First Published August 22,2005 at www.travelblog.org/bloggers/gypsygal Vang Vieng, Laos — After a 7-hour drive in unpaved, muddy roads; occasional toilet breaks in the bushes; surviving a road block (caused by a landslide) and heavy monsoon rains, we finally arrived in Vang Vieng. The laidback town of Vang Vieng, which is about 155 km north...
Kuang Si Waterfalls Not as majestic as the Niagara Falls, but fabulous just the same (First Published Aug 21, 2005 at www.travelblog.org/bloggers/gypsygal) Luang Prabang — Our last day in Luang Prabang was a day for trekking and shopping. We started the day with a trip...
First Published August 19,2005 at www.travelblog.org/bloggers/gypsygal Luang Prabang — On our way to Luang Prabang, we had two brief stop overs. First was in an Hmong hill village, where curious kids follow us around as they love posing for our digicams. Me, with my pair of flat feet struggled to climb the muddy hill. Fhan...
First Published August 18,2005 at www.travelblog.org/bloggers/gypsygal PAK BENG, LAOS — We spent a night in the tiny village of Pak Beng – a halfway point between Huay Xai and Luang Prabang. The slow boats don't travel at night so we have to stop here for dinner and get some sleep. A rustic town clustered with...
MEKONG RIVER — Call me Fhan and we'll have a FUN time," that's what our Lao tour guide told us when he met us at the immigration checkpoint in Huay Xai. It was also him who taught us what's "Hello" in Lao. It's Sabaydee (and it's said with a smile). We completed visa...
First published August 17,2005 at www.travelblog.org/bloggers/gypsygal Chiang Khong, Thailand — The second day of our Intrepid tour’s about waiting. Waiting for our bus, waiting for Ping to arrive. He’s always late. It’s Thai time, one of the Kiwis said. And that’s when we started talking about Asia, and that things in these region are never...
Chiang Mai — or my first trip to Laos, I decided to join a group tour. While I always prefer traveling alone, as I want to explore a new place at my own pace (plus I need a lot of “quiet time” meditating, thinking and writing and just sitting still), this one time that I...
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