Day 11-12 Vientien, Laos

Day 11, after breakfast we got back on the bus from 2 days before, at least it is pretty roomy and not cramped. Forewarned I took the front seat this time and was actually pretty ok since I was able to look out the front window the whole time. I took a few photos but none turned out spectacularly. One toilet stop, (1,000kip and squat toilets but very clean and well lit at least) and stretch our legs, and then we got to Vientien at 12:30) Dropped our bags at thre fanciest hotel we have stayed at yet, and headed off to lunch. (despite everything, this one ALSO had mosquitos and I got my first 2 bites this trip, grrr)

Day 9 -10 Vang Vien (laos)

Day 9, Bus to Vang Vien, almost 8 hrs on really bumpy, really windy narrow roads. Ugh. I didn't see much since I spent much of the trip laying down trying not to be sick. We had one stop for about 20 minutes because they were clearing a landslide off the road, and a toilet stop (2,000kip, about .25 to use the toilets) then a stop for lunch at a view point. I was still not feeling well so I skipped lunch and just enjoyed the view. They are burning off many of the fields right now after harvest, so the air is pretty smokey and not a good distance view for photos, but still beautiful. The Restaurant at the view point is set up on the point with STEEP sides falling from the dining benches. Take a wrong step getting off your bench and it's a pretty long way down. 1000kip for the toilets here, I got to use my second ever squat toilet, oh what fun. At least this one wasn't pitch dark inside. (I had to use one of the other people's flashlights for the first one, totally couldn't see a thing, and that was a bit much for my first squat toilet experience) Then back on the bus, it's a private one and the seats aren't all that uncomfy, the roads are just really, really bad. I spent some time sitting up with Gary in the front seat watching the road. Lots of cows on the road just wandering. Poor houses, many made of woven walls and thatch roofrs, interspersed with richer looking houses. I tried to get pictures but out of the moving bus was dificult (plus the bumps made it even more fun). One more stop for a "viewpoint" at a bridge was beautiful and a good chance to stretch my legs. About 1/2 hr more and we reached Van Vieng. It isn't really big. We had a 2hr break, discovering that our room in the "hotel" (so not a hotel, cheap guesthouse quality) had no mosquito nets and was crawling with mosquitos!! We talked to Long and he talked to the staff and while we went to dinner (rice noodle soup with chicken and a coconut shake, noodles were odd, thick somewhat like uodon, but good enough) they sprayed our room for mosquitos and jurry rigged mosquito nets. They are pink. :) After dinner we all walked to town (about 5 blocks) and checked out the adventure companies. Gary and I decided to do a caves and tubing 1/2 day adventure, Doro is going on a full day hiking up the mountain, Julie is going in a hot air balloon, and the rest decided to do a 1/2 day kayaking trip. Walked back past an atm out in the middle of nowhere. Things keep being more expensive than I think they will be here, since Kip cannot be "sold" back at the end of our stay easily, I have been trying to not get more than I need. I think it's been a failure, with all the fees for the bank being more than I would save having leftover. Oh well. Only 2 more days in Laos.

Day 10

Woke before the alarm and headed out to get breakfast. D didn't want to do the buffet at the hotel for $3 so we went across the street to get breakfast. I had sticky rice and mango with a mango shake for 20,000kip (about a savings of $.60), it was pretty good. Then back to the room to get ready for a day hiking and in the water. 9am and the truck came to pick us all up. We rode in the truck (camper shell like thing with benches along both sides) along realllly bad bumpy pot holed roads for a bit, then dropped off the 1/2 day kayakers and D with her guide. Then the rest of the people in the truck, Gary and I and a few all dayers continued on to a different drop off point. Once we got dropped off we walked about 15 minutes along dirt roads (tracks?) past green growing things. There were teak treas and "potatoes" and something that smelled like lemongrass but our guide said was mint?? and Banana trees and lemon trees and so many things I can't start to name. After a while we came to the "Elephant cave" which was small, probably 60ft deep? with a large buddah and an elephant shaped rock up on the wall. It was actually very pretty. Then another 15 minutes of walking or so and we came to the dark cave part. Picked up a headlamp (very pathetic, I WISH I had remembered to grab my mini flashlight) from an old man listening to a radio, and hiked a bit into the cave, it was DARK, and really slippery but incredibly neat. No bats though. :( I got a few pictures but they do not in any way do it justice. There was a buddah image there, hidden durring the war, then it was too "noisy" to move it back out again after it had gotten acustomed to the dark and quiet (according to the guide) since I feel flash photography is disrespectful of buddah images, the photo is very dark, but I still think it turned out ok. The formations were pretty incredible. Then we managed to get ourselves back OUT of that cave, and headed to the other one nearby which was drier and pretty much a straight shot back, It also had a buddah, in the entrance this time. Very large and beautiful. Aparently this cave goes back for 5km, we probably went 1/2 of one then decided it was dark enough and turned back. At one point we turned out our headlamps and the sensation of utter pitch black is very disconcerting. After making our way back out of that cave we headed over to the swimming cave where we got in tubes and floated our way in, guiding ourselves along with the ropes strung along the way. It was really, really amazingly neat, though very cold. We went quite a distance in, and then on the way back, turned out our headlamps!!! Very odd feeling pulling yourself along in the utter darkness not knowing where the walls are, being able to see NOTHING. I kept expecting my eyes to adjust but there was NO light for them to adjust to! Once we got back out we had an included lunch. Chicken skewers with pinaple and tomato and zuchini?? (IO didn't think it grew here) and actually bad fried rice. :( But the chicken was tasty. Plus bananas. Mmmm. Then after lunch we walked back 20 min or so through a village where I got to see baby pigs and LOTS of baby ducklings. The houses are mostly on stilts with woven reed (palm frond) walls and thatch roofs. Most of the women are wearing a blouse or t-shirt on top with a straight wrap skirt on bottom, usually dark colors with a 3-6 inch contrast embroidered (woven?) band at the bottom. Other are in pretty much western dress. Lots of flip flops with socks though. :P This town is pretty overrun with tourists, not very authentic, but still fun for a short jaunt. After the walk, and going back over the woven frond bridge (very glad it was just a few feet off the water) we got back in the truck and rattled our way back to the hotel. Quick shower and Gary and I walked down town to find a beer. Found a place right on the river with a killer view and sat and chatted and relaxed with a large Beer Lao. Pretty much a light beer, not particularly good, not bad. Once it started to get a bit crowded with all the tubers coming off the river we headed back to the hotel and I chilled till meeting with everyone to walk to dinner. We went to this place called the Organic Farm Cafe. Took FOREVER to get our food but it was very tasty. I had a mulberry shake (oh so good!!, D got the starfruit one and that was good too) and the Harvest curry with Pork. It has onions and cabbage and Potatoes and Carrots and pumpkin and basil in it as well. Tasty. After dinner (which took almost 2hrs) headed back and to bed. I was exhausted. 

Day 11 - Breakfast was a bowl of Museli over fruit and some fried rice and a fried egg from the buffet. I am checking email while I wait for it to be 9am and we take the bus to Vientien. Ta for now!

Photos!

I downloaded (very, very slowley yesterday) a new program so I can finally resize photos! SO some attached, and I'll do more later when I get a chance.

Photos out of order. Sorry. 

1st is a photo from along the Meekong from the boat. 

2nd some of the Buddahs from the Pak Ou caves.

3rd, a fake cashew fruit, and the 4 stages of getting the nut out.

4th, workers harvesting rice

5th and 9th while we were in the "traditional" village along the meekong

6th that pink bathroom I was telling you about

7th the main section of the Slow boat.

and 8th a bunch of the slow boats

more soon.

Day 7- 8 Laos

Day 7, Luang Prabag. Cont. After breakfast and computer we all piled into a van and drove out the 40 min or so along reallly windy bumpy roads to the waterfalls. Beautiful. Not much of a hike up to them (though I didn't go to the top, just to the base) though the water was gorgeous. A light turquoise blue that sparkled in the bits of sunlight. There was a place you could go swimming and even though it was pretty cool I still went in, along with a few others from the group. There were these rickety wooden "changing rooms" to change in, platforms with walls and a door, raised off the ground. Not too bad. Wishing I had found my towel though the sarong worked ok. On the way back from the Waterfalls and swimming we stopped to look at the Bear sanctuary and watch them for a bit. The keepers hide the food in logs and holes for them to find. We got to see one digging out oranges. :) They are small black bears, probably about 4-6 ft long, with almost a mane around their heads. Unfortunately none of my photos came out. :( too many trees and they kept moving. 

Then back to Town in the van. Kao left us here. :( (our local guide) I liked him a lot. 

Lunch the group split up, 1/2 wanted to go to an "american" style bakery/sandwich shop, the rest of us wandered down a bit to a Lao place that was very tasty. I got "fried monkey ear" (monkey ear mushrooms stir fried with chicken) that was somewhat spicy and very good and a Mango shake. The mango is a lot "greener" tasting here? Not sure if it is a different kind of mango than I am used to. Total 40,000kip (about 5$). After Lunch we reformed and went to see the Lao Ethnology Museum, where they tell us about the various Lao tribes and peoples. It was a teensy museum. 3 rooms. Neat photos and costumes though, and one whole room was dedicated to wedding rituals. afterwards we all split our separate ways. D and J and I went to the Royal Museum to pick up tickets for the evening dance performance for D and I, then the 3 of us wandered through the night market for an hour or so waiting for the performance. I picked up a beautiful dark jade green silk scarf that I am wearing right now. :) At 5:45 D and I headed to the performance and J kept wandering through the market. :) The performance was interesting, we paid 100,000kip ($12) per seat, and it was 1hr. The costumes were great, sorry I didn;t manage to take any good photos, pretty girls in straight silk skirts, and tops with a scarf across and a dangle from the fingers in the first piece, Masked male dancers with elaborately colored silk costumes in the 2nd and 3rd and Monkeys??.and back to females for the last piece. All the pieces and the music were torturously slow though. Would have been much better for 20 min rather than an hour. After the performance D and I wandered through the market for a bit then home to go to bed early in our comfy beds. mmmm. :) (I wasn't hungry for dinner after the late lunch)

Day 8, Luang Prabang ("free" day). 5 of us got up at 5am to catch the 5:30am shuttle into town to go give food to the monks. We bought a basket of sticky rice each (10,000kip, $1.20), and it came with a spoon and a scarf to wear and a mat to sit on and we sat down on the sidewalk and waited in the dark for the monks. Once it started to lighten the monks came by in a long line, dressed in their bright orange robes, holding a covered vessel, that they moved the lid off and everyone on the sidewalk put food inside, We put a small scoop of sticky rice in each monk's bowl as they went by. It was hard to get a small scoop on the spoon! and the monks were totally not looking at us. it was a odd experience. After giving "alms" we returned the baskets and spoons and scarves to the lady we had bought the rice from 10,000kip ($1.20) and piled back into the van to go back to the hotel. Breakfast when we got back I got fried eggs and the same fruit and yogurt I got yesterday since I liked it. Next a different 5 of us went on a bike ride with Long around town and out to some of the outlying villages. We saw a place where they made paper crafts, there are beautiful home made paper lanterns all over the markets with flowers dried into the paper, but I cannot think of a safe way to get one home without it being destroyed. Then we rode another 300 yards down the road to a weaver compound. They weren't weaving today (funeral) but we got to see the looms and the beautiful silk scarves they make. Back through and around town then back to the guest house., Man am I out of shape! The bikes are cruisers with one speed and iffy brakes and a second "back" seat and a basket. Interesting to say the least. Roads were interesting out of town as well. Quick shower and the 5 bike riders walked back to town (about 1/2 hr or so?) and found a restaurant by chance Peter had heard of called Utopia. It was beautiful and relaxing and wonderful, eating among the greenery with a view of the river. I ended up having LARP chicken (which was very tasty) since the green curry I ordered had eggplant in it, :( and Neal was nice enough to switch with me, along with spring rolls (ok, a little salty) and a hibiscus cooler (had no sweetner at all, good but odd). Marina took off after lunch to go wander and the remaining 4 of us walked around the whole town near the river (it makes a loop) and then back to the main center street, (3 parallel main streets, river on either side) where Neal and I split off so I could get postcards and a new pair of sunglasses. Postcards were 2,000kip each ($.25) but the postage was 12,000kip!! ($1.50) Oh well. I picked up a pair of red "ray bans" for 55,000kip. Needed since the pair I had broke 3 days ago in a way that they couldn't be used anymore and I am tired of squinting. Saw a few more temples and took some photos, then Neal and I caught a Tuk-tuk back to the guesthouse. 

Dinner we all trooped back into town and had dinner at a place called Lao Lao Garden, outside! I had stir fried water buffalo with lemongrass and onions and basil and string beans with steamed rice. It was delicious. They chop the string beans up into little 1cm pieces which is different, but they are still very tasty (to me, Jane, yes I know, yuck for you!) No picture of this meal since we were eating by candlelight. It was too dark. Then D and I wandered through the market and home. I got another few silk scarves, I'll have some lucky friends for sure! Then bed. 

Day 9, about to have breakfast (eggs and yogurt and real OJ today) then we get on a bus to the next town (7hrs). Not sure when I'll have internet again, so ta for now!

P.S. Kip comes in 6 different bills and no coins. 1000,2000, 5000, 10000, 20000, and 50000. they are often hard to tell apart, especially in low light. About 8,000kip to $1USD.

Pictures are from the "set" meal at Tamarind from the last email attached.

Day 4-6 Laos

Ello! Have internet! So here's an update. (plus NO sunburn yet!)

Day 4, We woke early and took a minivan (pretty comfy actually) towards the border (of Thailand and Laos). On the way we stopped about every 2 hrs, thankfully. 1st stop was at a cashew factory, where we got to see the fruits growing on the trees, they look weird like a pear with the seed hanging out of the bottom like a little turd (sorry, it really does). And also got to see the process (several parts) that is involved in getting it out of several layers and into edible form. They had a bunch of different ones to buy at the attached store. I got the salted ones (very fresh and tasty) and something called coconut balls (just dried coconut and sweetener in little hard balls, very yummy. But some of the others got interesting ones. The sesame coated, caramel and coconut ones were also good. The coffee ones were really odd. Apparently the ginger and chili ones were really strong. 

2nd stop was at a place called the white temple, it was pretty amazing, though not my favorite by a long shot, it was VERY white though too new. It's only a few years old and still in progress. Then lunch at a little cafe type place across from the temple. Egg noodles in cocunut milk with chicken. Pretty darn tasty, though NO vegtables in this one. (oh well). Then more driving on windy tree and rice field lined roads. Long stoped to let us go out in a field and "talk" to some people working. i got to try to harvest some rice! It is harder than it looks. You use a curved serrated blade towards yourself to cut through the stalks while holding them with the other hand. Since it was harvest the fields were a lot drier than I was expecting, though we still walked on the little raised pathes between the sections! It was very neat. (also good to stretch our legs). After about another hour of driving we arrived at the border. I had lost my departure card, it fell out of my passport, but after glaring at me for a bit the border guard gave me another to fill out. Forms filled out, glared at, we all trooped aboard a teensy boat and got shuttled across the Meekong to Laos. Then, paperwork! Paid the $35 visa fee and we were in. Met our Local Guide Gao? and headed to the Guesthouse. The walls are woven mats and the shower is just on the wall of the bathroom, you shower over the toilet. Bed was incredibly uncomfortable. Dropped off our bags and  then walked to check out the market (had some really tasty rice ball? with coconut milk and spring onions, mmmm) and saw lots of the same vegtables along with skinned squirrel. Ew. Then Dinner at a Lao Barbecue with the whole group. You get veggies and meat, then pour soup around the outside of the "barbecue" on your table and put the veggies in to make soup, ten grill the meat on the top of the domed barbecue. then dip in sauce and eat. Odd but tasty. Then bed.

Day 5, we got up early and had breakfast at the guesthouse we had ordered the night before. I got an "omelet" scrambled egg, in a pancake type shape) fresh fruit juice, banana and something else?? and sticky rice. I wasn't expecting the sticky rice to be palin, it was very dry. Then we went down to our "slow boat" to ride down the Meekong. It is a loong boat, probably 100 feet or so. the 1st 2/3 was the cockpit? area and then a passenger area with comfy seats in different settings, 8 double seats with tables, and 2 long ones you could lay out on. then a table with chairs in the back, then a little counter area and then a bathroom, with the "house" of the boat family in the back 1/3. Beautiful and peaceful, we actually went faster than I expected so there was a bit of a breeze. There is a roof over the boat, and curtains you can pull on the sides so I managed to not get sunburned. Lots of trees and hills on either side it was beautiful. We stopped around 11am to see a "traditional" village. (set up for tourists, but still neat) and wandered there for a bit, there were puppies (tiny) and baby chickens everywhere!! and small children who wanted their pictures taken. I got a few pretty shots I think. Then back to the boat where we had a wonderful lunch made by the boat family. Curry chicken, stir fired veggies, pumpkin and pork soup, tempura fish, rice. Then more river. About 4:30 arrived in Pakbeng. Hiked our bags uphill to the guesthouse, real walls and pretty, but bed again uncomfortable. (I took a realllly quick shower, then we ordered next day breakfast and went wandering. Walked through the market area and then looked at the temple (and saw the sunset) the monks were chanting the evening prayer?, which we have heard before, but this was by far the most beautiful I have heard. Then dinner, we got to try the Laos "Whiskey" rice grappa essentially, though smoother than expected, it had almost no taste. And I got Buffalo Larb (a mixed of minced buffalo, mint, onions, chilies and other things) with sticky rice. I learned that they give you a TON of sticky rice, so sharing can be done. Then the girls headed back to the guesthouse and the boys and M headed to a bar. D and I stopped on the way back and had massages. Still mostly pokey, and she spent about 80% of the time on my lower legs, not what I wanted but I'll keep trying.

Day 6 - Breakfast of Sticky rice in coconut milk, (kind of like soup) and juice and hot water for tea.Then back on the boat. Lunch on the boat was stir fried veggies with tofu and chicken, tofu and pumpkin soup, tempura string beans, and chow mein (little noodles) with veggies and Rice. Today's long ride broken up by a stop at the Pak Ou Caves, with tons of Buddahs in every crevice. Called the caves of the 1000 buddahs? it wasn't as impressive as I was expecting, but still pretty limestone caves. The lower one actually had way more Buddahs, we walked up 213 steps to the upper cave that was dark but still pretty. ( the Gao and I counted on the way back down and I ended up giggling most of the way, it was fun). Then more boat. It was about 8 hours on the boat all told, but peaceful and nice. Arrived at Luang Prabang around 5 and took a van to the Guesthouse which is a bit out of town but beautiful! Real comfy bed FINALLY! With a mosquito netting which was needed since some of the bathroom is open where the shower is. The Bathroom is HUGE and has benches. :) Rested for a bit and then we all met to take one of the free shuttles into town as a group. Got dropped off at the night market and walked through to a restaurant for dinner., OH MY, soooo good. 5 of us got the "set menu" which was pretty expensive but sooo very good! and soo much food! We started with Bamboo and vegi soup, which was an odd dark green with stuff in it. The bamboo and pumpkin and mushrooms were tasty. There were little green round things which were bitter. but the soup was good with a bit of spice. I had tried it the day before when long ordered it and it was much less spicy this time. Then after soup, oh wow. Sticky rice with 3 dipping sauces, tomato, chili, eggplant, dried seaweed with sesame and garlic, dried buffalo, sausage, chicken in lemongrass, steamed fish with dill, sliced pumpkin salad (warm, steamed, it was delicious), then purple sticky rice with coconut and then tea. I got lemongrass and ginger tea, which was hotwater with bits of lemongrass and ginger in it, very tasty. Oh and I started with tamarind cooler. It was all oh so tasty and worth it. Then we split up and J and D and I wandered through the night market as it was shutting down for a bit then headed back to the guesthouse by tuk-tuk. The market seems to have much better stuff than the ones in Chang Mai, more actual stuff rather than junk. Then bed, oh so comfy and it was reassuring to sleep in a mosquito net.

Now Day 7 starts. :) I just ate an "omelet" with cheese and fruit (dragon fruit, paypaya, mango, tangerine, banana, asian pear) and home made yogurt while updating. Off to a waterfall in a bit! Ta all!

Day 0 and Days 1-3 Chaing Mai (no photos)

The Photos apparently bounced this for a bunch of people. So resent with only one image. Love you all.

Day 0, or the never ending travel time where I lost a day. Took off from Seattle at 2pm (1 hr late) on Thursday the 17th, and arrived in Tokyo (and ran) at 5:45pm the 18th, caught the plane @6:05 (and my luggage did as well, yay!) then arrived 7.25 hrs later at Bangkok at 11:15pm (45 minutes early) on the 18th. Slept (or tried to) on a bench at the airport for a few hours, then caught the 8am plane to Chaing Mai. 

Day 1, Arriving at Chaing Mai, lots of trees to be seen from the plane along with haze. Weather was in the low 80's in the sun when I arrived at 9am, probably high 70's in the shade. I took a taxi to the hotel and got my first real taste of Asia. :) They drive on the left side of the road here, when they feel like it, or are bored? The Taxi wasn't careening but he certainly didn't stay anywhere NEAR the left side of the road very often, many times motorcycles passed us on both sides. Tons of fun! He also was nice and pointed out some sights and places I might want to check out later.

I arrived at the hotel at about 9:30? and checked in (after going to the wrong building, there are apparently 2, right next to each other, eh, figured out eventually). Went to my room and met my roommate Dorothea (pronounced Doro Te ah), who is very nice, from Zurich. She was about to go wandering and look at temples and since I had passed tired at that point and was pretty wired I went with her. We had a map, (ish) a guidebook, and no sense of direction but it was wonderful fun and gorgeous. Found tons of temples, though we missed a few we were trying to find, we eventually found a street sign and orientated ourselves. The temples are GORGEOUS, really, really wonderful and they are everywhere you turn around, only a few are actually on the map. And there are monks everywhere. Lunch was wide noodles with veggies and chicken in a oyster sauce type thing at a little hole in the wall restaurant. I also got a fantastic watermelon shake. Mmmmm. Then more temples, oh my goodness I took a lot of photos! Around 4 we got tired and decided to try a Thai Massage. 150Bhat for 1 hr (5$). Pretty good, though not all that relaxing! Saw a few more temples then headed back to the hotel to "start" the tour with our welcome meeting with the coordinator. His name is Long (nickname) and he is Cambodian. Really nice though it is sometimes hard to understand him. After an overview of the next few days we went to dinner as a group in the night market (Shrimp Pad Thai, Dragon fruit shake, and mango sticky rice, tasty) then wandered through the market for a bit. Then back to the Hotel and bed, thunk, at around 8:30! 

Day 2, This morning we met downstairs at 9am to go to a cooking school that was included to make up for us missing some included stuff in Bangkok. We got stuffed in the back of a pickup with benches on either side and a top and taken to the place. Got out then walked to the local market and got shown our ingredients and what they all look like and smell like, fresh noodles and lots of kinds of rice. Then back to the Cooking school where we all got our own little round cutting board and cleaver and got to chop stuff up, then later cook! you got to choose 4 dishes (2 choices per course, soup, main, curry and dessert) I chose Coconut milk and chicken soup, pad thai, red curry and mango sticky rice. mmmm. It was Delicious and not all that hard to do. We made the soup and main, then ate them, then made the curry and desert and ate those. I was sooo full from the 1st two I barley ate any of my curry, even though it was tasty. D made the bananas in coconut milk as a desert, it was verrry sweet, tasted like banana's flambe, but the bananas are a bit tougher. After cooking school we had a free afternoon, and D and I and another woman in our group Julie went wandering to check out some more temples (oldest) and then the Sunday street market. Kindof like a street faire, mostly cheap junk but some pretty things. Had dinner at a restaurant along the way, I had something with huge flat rice noodles and veggies and chicken, the veggies and chicken were tasty, but the noodles were odd. Didn't like them, too slimy and no flavor. Wandered a bit more through the market then we all reached saturation with crowds about the same time (it was reallllly crowded) and we stuffed ourselves into a tuk-tuk to go back to the hotel for some rest.

Day 3, Elephants! (included, also, due to missing Bangkok) we went to the Elephant Conservation Sanctuary and got to look at and pet elephants ( the 2 year old was adorable) and one of them petted me bach. :) I had to wash my top, my whole sleeve got muddy. We watched them bathe the elephants, then wandered over to see them do a show. Drumming, shoving logs to a fro, PAINTING, and sitting, etc tricks. Pretty fun. After that we had a 1/2 hr or so elephant ride in this rickety little bench thing perched on their backs. The handler was sitting on the neck and directing, it was interesting for sure. Next we took a quick trip to see the Elephant hospital (saw an elephant with a prosthetic leg) then lunch. I got something called 'Neither Fried Beef String Nor Theaster with herb/rice". It was too spicy and was an odd texture. Came next to white rice, and had about 7 chunks of "beef" which tasted more like tendon and had about 1/2 teaspoon of actual beef between them all. Maybe. I didn't eat much of it. Oh well.

On the way back to the hotel we stopped at a food market and I picked up some fresh longans, very tasty, so those held me over. Back to the hotel for a quick rest and then we headed to our original "included" activity for the day the Doi Suthep Temple, a 45 min ride up into the hills. Very, very pretty, we had (some people paid to take the cable car) to go up 300 steps to get there, though it didn't feel like that many at all. Wandered around a took pictures, the view was pretty obscured by haze. Then back to the city, went as a group to dinner. A tasty place where I got Panang curry wuth pork with woooonderful brown rice, a watermelon and passionfruit shake (they just grind up the seeds, it is disconcerting) and fried "angel" mushrooms with a satay sauce. mmmmm.. D got "angel bean salad" that was spicy but good. I think this was the best meal I have had so far. Wonderful. Then back to the hotel where I am downloading photos and writing this to you all. (574 photos so far, YIKES!)

Tomorrow, on to Laos!

Day 0 and Day 1-3 Chaing Mai

Day 0, or the never ending travel time where I lost a day. Took off from
Seattle at 2pm (1 hr late) on Thursday the 17th, and arrived in Tokyo (and
ran) at 5:45pm the 18th, caught the plane @6:05 (and my luggage did as
well, yay!) then arrived 7.25 hrs later at Bangkok at 11:15pm (45 minutes
early) on the 18th. Slept (or tried to) on a bench at the airport for a few
hours, then caught the 8am plane to Chaing Mai.

Day 1, Arriving at Chaing Mai, lots of trees to be seen from the plane
along with haze. Weather was in the low 80's in the sun when I arrived at
9am, probably high 70's in the shade. I took a taxi to the hotel and got my
first real taste of Asia. :) They drive on the left side of the road here,
when they feel like it, or are bored? The Taxi wasn't careening but he
certainly didn't stay anywhere NEAR the left side of the road very often,
many times motorcycles passed us on both sides. Tons of fun! He also was
nice and pointed out some sights and places I might want to check out later.
I arrived at the hotel at about 9:30? and checked in (after going to the
wrong building, there are apparently 2, right next to each other, eh,
figured out eventually). Went to my room and met my roommate Dorothea
(pronounced Doro Te ah), who is very nice, from Zurich. She was about to go
wandering and look at temples and since I had passed tired at that point
and was pretty wired I went with her. We had a map, (ish) a guidebook, and
no sense of direction but it was wonderful fun and gorgeous. Found tons of
temples, though we missed a few we were trying to find, we eventually found
a street sign and orientated ourselves. The temples are GORGEOUS, really,
really wonderful and they are everywhere you turn around, only a few are
actually on the map. And there are monks everywhere. Lunch was wide noodles
with veggies and chicken in a oyster sauce type thing at a little hole in
the wall restaurant. I also got a fantastic watermelon shake. Mmmmm. Then
more temples, oh my goodness I took a lot of photos! Around 4 we got tired

Made it to Bangkok!!

I found a kiosk,  waiting to  board my  flight to  Chaing Mai. So  far so good. despite  leaving an hour late from seattle I mnaged to make my  connection by the skin of my teeth. I did not really get to look at the tokyo airport though. :( Had to run.

 

Just wanted to let you all know I made it safley!

Leavin' on a jet plane..

Well close and closer. 2.5 days to go at the time I am writing this. 

In the few weeks I have been up here (Seattle) I have been running around trying to get the last bits I needed, plus seeing friends, and working on a new project Mom and I started. We are taking her new book she made (http://www.lovethatimage.com/ if you missed hearing about it) and using a damaged one to make really neat jewelry! It's been fun playing with crafts and such, experimenting to see what worked and what hasn't. We have ended up with a bunch of rectangular glass fronted pendants and small glass magnets, the coasters are still in the experiment stage, we are having trouble with the image absorbing the adhesive and getting funky. Mom's gonna try selling them in the crafts fairs when she goes to sell her book. If they sell well we might eventually sell them online! (Sneak peek photo of some of my favorites attached, sorry for the poor photo quality, it's dark. :P ) The black and white one at the top is mine (MINE!) I am taking it with me to Asia, it's around my neck right now. :)

So, back to travel news.. 

The backpack has been packed and weighed, and unpacked to rearrange things. I found almost everything I have been looking for (STILL can't find the darn towel, guess I'll have to go without) and it's a mostly acceptable weight. At least it's within the Airlines guidelines, though a bit heavy for extended carrying at 35lbs. I DID remember at the last minute to pack the Bathing suit!

Tonight I am still messing with the EBooks, trying to fix the MetaData before I send the books to the Reader. Almost all of the files were messed up, it's been a interesting and somewhat tedious project. Tomorrow I get to pack the Bag for real, Make Photocopies, and get more passport photos taken. Wine tasting with Steph and hanging out.. then Wednesday has been intentionally left open. We will see what comes to fill it. Thursday I get on a plane, and 20 mind numbing hours later I arrive in Bangkok!

Due to the flooding we HAVE been rerouted, so 6 hrs later I take a 1 hr flight to Chang Mai and the Adventure begins! Here's hoping I manage to update often.

Not quite sure how the Itinerary will change, but probably staying similar to posted with just an extra day in Chang Mai.

itinerary

Days 1-2

Bangkok

Day 3

Chiang Mai

Day 4

Huay Xai

Day 5

Mekong River

Days 6-8

Luang Prabang

Days 9-10

Vang Vieng

Day 11

Vientiane

Day 12

Hanoi

Day 13

Halong Bay

Days 14-15

Hanoi

Day 16

Hue

Days 17-19

Hoi An

Days 20-21

Ho Chi Minh City

Days 22-23

Phnom Penh

Day 24

Homestay

Days 25-27

Siem Reap/Angkor Wat

Days 28-29

Bangkok