BootsnAll Travel Network



Archive for January, 2005

« Home

if you don’t know where to go, stay put

Friday, January 28th, 2005

The last few days in Nong Kiaw have been dominated by the sunset deck of my guest house, overlooking the Nam Ou river, encircled by soaring cliff faces,
bathed by the full moon light. Eating, reading, talking to a rotating selection of travellers just passing through this wee town that i decided to relax into for 5 days. it was here i met Llew who put me onto this whole travel blog business – so thanks for that.

i’m also getting out of my hammock once in a while and walking through the moutains, exploring caves, swimming in mini-waterfalls, and experiencing traditional village life. i have discovered, much to my surprise, that i love trekking – clambouring up hillsides, feeling strong in my body, connected to the earth.
[read on]

Luscious, lyrical, laos

Monday, January 17th, 2005

i’ve moved on from the capital, Vientiane, with its simple bicycle gliding streets, french architecture and cafe culture, and the breath-taking Mekong sunsets. From orange to lilac to red, the sunset casts a portal across the rippling face of this expansive river. i look down for a moment to make a note, and when i gaze up the colours have morphed and yet another captivating hue transforms the sky. Such beauty is impossible to believe if it is not breathed in moment by exaltant moment.

i am now in laid-back, river-strewned, sunset-mountain-horizoned Vang Vieng. i am travelling with a guy i met on the train from bangkok, and we are managing a healthy mix of morning nature adventure (climbs, caves, lagoons) and evening chilling in gazebos on the river (literally): the water buffaloes submerge themselves to cool-off, the local kids play on the riverbank, the sky turn lilac-pink, and the butterflies drift by. . . .

Mai pen rai (it doesn’t matter)

Wednesday, January 12th, 2005
i am leaving bangkok tonight on the overnight train into Laos. it has been re-energising to spend time with family and old friends who were passing through this crazy city. i had hit a bit of a 2-month trough - ... [Continue reading this entry]

international roaming – backpacking in the age of mobile phones

Sunday, January 2nd, 2005
well back in thailand and i am finally getting a handle on a few things here - language and bartering. my thai must be improving because now instead of the usual laugh or shake of the head response, i am ... [Continue reading this entry]