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Southeast Asia

October 2022 – March 2023
  • Orion Global Nomads
  • Craig Bowman
A 160-day adventure by Orion Global Nomads & Craig Read more
  • Orion Global Nomads
  • Craig Bowman

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  • Malaysia Malaysia
  • Thailand Thailand
  • Laos Laos
  • Cambodia Cambodia
  • Vietnam Vietnam
  • Singapore Singapore
  • Netherlands Netherlands
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Around the world, Couple, Culture, Digital nomad, Family, Luxury travel, Self discovery, Sightseeing, Spirituality, Vacation
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  • 160days
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  • Southeast Asia

    Return to Nong Khiaw

    January 31, 2023 in Laos ⋅ ☀️ 26 °C

    After our time exploring Muang Ngoy, we returned to Nong Khiaw for a final night and to pick up our baggage before heading to Luang Prabang again.

    Before our last dinner we purchased a few handmade scarves from a local lady up the street. She was very nice and told us her daughter made them by showing us a picture. Anyway, her smile made our trip!

    We had a lovely last dinner at the resort where I had the schnitzel. Couldn’t resist as I saw someone eating it the other evening. It’s not like me to order western food for dinner in SE Asia! Oh and the Banoffee pie - fantastic!

    The next morning before our departure we checked out and also let the staff know we appreciated their hospitality and their beautiful resort!    Read more

  • Southeast Asia

    Luang Prabang a Second Time Around

    February 3, 2023 in Laos ⋅ ☀️ 29 °C

    Due to logistics, we had the opportunity to travel to Luang Prabang a second time! It is the cultural capital of Laos. During our visit, we had the chance to further explore this beautiful city and appreciate its rich history and culture.

    We did get up early in the morning (of course I protested) to observe the Alms ritual where people can make food offerings like sticky rice to the monks. While interesting to observe, we did see some rudeness from other visitors where they get to close to the monks to have a picture or selfie taken - SMH.

    Besides the temples and palaces, we were also able to explore the many hidden alleyways, cafes, shops, restaurants, and markets around Luang Prabang. We had the chance to sample some of the local cuisine, including various types of noodles, rice dishes and other traditional Laotian favorites. The markets were also great for finding unique souvenirs and gifts to take home.

    Overall, we had a wonderful time exploring Luang Prabang and its many treasures.

    Next our river cruise to Thailand!    Read more

  • Southeast Asia

    River Cruise via the Mekong to Thailand

    February 4, 2023 in Laos ⋅ ⛅ 30 °C

    Saying goodbye to Luang Prabang was difficult. A charming city, steeped in history, wonderful architecture, a fun night market, hidden alleys, Wats, great food, all sandwiched by tranquil rivers. We chose to take a slow boat to the border crossing at Houey Xay. This was a two day cruise.

    Laos is a country full of natural beauty and unique cultural experiences. However, exploring Laos is best done on its winding rivers, which are lined with stunning limestone cliffs, lush jungles and fascinating rural villages.

    From the moment we set off on our boat, we were treated to incredible sights and sounds. As we made our way down the river, we stopped at the Pak Ou Caves. Nestled on the banks of the Mekong River, these limestone caves are home to thousands of Buddha statues! We were given the opportunity to explore the caves and admire the intricate carvings and paintings adorning the walls.

    The highlight of our trip, however, was visiting a nearby mountain village with no roads or vehicles. Here, we saw people living life much as they had hundreds of years ago and were greeted warmly by members of a local hill tribe. The village children greeted us with smiles. We had seen them playing a game using seeds. Our tour guide bought local snacks and distributed them among the children. It was a small village with a local Chief that is elected to a four year term.

    The Mekong River offered many great views of striking mountains, sandy shores, terraced gardens, and river life along the windy banks of the Mekong. We made spent a night at cute hotel on the river in Pakbeng before making our way to the border. What a great way to get to Thailand from Laos!    Read more

  • Southeast Asia

    The Black House

    February 7, 2023 in Thailand ⋅ ☀️ 32 °C

    Craig and I had the opportunity to visit The Black House, otherwise known as Baan Dam, which is a unique art and architectural museum in Chiang Rai, Thailand.

    Located at the Tham Tawan Dhamma public park grounds, it is the creation of Thai national artist Thawan Duchanee, who began building it in 1992, and continued until his death in 2014.

    The Black House draws from a variety of influences, including traditional Lanna architecture, Buddhism, and spiritual animism. The museum consists of more than forty wooden structures, constructed of teak wood, arranged in two distinct areas, each featuring a diverse collection of art – sculptures, paintings, masks, and silk panels, among others.

    At the heart of the site is a tall black structure called Paw Ku, which serves as an anchor for the other buildings and is referred to by Thawan Duchanee as his spiritual home. Inside the black house lies a collection of artifacts related to the spiritual animism and traditional shamanism practiced by local hill tribes.

    Our observation, the architecture was quite dramatic even with the dark and muted shades used. I actually thought there was more of the “Yang” influence and there wasn’t a balance that I often find in Asian art. I actually liked the design and flow of these structures.

    The exhibition in the main structure (Paw Ku) was interesting. These works included pieces with bold brush strokes and captured movement. The subject matter was often mystical animals. These pieces were also interactive. Using the QR code would open instagram and on your phone the art piece would move. Pretty interesting work!

    We thoroughly enjoyed our visit to the Black House.    Read more

  • Southeast Asia

    The White Temple

    February 9, 2023 in Thailand ⋅ ☀️ 32 °C

    Craig and I have read quite a bit about the White Temple in Chiang Rai and was looking forward to our visit. The iconic White Temple (Wat Rong Khun) did not disappoint. Located about 10 km south of the city, this unique temple was designed by local artist Chalermchai Kositpipat and constructed in 1997. The dreamlike temple is composed of dazzling white walls decorated with tiny mirrors that reflect the sunlight, creating a mystical atmosphere.

    As soon as we entered the grounds of the White Temple, our eyes were drawn to the magnificent main building. This building is home to a gold-plated chapel, adorned with intricate murals and sculptures depicting Buddhist mythology. This chapel serves as a center for meditation and worship, allowing visitors to connect with their inner spiritual self.

    The outside of the main building shows scenes from Hindu and Buddhist tales, with characters such as the goddess Kali, demons, and even a giant head of Buddha. As you walk through the grounds, you’ll notice a variety of other structures including a bridge filled with hands reaching up to the sky and a pond of fishes symbolizing nirvana.

    We ventured into one of the art exhibits and enjoyed some art by local artists. All in all, our visit to the White Temple in Chiang Rai was an enjoyable experience.    Read more

  • Southeast Asia

    Chiang Mai Food Tour

    February 11, 2023 in Thailand ⋅ ☀️ 29 °C

    Chiang Mai is a city with a rich culinary heritage. From its bustling food markets to its unique northern Thai cuisine, Chiang Mai has something to offer for everyone. Our friends Tean and Chanda signed us up for a food walking tour - What a perfect way to explore the city’s unique flavors and aromas. On the walking and tasting tour, we had fun sampling some of Chiang Mai’s most beloved dishes.

    1st stop: a shredded coconut like taco with a sweet marshmallow cream filling. Pretty tasty.

    2nd stop: Craig and Chanda ordered pork rice noodle soups. The two bowls were quite large and enough for the four of us to share. The broth was rich and full of pork and citrus flavors. The fresh rich noodles were perfectly chewy and tender, and of course their was some heat from chilis!

    3rd stop: We enjoyed some tasty garden rolls with prawns and crunchy veggies. The wrappers were more roti like vs rice paper in Vietnamese rolls. They were similar but different in use of herbs and the wrapper.

    4th stop: In the center of a food market we sampled some excellent coconut crepes. The assembly line was cool! And I love all things coconuts!

    5th stop: A colorful coconut and rice sweet snack wrapped in banana leaves. We were instructed to choose from three of the different colored snacks: green, white, and blue. We tried them all and they were delicious!!!

    The food tour was an awesome way to try different things, eat with locals, and explore the different food markets in Chiang Mai!    Read more

  • Southeast Asia

    Dinner @ the BlackItch in Chiang Mai

    February 12, 2023 in Thailand ⋅ 🌙 16 °C

    On February 12, Craig and I took a long walk after strolling through the busy night market to the BlackItch restaurant in Chiang Mai for a night of fine-dining. Along the way I was treated to some frowns and why we did not take a Tuk Tuk…:).

    We made it to the BlackItch and were treated to an amazing culinary experience as we had BlackItch's Best Bites of 2022 tasting menu. This special menu took us on a journey through some of the eatery's most beloved dishes.

    Menu:
    Banana Tacos
    Mountain Tart
    Orange Financier
    Amasake Pie
    Seafood Tart
    Ceviche
    Focaccia Chicken Pate and Roce Field Crab Paste
    Iberico with Pickled Fish on Toast
    Baby Cos Salad
    Stuffed Chicken Wing
    Shrimp with Roti
    Tempura with Tofu and Chestnut
    Vietnamese Chicken Salad
    River Prawn and Pomelo Salad
    Catch of the Day and Coconut Crumb
    River Prawn with Sour Curry
    Sean Curry with Grilled Fish
    Northern Thai Pork Broth with BlackItch Udon
    Oyster and Southern Curry
    Grilled Beef and Roasted Vegetables
    BlackItch Chicken Rice
    Black Chicken Soup
    Pickles
    Dessert!

    Finally, after a long and delicious dinner, we decided to take a “Grab” car back to our hotel! The BlackItch restaurant provided us with a memorable dining experience that was very special.    Read more

  • Southeast Asia

    Life of Pai

    February 16, 2023 in Thailand ⋅ ⛅ 25 °C

    For my birthday, I had to choose a northern town since we were in northern Thailand. I chose Pai. It is a charming Thai town situated in the Mae Hong Son Province. It is not a large town by any means and has a population of approximately 5,500 people.

    The majority of the population in Pai is made up of the Northern Thai ethnic group called the Lua. There are also a small number of Karen people living in the hills around Pai, who mainly work in agriculture.

    As the sun sets over Pai, the night market came alive with activity and energy, which we enjoyed very much.

    We saw vendors setting up stalls, showcasing local produce and handmade goods. At the night market we saw unique items like handmade batik clothing, leather goods, intricately carved wooden boxes and even Pai’s famed culinary specialties such as Pai roti and khao soi.

    We rented some motorbikes and set our course to visit the iconic white Buddha perched on the hill near Pai. It was an easy 14 minute ride. The big white Buddha statue is a symbol of faith and a great way to take in the stunning views of Northern Thailand.

    The giant white marble statue of 'Luang Pho To' (Giant White Buddha) was built in 1960 by locals who wanted to honor the founder of their village, Khun Paen Kham-in. The structure stands at an impressive 10 meters tall and is seen as a symbol of faith, hope and respect for those who live in and visit Pai. The views from the temple were awesome. The entrance to the stairs to Buddha are guarded by a pair of giant Singhas.

    Craig and I enjoyed our visit to Pai, and enjoyed the night market, food, temples, and even took a motorbike ride to an amazing cave.    Read more

  • Southeast Asia

    Cruising to Nam Lod Cave

    February 16, 2023 in Thailand ⋅ 🌧 18 °C

    On a recent motorbike excursion to Nam Lod Cave in northern Thailand near Pai, Craig and I had a memorable time exploring the incredible landscape of this awe-inspiring area.

    Nam Lod Cave is located in the Ban Pae sub-district of Mae Hong Son province and is about an hour’s (1.5 many switchbacks and hills) drive from Pai. The drive was an adventure in itself, taking us through winding roads and breathtaking scenery of lush forest and soaring cliffs. There was a stretch of road where we saw procession of monks walking, quite picturesque but we could not stop and take photos.

    As we arrived at the park’s gate, we paid the entrance fee and was assigned a cave guide. We welcomed a fellow tourist by the name of Marcus from the UK to join us. Marcus made many of the same stops we did along the way.

    Once we arrived at entrance to the cave, we were amazed by its beauty, the towering limestone formations and the turquoise water glimmering with many river fish!

    Once inside the cave, we were met with a stunning display of stalactites and stalagmites that almost seemed like they were formed in a fairytale-like storybook setting. We slowly made our way through the winding passages of the cave, marveling at the magnificent rock formations. Every corner we turned revealed something new and unique - light-colored patterns on the walls, sparkling streams of crystal clear water, and hanging clusters of delicate stalactites. And there was lots of bat poop…:(

    We had two bamboo rafting rides to get to different caves. We had fun feeding the fish with fish food we bought at the entrance. Some of the cat fish were quite huge!

    The ride back: Craig and I failed to look at the weather report before leaving Pai hours before. So no rain gear! Once we started our ride back it started to rain cats and dogs. We decided to stop at a local coffee place to wait it out. The thunder started and it continued to rain hard. After an hour we decided to get on our bikes since we did not want to drive the switchbacks and hills in the dark while raining. 5 min into the drive we stopped at local stands to buy ponchos but they were sold out. I was shivering during our ride! After 40 min of cold rain it stopped and the air was semi warm, and our shirts dry again! We made it back to Pie in time for a stroll in the night market and some much needed dinner!

    Our experiences at Nam Lod Cave and the surrounding villages will stay with us for a lifetime, and so will the lesson of checking the weather report before a long ride!    Read more

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