes we met along the way.

Feb 22-25
4000 Islands!!! Here I come. After a 12 hour overnight bus ride and an additional 4 hour ride on the back of a truck and a short boat ride we arrived in our new home for the next 3 days. Tiff and I found the cutest bungalows on the river with hammocks and and an amazing view on the sunset side of the island for $3/night. Ahhhh.... after ditching our backpacks and changing into our swimsuits, which we lived in for the next few days, we went swimming with 2 new English friends Neal and Ali and then spent the evening lying in hammocks, watching the sunset and talking and laughing, laughing, laughing. Two things Tiff and I do best when we're together. Then we met up with the boys for dinner and an evening to celebrate one of the guys birthdays.

Day 2 on the island Neal, Ali, Tiff and rented bicycles and went mountain biking on cheap bikes with skinny tires. It would have only been complete with banana seats. We biked to a pretty little beach about 40 min away. It actually took as about 90 min b/c we somehow took a wrong turn and biked across cow fields and through a little village. We ran into three local Lao boys (about 10 years old) and I think they were surprised to see foreigners in their little village. The boys each had sling shots in hand and one was carrying a clear bag filled with 3 or 4 dead rats. Ewww! Boys will be boys wherever you are =)

When we arrived at the beach we swam, went cliff jumping and kicked a football around with a local boy. On the way home we took a detour to the falls and as the sun was going down were on our ways home. Did I mention how crappy our bikes were? Well Ali and I were racing on this very rocky and bumpy dirt road when my chain came off. And no it's not like putting a chain back on at home. If it happens once it continues to happen. Anyways, Neal was also having troubles with his chain (his came off about 30X that night, mine 5ish). While Tiff and Ali went on ahead to try and catch the sunset, Neal and I stayed behind to deal with our chains. Before long it was beginning to get dark. I thought to myself, no worries, I have my headlamp (which, by the way, I've gotten so much flack for- but what do these city boys know anyways?). However, when I went to retrieve my lamp, I discovered I left it in Ali's basket and he was long gone. Neal and I maneuvered our way in the dark stopping every 50 meters or so to fix one of our chains. All we could do was laugh really. As far as I'm concerned minor mishaps like this only add to the adventure.

That night Tiff and I chilled at the boys bungalows and watched the stars, which have been the most stunning I've seen in Asia so far. It reminded me of watching the stars in the mountains. Brilliant!

The third day Tom, Dom, Neal, Ali, Tiff and I all rode back to the beach. This time we decided against the cow fields route and opted for the road instead. We went to see if we could see the fresh water dolphins (some of the last in the world apparently). Well, they were kind-of far away so I saw them moving and just assumed they were the fresh water dolphins. Exhilarating? Hardly! I had more fun cliff jumping! At the end of the day we began our journey back home, not without some apprehension due to the previous days mishaps. However this time success! We experienced much less chain problems and all made it back in time for sunset. Ah...

That night we all chilled together. It was time to say good-bye to the boys as Tiff and I were leaving for Cambodia the next day. It was kind-of sad b/c we had so much fun with them especially Tom and Dom b/c we traveled all throughout Lao with them.

Next stop: Cambodia!!!

River Bars, Tubing and Mopeds!

Dom and I in Vientiene (the capital city of Lao). We're in some dodgy little night club with some Lao woman singing or shall I say trying to sing. I went to the bathroom and a Lao woman sprayed her perfume on me. Maybe she thought I needed it? I just laughed and said aw coon (thank-you)

Aimee, Tiffany and I at dinner with Tom and Dom in Vientiene.




Tiff and I at one of the rapids we went down kayaking from Vang Vieng to Vientiene. Er, wait? Wasn't that the only rapid? ...lol

Some children working by the river where we arrived after our kayaking adventure.
My English friend Aimee. She's from Liverpool and I absolutely think she's the best!!

Aimee and I. Aren't we pretty!! See you round like a doughnut Aimee!

Me on the Moped. Saaweet!! Tiff and I took turns driving. Dom and Amy were on another and Tom and Sarah on a third. It was all good until Amy crashed hers into mine! See below.

Check out the view of the river from our guesthouse. Ahhh.

Tiffany and I at the waterfalls. Dude who took this shot didn't do a very good job at getting the waterfalls in. But, c'est la vie =)

Feb 15-18

Vang Vieng... Whoa tourist place! Ah well, I enjoyed my time by the little bar huts right over the river. Sarah, Tom, Dom, Tiff, and a new British friend Aimee and I all hung out tons, played cards, swam, drank beer Lao, and well that's about it...

One day we spent tubing down the river where you could stop at bars along the way and of course drink beer (a little too early for me, but not for most) and play on the rope swings and zip lines and such. Super touristy cheesy, but nonetheless it was fun. I did some double back flips off the rope swings and started a little competition. I know, I'm can be such a showoff at times. Shameful really! Considering that all my years in gymnastics are pretty much good for nothing now, I have to take advantage of the rare moment when I can actually use it! =)

One other memorable day we rented mopeds and explored the surrounding village and some caves too. It was great. I had so much fun driving the moped although if I really thought about it, a little scary perhaps. A combination of no helmets, shorts and t-shirts and crazy Asian roads is enough to give my Mom an ulcer if she only knew. Actually, if I was to drive anywhere this was the place to do it. The traffic was really tame. I want one when I get home!!! Oh yeah, and I can't forget when Aimee crashed her moped into my parked moped with me on it. I didn't see it coming. All I could hear was Dom yelling "brake brake!!!!!" before I had time to turn around Aimee hit me and the next thing I knew I was tossed from my bike and Aimee and I were both on the ground. As soon it was established that everyone was alright we all laughed hysterically over the event. Poor Aimee though ended up with a gigantor bruise on her leg.

We spent the day of the 19th kayaking for 5 or so hours to Vientiane (the capital of Laos). We were just there a couple days. Just long enough to get our Cambodian visas before heading south to 4000 islands in Laos.

Luang Prabang and Curfews?

The cute Lao guy who worked at our favourite breakfast spot. Upstairs was a cafe and downstairs was a library of sorts.

After missing "curfew" (in Lao curfew is 11:00pm) we had to climb the fence at our guesthouse at about 2:00am. fun times...

Tom and Dom our Two English friends we met on our two day boat ride to Luang Prabang.



Don't worry we asked his Mom before we took a photo. So precious!


View of the night market in Luang Prabang. Just getting started.

Check out the nice view from my bike ride =)

Me on my sweet bicycle. Notice the basket and bell. This is how I explored Luang Prabang.



Feb 13-14

I loved Luang Prabang!! It was such a quaint little city like no other Asian city I've ever been in. The French influence, which is very apparent in the architecture, is unexpected and lovely at the same time. Tiff and I stayed at this cheap little guesthouse, which looking back, there were definitely reasons it was so cheap, but we are never ones to pass up a bargain =)

I spent one day on a bicycle. You know the proper kind with a basket in the front, a bell, skinny tires, and high handlebars. The only thing missing were streamers on the handlebars.

One night we were out with the boys Tom and Dom and we decided to go to their guesthouse because they had a curfew to make. Everything in Luang Prabang closes down at 11:00pm, and I mean everything! We were laughing at them because they had a curfew and we didn't. We had fun and around 2:00am Tiff and I called it a night and set out to go home. We were in for a surprise when we got to our guesthouse and the gigantor gate in front was locked. Just as we thought we'd have to trek back to where the boys were staying, one of us spotted an door open an inch to our guesthouse. That was encouragement enough for us as we threw our bags over the fence and climbed over the way any proper girl would do. Oops. I guess we did have a curfew afterall!!

The second day Tiff and I went to this beautiful waterfall, swam and enjoyed a relaxing day which we ended by climbing this little mountain to watch the sunset (well, it was more of a hill really, but mountain sounds cooler!). Romantic. Oh wait... I was with Tiffany. haha.

Next stop Vang Vieng!!

The Slow Boat to New Adventures

The girls who worked at our guesthouse the first night of the slow boat adventure. They are 16 and 14 and offered us weed the second we stepped into their "guesthouse" if that's what you want to call it!

The view from the very dodgy little guesthouse. Dodgy maybe? The view? Breathtaking!

The view from our boat on the way into Laos. We spent 2 days on this boat with time only for beer Lao and new friends =)

Tiff and I on the boat.

Feb 11-12

I spent two days traveling by slow boat to Luang Prabang (Laos). What a beautiful way to travel. The morning of Feb 11 we arrived at the dock a little late to discover a very very overloaded boat packed full of miserable looking people. They were tying to cram us all onto the same boat but one lady with us would have nothing of it. She refused and persuaded us all to demand another boat. The boat driver threatened many times to leave us but this bossy woman insisted we call their bluff. About an hour later the boat driver gave in to our request for a new boat. Within minutes about 20 of us piled on to this spacious new boat each with a seat to ourselves. The other boat was the same size but had about 60 people crammed on it. We still don't no why no one else joined our boat, but I must admit we weren't complaining. On the boat we met a Canadian girl named Sarah and two English blokes Tom and Dom. We had music playing from Dom's ipod and we had a great time playing cards, reading, laughing, eating, enjoying the view... We had plenty of room, beautiful scenery and new friends to share the experience. Couldn't get much better. Everyone on the other boat just loved us as we got off smiling and laughing... Hence, the next day the boats evened out in numbers, but I still really enjoyed the trip and our new friends!

My first impression of Lao: breathtaking...

The moral of the story: being fashionably late is fashionable =)

My Arrival

Feb 8/06

Well, after one night in my swanky hotel room (ok so it was actually just an overpriced dive, but who's keeping track) I took a taxi to Khoa San Rd in Bangkok. I spent a few hours wandering around waiting for my bus to Chiang Mai where I met up with Tiffany. Khoa San Rd is packed with tourists and so far my only impression of Bangkok. Not exactly where I'd want to spend much time but it wasn't as bad as I expected. I spent the whole day sweating and looking at other tourists who were 100x more tanned than I and I felt a little, shall we say.... fugly! I ate pad Thai for about 50 cents from a street vender and hoped on the bus. 12 hours later I was in Chiang Mai at 6:00am. I sat next to a nice boy from Dublin but I hardly spoke b/c I was so jet lagged and fell asleep at about 7:00pm I think. He had such a strong accent that sometimes I would look at him and think, are you sure you're speaking English? Occasionally I would wake b/c our driver was going so fast. I'd wake up and say to myself, oh my gosh we're going to die, and then I'd fall back to sleep. I arrived safely and found my way to Tiffany's guesthouse called "Whiskey Guesthouse" where we stayed for the next couple nights.

That night Tiff and I took a Thai cooking course, and b/c nobody else signed up it was just Tiff and I. We were able to go to the market to pick out our food and then made six lovely Thai dishes. Our teacher was so nice and cute. We ate crazy good food, drank some horrible Chang beer (I thought) with our instructor and heading back to Whiskey GH. I was still very jet lagged so it was an early night for me.

I'm Leavin on a Jet Plane...

Sunday Feb 6th.

I flew into Bangkok on China airlines. My favorite is still Singapore Air. They're the best! China airlines was okay but I think I was a little turned off b/c I was sandwiched between two men, who were really nice, but one of them happened to be rather stinky: as in that bad breath smell. Imagine that for 12 hours with no airflow and no escape. It actually made me nauseous. Then I had a seven hour layover in the Taipei airport which is not a cool international airport by any stretch of the imagination. I also had no idea I'd be there that long (obviously didn't check my itinerary very thoroughly). I met a girl from Dublin though and that helped pass the time. I bought a tea for something like $6 american. oops...

I arrived in Bangkok at 1:00am (another oversight on my part). Rather than wander around the streets of Bangkok by myself at 2:00am I opted for staying at the cheapest hotel near the airport that I could get which happened to be $40. I was scared so I didn't feel up for wandering the streets alone, but it just about made me cry to spent that much considering I'm supposed to be on a tight budget! Ah well, Cest la vie. For $40 at least I got a free bottle of whisky which I considered taking with me just in case =) haha

and so the adventure begins...