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Archive for January, 2006

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Mekong River: Open What?

Monday, January 16th, 2006

9am on the 9th of January, and Bec and I were sitting in the back of a pick-up truck with 6 other travellers, legs akwardly pushed aside by the row of packs resting in the middle of the tray, being driven along the main road in Chiang Khong on our way to the ferry port.

The slow boat to Luang Prabang leaves from the Laos side of the Mekong river, and upon reaching the port and having our passports checked, we were ushered down the banks of the Mekong to a long-boat, perhaps 30 feet long, and no more than 5 feet wide. About 20 travellers squashed in, and we were ferried across the river to Laos. Not quite the usual Monday morning commute.

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Chiang Khong: Simplicity

Thursday, January 12th, 2006

After the overwhelming craziness of Bangkok, the peaceful town of Chiang Khong was exactly what Bec and I needed. The town was made up of one main road, with just a couple of minor dirt tracks running across it every so often. There were no footpaths, one simply walked along the edge of the road, as mopeds, tuk-tuks, and big 4wd trucks slowly drifted past. Yeah, big 4wd trucks, looking brand new. Massive hunks of metal that wouldn’t be out of place in the US; somehow they’ve become the choice mode of transport for young Thais.

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Bangkok: In Transit

Sunday, January 8th, 2006
Well, I'll be the first to admit that, given that this is a travel journal, Bec and I haven't exactly done a lot of travelling over the past two months. Seven weeks in the Czech Republic, and three-and-a-half in Germany, ... [Continue reading this entry]

Lubeck: And a super New Year

Monday, January 2nd, 2006
Vvvvvvwwwwooooooooooom!!!! Vvvvvvvvwwwwooooooooooom!!!! Vvvvvvvvwwwwoooooom!!!! The sounds of rockets firing filled my ears. Smoke engulfed everyone around me in the narrow, snow-covered street. For as far as I could see in either direction, rockets were being propelled into the air amidst a ... [Continue reading this entry]

Lubeck: Happy Christmas

Monday, January 2nd, 2006
Back in August, we organised to rent an apartment in the German town of Lubeck for two weeks, from December 20th rigth through to January 2nd. We were being joined by, at various times, ten other friends; including some of ... [Continue reading this entry]