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 …
Bustling Bangkok
When I first visited Bangkok in the mid-1990s I absolutely hated it. It was hot, crowded and decrepit. I couldn’t wait to leave it to …
Quintana Roo, Diving Redoux
I spent a few weeks back in Cozumel and Playa del Carmen in the Mexican state of Quintana Roo. It meant I was able to …