As I travelled through Laos, the Mekong River made a lasting impression. It was the first thing I saw as I entered the country across the Friendship Bridge to Vientiane, it was ever present as I explored the spiritual heart of Laos at Luang Prabang, and finally it was my highway as I made my [...]
This week's travel photo is of a Buddha statue on the wall of Wat Chedi Luang in Chiang Saen, Thailand. The construction of the temple apparently began in the year 1291, making it very old. The historic city of Chiang Saen, located on the Mekong River, is full of interesting ruins dating back to the [...]
I was glad to leave Phuket. It was like being in a different country outside of Thailand; the kind of country that I prefer to avoid. I wanted to find a real Thai tropical island to laze on the beach for a few days and although I knew that Phi Phi Island would be touristy [...]
I didn't really know a lot about Nong Khiaw, Laos. All I had really seen about it was the amazing photos of a river surrounded by jungle, with huge limestone karsts surrounding it. That was enough for me to want to visit. The slow road to Nong Khiaw I left Luang Prabang in the morning [...]
I had heard the stories about Vang Vieng; I had read about people's bad experiences and the general accusation that if there was one place that you should avoid in Laos, it's Vang Vieng. I had already decided that it was a place that I wouldn't like; that although naturally beautiful, all Vang Vieng was [...]
This week's photo is of a sunset from Ao Chao Phao beach on Koh Phangan, Thailand. Far from the party beach of Haad Rin, Ao Chao Phao is a quiet beach on the west of the island, perfect for doing just this; sitting on the beach and watching the sunset.
My first taste of Laos came from its little capital city, Vientiane. By the third day of exploring the city I had come to see how much the French had influenced the architecture and culture. Although the city seems to be trying to develop into a modern capital, some of the older buildings have kept [...]
This week's travel photo is of The Queen's Pagoda on a cloudy morning, in the high mountains near Chiang Mai in Northern Thailand. The twin pagodas, known as Phra Mahathat Napha Methanidon and Phra Mahathat Naphaphon Phumisiri, represent the King and Queen of Thailand and were built to commemorate their 60th birthdays. They are located near the highest [...]
On my first day in Bangkok I was a stupid tourist. The first time in a new city and in a new country is when you are at your most vulnerable. You don't know your way around, you don't know the way that things work, you don't know how much things should cost; basically you [...]
In the old Siam capitol of Ayutthaya, there are many interesting ruins that stand as a reminder of the past and some of the events that led to the founding of modern day Thailand. One of the most popular and impressive ruins is that of an old temple named Wat Mahathat. History of Wat Mahathat [...]
