This lovely village of Vang Vieng is located just outside the main town. It took a few minutes to navigate the dirt roads and get to our center village. Our home stay hosts were awaiting us. After some quick introductions we were whisked off to get settled in our rooms and… Continue reading Vang Vieng Home Stay…Yay!
This evening we had the great fortune to have dinner with a local Lao family. The family prepared a traditional meal, gave us luck bracelets which tied us to the family and granted us permission (by the ancestors) to enter the home and be peaceful within. We had a beautiful ceremony with two elders and… Continue reading Evening with a Lao family
The slow boat to Luang Prabang was delightful! We passed beautifully carved mountains and even stopped at a Buddhist Temple carved out of the rock where natural caves are located. Interesting and beautiful the many Buddha icons are everywhere! But, we were in for a wonderful surprise at… Continue reading The last day on the Mighty Mekong…to Luang Prabang
From Thailand to Laos... From Chiang Khong to the Laos boarder was pretty easy drive and an even easier crossing into Laos. Our guides on both sides were wonderful! Gotta love G@Adventures for great planning. The vans were waiting for us to take to the slow river boat down the Mighty Mekong river. A beautiful… Continue reading Down the river with you…the mighty Mekong River!
In my eagerness to get as many posts published while internet was available long enough to get pictures to upload I missed a very important post and equally important pictures. Our cooking class at the Baan Hongnual Cooking School in Chiang Mai. Chiang Mai - go north for cooking school and elephants! Chiang Mai (translates… Continue reading Ooops! Missed a spot…Baan Hongnual Cooking School
Don't be put off visiting this beautiful temple because of the 309 steps...there is a funicular that takes you to the top easily. Our guide explained how the white elephant brought (some)the ashes of the Lord Buddha to this place, circled the top of the mountain three times, trumpeted three times and then fell dead!… Continue reading Doi Sutehep Temple (The White Elephant Temple)
'The Park Hotel' was very nice! The absolutely beautiful lobby was reminiscent of bygone ages where carving was a life work more than a livelihood! Beautiful painted ceilings, carved wooden doors and furniture, and filigree planters brought me back to the turn of the century...yes the previous one! The Hotel staff were efficient and kind,… Continue reading Chiang Mai – The Park Hotel
Ahhh the wonders of the overnight train to, well, ...any where... but here in Thailand you don't know if it will be the 'new' train (which is beautiful) or the 'older' train (which is not so much!)...you pays your money and you takes your chances! We did get the new train and were very happy… Continue reading Overnight Train to Chiang Mai
Breakfast, lunch, and dinner is always exciting in Bangkok. The street food is legendary but so are the restaurants. Breakfast was usually a buffet served at the hotel (Prime Hotel Centra Station), both hot and cold, western and Asian included. There was something for everyone and it was a delicious way to start the day.… Continue reading Bangkok… a city of temples and food!
The internet connections are sporadic at best and getting a strong enough signal for long enough to upload photos is a real special treat! Good internet connection today so I am working like crazy to get the photos sized and uploaded. We are 'taking it easy' at the Hotel this morning after a couple of… Continue reading Online…offline..online…off line and so it goes
TravelSpirit-The Hungry Traveler 