The truck ride up to the star point was an interesting one which reminded me of The War if the Worlds Jeff Wayne. Laos is in the process of leaving the list of 20 poorest countries and one way is through infrastructure and building proper roads. Consequently, half of the trees are covered in red dust and look like the red weed from TWOTW an the other half are silver from the newly laid gravel/cement. Food 1: We got breakfast on the truck consisting of many new f...

I've noticed 3 types of response when I ask opinions on a place: a bland response which doesn't sound bad but not really worth my time, "Don't go there!" or "It's better/as good as it sounds and these are the only ones I'm bothering with now. My key worries are time and money and both affect each other, i.e., longer trips are cheaper. But positively you get to see more on them. Recently • Was amused to hear Patrick from the slow boat's voice coming from a moto...

3 days have gone so fast in LP but they have been relaxed and lovely. Yesterday I shared food, local whiskey and attempted to break the language barrier as I sat with some chaps in an alley on the way up the mountain. We discussed what tattoo the guy should have on his other forearm which would be as good as 'heritage'. The day before I joined a crew on a tuk tuk up to THE waterfall which was gorgeous as you will see and joined Caitlin and Pat from the VIP boat ...

Listening to Scottish reggae on a beach drinking beer with 3 people I met today where no one else goes. I was starting to think I had forgotten to travel like I did in Scotland the other year. I like this. (the beer is a bit bland for me but it does the job). I went out to volunteer some English in the library today. I talked to a monk for an hour but he was so good at English that it almost felt like a waste. The only thin I taught him was cheetah. But I got a...

I've said a lot about the great time and places I've had and been. So it's only in he interest of fairness that I focus on some negatives. Last night after a cramped bus ride to the border and some bland pork soup for lunch (all on a hangover and 4 hours sleep) we went through immigration. It was the most laid back affair I've seen and it took ages as the forms were huge and the staff kept answering their phones to their mums (we suspect). The short bus ride to o...