Java is huge. It’s the 13th largest island in the world and has a population of over 150 million. I only explored a small sliver …
Going from Vientiane to Bangkok
Most people go from Vientiane to Bangkok either on an overnight train or on a short flight. But there were two sites I wanted to …
The Sleepy Capital of Vientiane
Vientiane is a bit like Laos in general: sleepy, relaxed and sometimes underappreciated. It’s also known as being kind of boring. The Amazon gag gift …
Escaping Vang Vieng
After the sublime beauty of Luang Prabang and the quiet charm of Kasi, Vang Vieng was something of a disappointment. It was a dusty, nondescript …
Four Days on a Motorcycle in Laos
The train from Luang Prabang to Vang Vien was completely packed. There were about 25% Westerners and the rest either Asian tourists or Lao. At …
Languid Luang Prabang
There’s a quote by Samual Johnson in 1777 that: “When a man is tired of London, he is tired of life.” Well, when you’re tired …
A Slow Boat Down the Mekong River
I needed to get from the Thai/Laos border town of Huay Xai to Luang Prabang. There are three ways to do this: a 13 hour …
Two Nights in a Jungle Treehouse in Laos
What if you had the chance to spend a couple of nights in the world’s highest treehouse? What if that treehouse was also in the …
Charming Chiang Rai
Chiang Rai is about 3 hours north of Chiang Mai at the northern tip of Thailand, near the Myanmar and Laos borders. The city is …
Chilling in Chiang Mai
Chiang Mai is an 800 year old city that has done a great job evolving into a liveable, modern city while still retaining a sense …