Luang Prabang is mostly a starting point for the many activities in the area. Hiking, kayaking, rafting, home stay, and elephant rides are available from the many travel agencies in town. I decide on the elephant tour. But not one of these "stupid half-day touristy crap", but a real one. For a matching price of course. I still can't believe I paid $400 for a four day elephant trek in the dense jungle of northern Laos. According to the brochure we would ride our...

Luang Prabang is a definite visit. The second biggest town of Laos - population 26.000 - and about two streets, it is tranquillity itself. Just strolling down the main street, wondering at the European architecture, enjoying the small cafe's, restaurants, the green surroundings will make even the most stressed person forget about his worries. The French have left their mark on the cuisine. The most delicious baguettes are sold at hawker stalls, onion soup and ...

16th of July 2010. We enter the People's Democratic Republic of Laos. One of the few communist countries left in the world. Why every socialist nation has to call itself democratic still amazes me. Like some cruel joke. The dark red Soviet flags immediately manifest themselves along with the dark green uniforms adorned with little red stars worn by officials. In towns and villages megaphones are installed for the customary propaganda. Each and every note from...

By Thursday evening it's about time to leave Bangkok. We're heading up north, to Laos. I have no idea anymore what the original planning was/is we had in mind, but we're taking the night-train to the Thai - Lao border, crossing the Mekong. This way we'll skip most of northern Thailand, including Ayuthaja, Sukhotai, and Chiang Mai. We can always visit these places on the way back, but apparently if you've been to Laos, Cambodia, or especially Burma, the art in T...

I can't stand the air-conditioning anymore. It hurts my throat, the chill is terrible, and worst of all I get a headache every time I enter a building. The air is dry, you feel the sweat built up outside condense on your skin, knowing that sooner or later you'll get a fever. Right now I just wait outside the shops until the women - Remko & Michel - are done. It's better this way. Especially big cities like Bangkok are bad during the day. The heat just ric...