Blog 32 Another last minute change of plans on where to go and we found ourselves looking for beach bungalows on Koh Payam. It was a gorgeously quiet slice of heaven with pretty few other travellers for a change! Days spent on the island involved plenty of sun and therefore sunbathing (our 1st proper opportunity since being in Asia I think), reading books (yep even me!), swimming lengths of the beach (real exercise is pretty rare out here), snorkeling and shel...

Blog 31 At the end of a 44 hour over land journey we departed on the night ferry into the darkness and I placed my first foot on a Thai island (long awaited with excitement). But at 5am the island was still sleeping, so we found some beach lounger and tried to have a nap, unsuccessfully. After booking onto an open water diving course we found our beds cosily waiting with air con, and we slept. Much like Vang Vieng, Koh Tao has given itself whole-heartedly to t...

Blog 30 Oh my word what a relief to be out of Pakse and finally at the 4000 islands (Si Pan Don). So we arrived on the habour at 16.00, just a 10 minute long tail boat ride across the Mekong to the island of Don Det. On reaching the island we went bungalow hunting, well actually that should be Bryn went bungalow hunting while I got a coke and stood guard of the bags at the local cafe. Bryn came back looking like he'd just jumped in the river... Major cloud bu...

Blog 29 7 hour journey to the village seems like nothing really! All on a local songtau so not the most comfortable of rides but can't complain when you're paying less than £7. When we arrived we had planned on staying in a home stay somewhere but the eco lodge which was just where the bus stopped which was only £3 a night for a private room beckoned us in. That afternoon we explored the little village which was gorgeously friendly and small, saw a kid rathe...

Blog 28 Meh...nowt special! We spent a couple of my nights in Laos's capital. Not loads to see or do so we spent one of the days swimming and cooling down at the local alfresco swimming pool and practising our dives. By now we're down to a group of 3, with just the Mancunian lad, Kieran with us now. Watching the sun set over the Mekong river, with a bottle of good Beer Laos in hand was a pretty special memory. I've grown to realise that I'm slightly obsessed...