lexigerber's TravelStream™ — Recent TravelPod.com entries TravelStream™ news feed for member lexigerber on TravelPod's free travel blogs service http://www.travelpod.com/syndication/rss/lexigerber en-us Copyright ©2009 TravelPod.com Sat, 16 Dec 2006 06:15:08 -0500 http://www.travelpod.com melbourne, home again — Melbourne, Australia http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/lexigerber/south-east_asia/1166354040/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/lexigerber/south-east_asia/1166354040/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/lexigerber/south-east_asia/1166354040/tpod.html Sat, 16 Dec 2006 06:15:08 -0500 Thailand, cambodia, vietnam and laos, a journey of mudslides, temples, extortion, and pineapples...
Melbourne, Australia

back home
]]> back to bangkok, MBK and khoa san road — Bangkok, Thailand http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/lexigerber/south-east_asia/1166180460/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/lexigerber/south-east_asia/1166180460/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/lexigerber/south-east_asia/1166180460/tpod.html Sat, 16 Dec 2006 06:14:06 -0500 Thailand, cambodia, vietnam and laos, a journey of mudslides, temples, extortion, and pineapples...
Bangkok, Thailand

Oh my god i never imagined how much this place changed from off season to in season, i hardly even recognised khoa san road when i got back. The whole place is just packed with tourists and shops its completely out of control. Way more nightclubs are open and staying open later. When i was here there was only a handfull pumping out the tunes now they are everywhere, even out of converted vw minibuses on the street!

After spending almost 12 hours xmas shopping yesterday, (highly recommend MBK for all your shopping needs), and then another couple today on khao san i am more than ready to get home and go see the kylie concert tomorro. The only worry is that my bag wont be allowed on the plane.. i have well over 35kg and im not sure if they will allow that much on even if i pay the excess fee, oh well ill find out in a couple hours,
maybe ill see you in oz someday xoxo
]]> back home, vang vien — Vang vien, Lao Peoples Dem Rep http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/lexigerber/south-east_asia/1166266560/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/lexigerber/south-east_asia/1166266560/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/lexigerber/south-east_asia/1166266560/tpod.html Sat, 16 Dec 2006 06:01:28 -0500 Thailand, cambodia, vietnam and laos, a journey of mudslides, temples, extortion, and pineapples...
Vang vien, Lao Peoples Dem Rep

Oh it was so great to get bcak here, what an awesome place. Plus our fabulous hostel owners had our bags waiting for us back in our bungalow! What a welcome home, what more could you ask for except a party down at the island bar which we headed to straight away (at about 2am).
]]> ventiane and across the border for the train — Ventiane, Lao Peoples Dem Rep http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/lexigerber/south-east_asia/1166093940/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/lexigerber/south-east_asia/1166093940/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/lexigerber/south-east_asia/1166093940/tpod.html Sat, 16 Dec 2006 06:00:20 -0500 Thailand, cambodia, vietnam and laos, a journey of mudslides, temples, extortion, and pineapples...
Ventiane, Lao Peoples Dem Rep

just a pin
]]> Phonsavan, and the plain of jars — Phonsavan, Lao Peoples Dem Rep http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/lexigerber/south-east_asia/1165661220/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/lexigerber/south-east_asia/1165661220/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/lexigerber/south-east_asia/1165661220/tpod.html Sat, 16 Dec 2006 05:55:20 -0500 Thailand, cambodia, vietnam and laos, a journey of mudslides, temples, extortion, and pineapples...
Phonsavan, Lao Peoples Dem Rep

The plain of jars was pretty cool although in retrospect if you dont have a lot of time or if they are out of your way maybe consider skipping it. Although the jars are interesting, particularly because they are still shrouded in mystery as to their purpose and origin. The real charm of the town is in the people, their dodgy little nightclub, and their sad history.
They loose over 100 people a year to landmines in loas, and the situation isnt getting any better. To learn the extent to which this area was carpet bombed and scattered with landmines is disturbing, especially when one finds out the millions the USA spent during "war" compared to the thousands they spend now to help fix what they left behind. And the vast majority of those being maimed or killed are now children who play in the fields mistaking the weapons for toys. Its a sad situation, and even if you dont read the literature or speak to the people the evidence is all around you, whether in the bomb craters scattered along the countryside, or the bricks painted along the narrow paths that have been cleared of mines.
We left phonsavan to return "home"... well our home away from home, vang vien on the overnight bus.
]]> louangprahbang — Louangprahbang, Lao Peoples Dem Rep http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/lexigerber/south-east_asia/1165512660/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/lexigerber/south-east_asia/1165512660/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/lexigerber/south-east_asia/1165512660/tpod.html Sat, 16 Dec 2006 05:46:35 -0500 Thailand, cambodia, vietnam and laos, a journey of mudslides, temples, extortion, and pineapples...
Louangprahbang, Lao Peoples Dem Rep

The trip to louangprahbang was ok i guess, ill be glad to be home soon and away from buses! The town is quite pretty with old colonial houses and you can find cheap accomodation near the centre. The real attraction for us was the night market which basically envelopes the whole town. Also if you wake up early enough there is the traditional offerings to the monks... at about 6-630am just out of the main drag, although i seemed to be the only westerner offering anything besides an obnoxious presence with a flash and a camera lense.
Another attraction is the waterfalls about 1 hour by tuk tuk out of town, they are a glorious cloudy torquise blue, and you can (at your own risk) climb right up the top and walk through for a better view. I left aiofe down the bottom and attempted this climb in wet thongs - not recommended... i almost died about twice the combonation of slippery rocks, loose rails (where there were rails), and really, really, really big bugs trying to do me in.
We left here for phonsovan, or the plain of jars. This bus ride was less than spectacular with me, aiofe, an asian lady and two gay guys trying to sit on a box next to the driver, while stools lined every other available space on the bus.
]]> Vang vieng, tubing, joints and the river — Vang vieng, Lao Peoples Dem Rep http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/lexigerber/south-east_asia/1164966780/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/lexigerber/south-east_asia/1164966780/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/lexigerber/south-east_asia/1164966780/tpod.html Wed, 06 Dec 2006 09:29:15 -0500 Thailand, cambodia, vietnam and laos, a journey of mudslides, temples, extortion, and pineapples...
Vang vieng, Lao Peoples Dem Rep

30 hours to get anywhere is a long time, but if i had to travel for 30 hours im glad i ended up here. With a laid back feel its one of the first places ive been in asia where i feel safe walking home at night. The people are friendly, the scenery is beautiful and on arrival a bartender presented me with a fat joint... what more could you ask for?

Days later and we still havent accomplished much, only gone tubing once (only made it half way), been to one full-moon party hence missing our bus today, one of the many days were we dont even manage to get out of bed until dinner... no sunbaking, no rock climbing, or kayaking, or even tubing.. me and aoife have fallen into the bottomless k-hole that is vang vieng, well less k than opium, pot, and mushies.

Either way this is place where it is difficult to get anything done in the day and even more difficult to not "do" anything at night... thus extremely easy to get stuck here as all buses leave in the day!!
]]> Sapa, city in the mist — Sapa, Vietnam http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/lexigerber/south-east_asia/1164449520/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/lexigerber/south-east_asia/1164449520/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/lexigerber/south-east_asia/1164449520/tpod.html Sat, 02 Dec 2006 04:53:09 -0500 Thailand, cambodia, vietnam and laos, a journey of mudslides, temples, extortion, and pineapples...
Sapa, Vietnam

just a pin for now
]]> halong bay, cards and bordom amongst the cliffs — Halong bay, Vietnam http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/lexigerber/south-east_asia/1164792840/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/lexigerber/south-east_asia/1164792840/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/lexigerber/south-east_asia/1164792840/tpod.html Thu, 30 Nov 2006 04:43:44 -0500 Thailand, cambodia, vietnam and laos, a journey of mudslides, temples, extortion, and pineapples...
Halong bay, Vietnam

Trip to halong bay had its fair share of endless waiting and delays, was quite a treat to run into so many people i have met on my travels felt quite the social butterfly at the break station!

Finally reaching our boat, which luckily had some mates fom nha trang on board i quickly reinvigorated my already fierce argument with the guide for a de4mand to kayak...
]]> hanoi again, again — Hanoi, Vietnam http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/lexigerber/south-east_asia/1164793200/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/lexigerber/south-east_asia/1164793200/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/lexigerber/south-east_asia/1164793200/tpod.html Thu, 30 Nov 2006 04:41:28 -0500 Thailand, cambodia, vietnam and laos, a journey of mudslides, temples, extortion, and pineapples...
Hanoi, Vietnam

The return trip to hanoi was even worse than the trip out to halong..
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