Chiang Mai
4–6 ott 2023, Australia ⋅ 🌧 21 °C
Hop skip & jump to get here. Flew to Sydney the night before -- perhaps presciently as many domestic flights were cancelled the next day due to strong winds. Flew to Singas for another overnight. ThenLeggi altro
Still in Chiang Mai
7 ottobre 2023, Tailandia ⋅ 🌧 25 °C
Morning excursion was to an elephant park. It was billed as a sanctuary/training ground but was more like elephants doing tricks for humans and for tips. Not quite my cuppa.
Afternoon excursion wasLeggi altro
Chiang Rai
8–10 ott 2023, Tailandia ⋅ ☁️ 26 °C
We bused for about 3 hrs up to Chang Rai to stay the night close to the Mekong River so that we can get there early enough to catch a boat in the morning. We stopped on the way for lunch at a greatLeggi altro
A day on the Mekong
9–13 ott 2023, Laos ⋅ ☁️ 26 °C
An early start -- 4:45am -- to prepare for the bus ride to the Lao border and the Mekong. One thing. The coffee has got a lot worse. At the hotel it was like diluted tar and on the boat it is instantLeggi altro
Another day on the Mekong
10 ottobre 2023, Laos ⋅ 🌙 25 °C
Another early-ish start to get to our destination -- Luang Prabang -- before dark. We did about 380 km in 2 days by boat. Stopped at another village -- a little more prosperous with aLeggi altro
Luang Prabang
11–15 ott 2023, Laos ⋅ ⛅ 29 °C
Luang Prabang used to be the capital of Laos before it was shifted (to Vientiane) due to vulnerability to attack from neighbours. One of its main features is French colonial architecture after theLeggi altro
Phonsavan
12 ottobre 2023, Laos ⋅ ⛅ 22 °C
The stories of the day were picturesque countryside and the state of infrastructure. We moved 300 km inland and into the mountains to Phonsavan. The scenery and the villages along the way wereLeggi altro
Plain of Jars
13 ottobre 2023, Laos ⋅ ⛅ 22 °C
Seeing the Plain of Jars was the main point in coming to these parts. They are hollow cylinders made out of sandstone. They date back to the 5th century or so but are shrouded in mystery. Nobody knowsLeggi altro
More jars
14–18 ott 2023, Laos ⋅ ⛅ 28 °C
A trip to the markets started the day. Just about every living thing -- or part of a formerly living thing -- was up for sale. Too many wriggly things. And you would need to get in early because thereLeggi altro
Vientiane
15 ottobre 2023, Laos ⋅ ☁️ 29 °C
They say Vientiane doesn't offer a lot as a city. They're probably right. It has some monumental government buildings, some wide streets and some parks. We visited the victory arch, the golden stupaLeggi altro
Pakse
16 ottobre 2023, Laos ⋅ ☁️ 27 °C
A very early start to catch a plane to Pakse in the south of Laos. This plane had jet engines but must have been one of the first to come off the Airbus assembly line. Once on terra firma we headedLeggi altro
Rest day
17 ottobre 2023, Laos ⋅ ☁️ 27 °C
Nothing much happening today. Nothing organised. Just chilling on the island resort. A walk through the local village and massages all round. Tough I know.
The Lao are pretty laid back. Apparently theLeggi altro
Somewhere else on the Mekong
18–20 ott 2023, Laos ⋅ ☁️ 29 °C
We drove downstream for about 1.5 hours and went to cascade in the river. It stretches over 10km meandering across the river. Because it made the river impassable, the French built a railway toLeggi altro
Into Cambodia
19 ottobre 2023, Cambogia ⋅ ⛅ 29 °C
A long day in the bus today. A little excitement at the Cambodia border as, some days ago, Laos immigration did not stamp the entry of 1 of our number. So this lot weren't going to let her exit -- notLeggi altro
Preah Vihear
20 ottobre 2023, Cambogia ⋅ ⛅ 32 °C
So we are in this town Sa Em nearish to an ancient Khmer temple, Preah Vihear. It was built from the 9th C to the Hindu god Shiva. It was inaccessible in recent times as ownership was disputed betweenLeggi altro
A travel ouch moment
21 ottobre 2023, Cambogia ⋅ ☁️ 26 °C
At some public toilets there is a fee. The fee was 1000 Riel or about 40c At the temple toilets. One of our number dropped a note in the honesty box and realised later she had deposited US$100!!Leggi altro
Siem Reap
21 ottobre 2023, Cambogia ⋅ ☁️ 28 °C
Off to Siem Reap with a stop-off at an ancient Kmer complex known as Koh Ker. It was briefly the capital of the Khmer empire in the 10thC. There are still some structures in the forest madeLeggi altro
Angkor Wat
22 ottobre 2023, Cambogia ⋅ ☁️ 28 °C
So today we saw the biggie: Angkor Wat. It is regarded as the largest religious structure in the world. It was constructed in the 12thC, originally as a Hindu temple but became Buddhist as the kingLeggi altro
On our way back
23 ottobre 2023, Singapore ⋅ ☁️ 30 °C
We took off from a new airport about 50km out of Siem Reap. The Chinese built it and there is to be a new city out there, complete with a Disneyland.
Now a 6 hr layover in Singapore.
A good trip. ALeggi altro









































































































































Viaggiatore
Sue celebrates arrival in Sydney
Viaggiatore
Good pix