Thailand & Laos

A 26-day adventure by Marko Read more

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Trip start
December 8, 2017
Thailand & Laos Marko Bratkovič
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Thursday, December 7, 2017 at 7:00 AM
⛅ -1 °C
Altitude: 287 m
Slovenia Jarše 46.070023, 14.54297146°4’12” N 14°32’35” E
MIND RESET TRIP 2017/18 starts now!
December 7, 2017 in Slovenia ⋅ ⛅ -1 °C
All packed in 35 minutes (washing dishes included). Enjoy the cold, freezing weather, endless Christmas songs all day long, food and drinking through whole December but I'm outta here 🙂 Thailand is an awesome place to spend the winter, but before going back to my favorite beach and party through Xmas and into 2018 I'll do a bit of exploring again - this time in Laos! Just 3 more flights and I can put on my flip-flops and fisherman's pants and enjoy the warm winter! Stay tuned...Read more
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Thailand & Laos Marko Bratkovič
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Day 1
Friday, December 8, 2017 at 8:50 AM
☀️ 29 °C
Altitude: 15 m
Thailand Suvarnabhumi Airport 13.693834, 100.75067113°41’38” N 100°45’2” E
THAILAAAAAND!
December 8, 2017 in Thailand ⋅ ☀️ 29 °C
Ljubljana - Belgrade - Abu Dhabi - Bangkok (flying Etihad this time... Qatar is soooo much better, but there was enough legroom, at least that). Finally I’m here again. 27 degrees at 7am, this is sooooo much better than having to clean ice off windshield on my car. Flipflops on, on a bus to Khao San road. i need a Chang and a proper breakfast so I can realise where I am and to relax my brain. There are 2 more things I need to get done for the job and then vacation begins :)
It’s 33 degrees. Proper weather. Just had my bottle of Chang beer on Rambuttri street. It had to be done. And typing this while sitting in a taxi (in my traditional fisherman’s pants, flipflops amd an AC on temperature that equals temperatur back home) going to another part of Bangkok to meet with mu friend Clynson and her boyfriend and have some proper Thai food. Also bringing her a birthday present - a jar of proper Slovenian ajvar, she loves this stuff. But it’ll take me over an hour to get there - Fridat Bangkok traffic is .... special :)Read more
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Thailand & Laos Marko Bratkovič
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Day 2
Saturday, December 9, 2017 at 12:02 AM
🌙 27 °C
Altitude: 11 m
Thailand Banglumpoo 13.759495, 100.49641613°45’34” N 100°29’47” E
Bangkok, awesome as always :)
December 9, 2017 in Thailand ⋅ 🌙 27 °C
I’m too tired to type. Ate curry and mango. Had beer. Need rest. Now. I have...ZZZZZzzzzz😴
Super uzivaj, mama
12/9/17Reply
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Thailand & Laos Marko Bratkovič
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Day 3
Sunday, December 10, 2017 at 7:33 AM
⛅ 21 °C
Altitude: 150 m
Thailand Nong Haen 17.875158, 102.71589717°52’31” N 102°42’57” E
Bye Thailand... for now
December 10, 2017 in Thailand ⋅ ⛅ 21 °C
Took a night #25 train to Nong Khai. Of course bed was about 180cm short, of course there were mosquitos. But it was a nice ride. Did 4 hours of work and now a train to Laos over the friendship bridge (see picture). Officialy I’m nowhere, checked out of Thailand. No mans land :)Read more
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Thailand & Laos Marko Bratkovič
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Day 3
Sunday, December 10, 2017 at 2:31 PM
⛅ 26 °C
Altitude: 171 m
Laos Viengxai 17.968633, 102.61255517°58’7” N 102°36’45” E
Laos
December 10, 2017 in Laos ⋅ ⛅ 26 °C
Oh yeah, LAOS! Not as sunny today but still 27 degrees :) Some tough immigration control they have but I’m in! Just got to Vientiane. Of course I met some australian dude on train and of course we had 4 beers before 11 :) It’s so wonderful to meet people, so many stories. Vientiane is pretty quiet town, and officialy - I’m a millionaire! You go to ATM and withdraw a million :) 1€ = 10.000 KIP. And it’s cheap. But in 2 hours I’ve seen all places worth seeing. I’m glad I’ve shorten Vientiane to only two days, still have to see the night market though.
Oh, the street on the picture - it’s a main road :) Pretty empty, huh?
I ended up eating some awesome bbq chicken by river, soooo good! But had too much so I just had another danish in hostel and went to bed for an hour. Met John in the evening for few more beers, many discussions, ignoring hookers/ladyboys (I’d swear that was a girl though, an ugly one though) and now finally some rest. Buddha park is on tomorrow 😁Read more
Hey Marko its John thanks for the good time we had mate hope to do it again some day!!
1/2/18Reply
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Thailand & Laos Marko Bratkovič
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Day 4
Monday, December 11, 2017
⛅ 27 °C
Altitude: 179 m
Laos Ban Xiangkhouan 17.912746, 102.76490817°54’46” N 102°45’54” E
Trippin' around Buddha Park
December 11, 2017 in Laos ⋅ ⛅ 27 °C
Finally got some sleep. Well, kinda. I’m sleeping in dorm, so annoyances come ... some chinese dude decided to watch some movie on a phone at 7am. Another one had some conversation on phone for a looong time, zero fucks given. Luckily someone started complaining so we finally could get some more peace and quiet.
Smoke, coffee, breakfast, and day starts. Off to see Buddha Park now, yay! I just took a local bus, costs 6000 KIP (60 cents) for one hour ride. And oh this pa is so cool, tons of different buddha statues. It’s a great one hour walk around it. Well, pictures say more than thosand words :)Read more
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Day 5
Tuesday, December 12, 2017 at 11:24 AM
⛅ 10 °C
Altitude: 181 m
Laos Ban Sènxoum 18.559555, 102.38791818°33’34” N 102°23’17” E
Vientiane ➡️ Vang Vieng
December 12, 2017 in Laos ⋅ ⛅ 10 °C
On a bus on my way to Vang Vieng. It goes like 40km/h, roads are narrow and bad, quite a bumpy ride. Been talking to some people about dengue fever, two already had it, one just few days ago. From now on I’m gonna spray myself every 2 hours during the day, I really don’t need this :)Read more
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Day 6
Wednesday, December 13, 2017
🌧 2 °C
Altitude: 233 m
Laos Houay Sang Au 18.928514, 102.44944818°55’43” N 102°26’58” E
Vang Vieng
December 13, 2017 in Laos ⋅ 🌧 2 °C
Quiet town.... when you arrive. Found my hostel, looks nice, although there are some ants in the room. Immediately met some canadians, then some girls wanted to do a drinking game, we went out and ... let’s just say Vang Vieng welcomed me in its way :) No idea which bars we went to, there was good food, free whiskey, beerpong, singing, dancing, ... Needless to say today was an easy day :)
Maybe tubing tomorrow, waterfalls, blue lagoon? Who knows :) Laos so far is an amazing place. And I still have tons to see!Read more
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Day 8
Friday, December 15, 2017
☀️ 33 °C
Altitude: 234 m
Laos Houay Sang Au 18.92849, 102.44939618°55’43” N 102°26’58” E
I LOVE VANG VIENG!
December 15, 2017 in Laos ⋅ ☀️ 33 °C
Oh this town is awesome! There is just sooo muc - tons of restaurants, bars, kayaking, trekking, climbing, tubing (no Anja, it’s a dry season, low water), about 30 or so caves, blue lagoons, ... and it’s really cheap :) Yesterday we went kayaking and tubing in some cave, today me and a german dude rented scooters and went to two caves and a lagoon. I skipped the baloon though - 95$, wanted to go tomorrow morning but it’s gonna be cloudy, so pass. There is also a festival today, but I’ll skip - have to get up at 8, have a bus to Phonsavan and plains of jars. Can’t wait!Read more
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Day 9
Saturday, December 16, 2017 at 10:56 AM
⛅ 23 °C
Altitude: 694 m
Laos Ban Namkèn 19.333048, 102.36562219°19’59” N 102°21’56” E
Vang Vieng ➡️ Phonsavan
December 16, 2017 in Laos ⋅ ⛅ 23 °C
On a minubus again, 4-5 hour drive to Phonsavan to see Plain of jars, should be awesome. But just driving in countryside and watching outside ... this is one of the most beautiful landscape I’ve ever seen, all these avatar-like mountains, jungle everywhere, rice fields, ... this country is oh so beautiful! ❤️Read more
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Day 10
Sunday, December 17, 2017 at 11:29 PM
🌙 6 °C
Altitude: 1,098 m
Laos Phonsavan 19.447994, 103.18246519°26’53” N 103°10’57” E
Xieng Khouang aka Phonsavan
December 17, 2017 in Laos ⋅ 🌙 6 °C
On my way to Luang Prabang I just had to make detour to Phonsavan, a town with Pain of Jars, one of the things from Unesco list.
The ride was quite long with driver not stopping for a toilet until we complained. So even before we arrived I found a plane to Luang Prabang for 35€.
It's a small town and a new capital. You can still see remains of secret war on Laos, craters everywhere, burning fields so they can find unexploded bombs. It's pretty sad what war can leave behind.
The hotel was AMAZING, the owner David, a Belgian, was really nice, arranged a pickup, made us curry dinner, arranged a trip to plain of jars, ... I also met a nice Austrian couple who are traveling around Asia and some girl who came here on a bike! Amazing!Read more
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Thailand & Laos Marko Bratkovič
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Day 11
Monday, December 18, 2017
☀️ 19 °C
Altitude: 289 m
Laos Houay Sangta 19.884163, 102.14580519°53’3” N 102°8’45” E
Luang Prabang
December 18, 2017 in Laos ⋅ ☀️ 19 °C
After 30 minutes of plane, here I am, Luang Prabang, 2nd biggest city, biggest in the north. A lovely place. Met with my friend Klemen, it was weird speaking slovenian again. First day I just went around town, night market, got some more Nutella pancakes and finished the day with couple of beers with Jørgen, a norwegian buddy.Read more
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Day 12
Tuesday, December 19, 2017
☀️ 20 °C
Altitude: 300 m
Laos Houay Tat 19.878735, 102.12081919°52’43” N 102°7’15” E
Pak Ou Caves
December 19, 2017 in Laos ⋅ ☀️ 20 °C
It was time to move to another hotel, some pretty hippie place near the Mekong river. Awesome food they have. In the afternoon me and Klemen took a minivan to the Pak Ou caves. Quite a bumpy ride! After getting to a village you still need to get a boat across Mekong river to the caves. There are two. Both like containing around 4000 Buddha statutes people brought. Second cave requires a flashlight to see all the Buddhas inside. A worthy trip!
In the evening I met with Jørgen and couple of other backpackers in Utopia bar, sitting in the sand with fire pit and just talking to all these amazing people,sharing experiences, had a great conversation with some sweet German traveler Piaaggio,... This is what traveling for me is all about. Ended up going home with a tuktuk driver who kept trying to sell me "best Holland" weed :)Read more
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Day 13
Wednesday, December 20, 2017
☀️ 19 °C
Altitude: 320 m
Laos Ban Paksi 19.76667, 101.98330819°46’0” N 101°58’60” E
Kuang Si waterfall
December 20, 2017 in Laos ⋅ ☀️ 19 °C
One of must-see places in Luang Prabang is definitely Kuang Si waterfall. It's a one hour ride but it's worth it! When tuktuk stops there is 10 minute hike to waterfalls and on the way there you walk through bear sanctuary! Amazing! See pictures. Waterfall next. Blue water, tons of small waterfalls and ponds, then I climbed on top of it, breathless views! Then I found some path to another cave, about 20 minutes hike. It's weird because it was actually hot inside the cave. I can highly recommend this place!Read more
Ja to pa je lepo.mama
12/22/17Reply
Marko, vidim, da res uživaš in mi s teboj! magda
12/25/17Reply
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Day 15
Friday, December 22, 2017
☀️ 28 °C
Altitude: 21 m
Thailand Ao Hat Yuan 9.688419, 100.074129°41’18” N 100°4’27” E
Haad Yuan!
December 22, 2017 in Thailand ⋅ ☀️ 28 °C
Yesterday was a transport day. Tuktuk - plane to Bangkok - plane to Koh Samui - bus to Big Buddha Pier - boat to Haad Rin on Koh Phangan and then finally a ride to Haad Yuan beach on a 4x4 and following a yellow path to Engage resort. Oh it was so amazing walking on a beach in waves again! I was the first customer in Engage this season, so it's just me, Hetty and dog Masi here. I missed this place :) Got my bungalow, had some spicy massaman curry and finally bed time. Had some slight fever whole day but fine in the morning.
Waking up by sound of an ocean, I went to the balcony and just enjoyed a sunrise while trying to scare off monkey who tried to steal my water. Oh I love this place :) And tonight - it's Guy's Bar night!Read more
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Day 21
Thursday, December 28, 2017 at 1:01 AM
⛅ 24 °C
Altitude: 21 m
Thailand Ao Hat Yuan 9.688405, 100.0742199°41’18” N 100°4’27” E
Enjoying Haad Yuan
December 28, 2017 in Thailand ⋅ ⛅ 24 °C
Oh it’s been an amazing time so far on Haad Yuan. All the parties, awesome food, sea, sun, beautiful people and all the smiles. A place I like to call home :) A huge storm should be above us today but only had couple of light showers with nice sunset (well sky was amazingly purple). Also had a nice thai massage - those ladies might be old but don’t let that fool you, they are strong! And they fix you in an hour. For 400thb. Any other comments about this place are ... nah, not saying more, it’s all just serenity and ❤️
Tonight I also remembered I had an Christmas card from my niece Eva, I was forbid to open until xmas. See picture for details (for English speaking: “For Marko, have a good time, send photos. Eva. And don’t forget about me. We love you”. She’s the best :)Read more
Zdaj pa srecno novo leto in se mnoga lepa potovanja. Mama
12/31/17Reply
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Day 25
Monday, January 1, 2018
☀️ 22 °C
Altitude: 23 m
Thailand Ao Mae Hat 10.080212, 99.82717110°4’49” N 99°49’38” E
Koh Tao Experience festival and New Year
January 1, 2018 in Thailand ⋅ ☀️ 22 °C
Last days were pretty wild. After a party at Guy's Bar Jodie invited me to join the Experience festival on Koh Tao. It's a psytrance festival, a music I never actually listened but I said to myself "Why the heck not" and joined 😊
It was amazing and loved it immediately! Beautiful people, great atmosphere, and the music, soo nice! The 2017 couldn't have ended better and beginning of 2018 so far is amazing!
In the morning I had to catch boat back to Koh Phangan. Almost missed it. And someone took my flip-flops so I ran barefoot across town (still covered in glitter) to catch thw boat. Haad Yuan - Had Rin - Koh Samui - Bangkok. Finally got some sleep.Read more
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Day 26
Tuesday, January 2, 2018 at 11:03 PM
🌙 26 °C
Altitude: 8 m
Thailand Suvarnabhumi Airport 13.689999, 100.75011413°41’24” N 100°45’0” E
End of trip
January 2, 2018 in Thailand ⋅ 🌙 26 °C
The hardest thing about travel is leaving back home. Southeast Asia never fails to impress, this time it was Laos’ turn (and Thailand, of course). Tons of memories flowing through my mind right now, all the beautiful people I’ve met, stories I’ve heard, laughs we’ve had, places we’ve seen, beers we’ve done, hills we’ve climbed, parties we’ve danced to, new music and places I was introduced to and loved them, ...
Not denying it makes me kinda sad walking down Rambuttri street for last time, seeing all the beautiful people, great street food, the general street vibe, those damn cables hanging from everywhere, the ding-dong from a nearby 7-11, I fucking love Thailand! But as always - next adventure awaits!Read more
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Trip end
January 2, 2018