Rubbishness
Indeed I have been a touch rubbish with the old blogger updates. That's purely because I haven't been up to much. I left Vientiane (no job for me... boo!) and caught the train down to Bangkok. Good train journbey all in all. Got talking with one of the guys serving food and drink and ended up playing about six million games of rummy with him. I arrived in Bangkook at about 8 in the morning and was strangely pleased to be back. I took a tuk tuk to Khao San and was shortly displeased to be back. Bangkok is opne of those cities that makes you feel extremely trapped. Hardly anywhere is there any open space and noise from the traffic and pollution just adds to the claustrophobia. So I spent three days there I think (managed to find a guesthouse with a pool on the roof and that offered a kind of getaway) and then decided to come to Pattaya as Phil'll be arriving here on the 22nd. My hopes of being able to lie on the beach and do nothing were pretty much shattered as there's some kind of Thai festival going on here this weekend. The beach road is lined with stalls selling everything imaginable (and some things that were beyond imagination), offering tours, stage shows, the usual things that you'd associate with festival type activity. I think it might have something to do with the queen but I can't be sure and I don't care that much to be honest. They're also having the X-games at the moment so for the last two days I've been watching skating and BMX, inbetween walking up and down looking at the various stalls. Although my beach lazing was shattered, it's been cool just wandering about checking out all the different stuff that's been going on. The time has come for beachness though, so today I'm going to have a look at Jawmthien beach just south of Pattaya. It's meant to be a bit quieter and cleaner and if it's good I'll move in there tomorrow. After that I'll be moving into the Royal Cliff Beach Hotel (or something along those lines) for Phil's arrival on the 22nd. Can't wait to see him again. As for the hotel, I'm sure you can imagine it's a touch flashpackerish, but it's out of the way so it makes sense for me to stay there whilst Phil's there, otherwise we'd have a nightmare trying to meet up. Haha, it's also got a bloody nice pool. Just found this; you can take a virtual tour of the room I'll be staying in if you click http://www.royalcliff.com/ipix/java.asp?javaName=RCLFbch_Mini_Suite_Jav.ipx on that. Take a look at the pools too. Mmm. Lovely.
Sunday, July 18, 2004
Tuesday, July 06, 2004
A Choice of Stories
Right, I've actually nicked this idea off another blog but it serves to purposes. Firstly, it means I'll have some stories left to tell when I get home. Secondly, it get's the interactive thing going. So here's a choice of stories you can have told:
More Scooter Woe~ Driving safety on two wheels in Lao PDR.
Beek, International Reporter ~ Sauna's, networking and job hunting in Lao PDR.
In A Tube ~ Beer, inner tubes, silly behaviour and a new TLA.
That's it. Just put in a comment of the one you'd like to hear most and democracy shall prevail. Depending on the number of votes, i.e. there has to be enough to warrant a tale, the story will appear on the the 11th of this month. Happy voting.
Revoposty
A new batch shall be out shortly. Lao post is safe I have discovered.
Personals
Martha, skirts are en route, let me know when they get there.
Jess, your skirt would be en route but you haven't given me your address yet (yes I know Katy, I'm only teasing her, and you're not shit you're class). Oh and Jess, please define a colour... I've got one already for you but I'm not sure it'll do.
Scroz, your prize is proving hard to find, I think I may have to send you some worthless tourist tat; will that be acceptable?
World leaders, please stop using my blog as forums for diplomatic chat.
Right, I've actually nicked this idea off another blog but it serves to purposes. Firstly, it means I'll have some stories left to tell when I get home. Secondly, it get's the interactive thing going. So here's a choice of stories you can have told:
More Scooter Woe~ Driving safety on two wheels in Lao PDR.
Beek, International Reporter ~ Sauna's, networking and job hunting in Lao PDR.
In A Tube ~ Beer, inner tubes, silly behaviour and a new TLA.
That's it. Just put in a comment of the one you'd like to hear most and democracy shall prevail. Depending on the number of votes, i.e. there has to be enough to warrant a tale, the story will appear on the the 11th of this month. Happy voting.
Revoposty
A new batch shall be out shortly. Lao post is safe I have discovered.
Personals
Martha, skirts are en route, let me know when they get there.
Jess, your skirt would be en route but you haven't given me your address yet (yes I know Katy, I'm only teasing her, and you're not shit you're class). Oh and Jess, please define a colour... I've got one already for you but I'm not sure it'll do.
Scroz, your prize is proving hard to find, I think I may have to send you some worthless tourist tat; will that be acceptable?
World leaders, please stop using my blog as forums for diplomatic chat.
Thursday, July 01, 2004
Finally...
... civilisation. But could you call it that? Vientiane is the 'capital' of Laos, but let's face it, it hasn't really worked that hard to earn its title. Many of the roads are still dirt, last night the power was down for 3 hours in the guesthouse, and these guys are more mental than Thais on the road. Still, coming through Laos has been a treat.
On The Beaten Track
I have to admit I've followed the same route as probably thousands of travellers. Not something I like to do, but lets be honest, I always end up doing it anyway. Before I start, it might be useful to have a look at a map of Laos first off. So I started off in the North West coming in from the border with Thailand. From there it was two days up the river on a slow boat. Slow boat conjours up images of dangling ones toes in the water as you chug along and take in the atmosphere. Not when you're sat in the engine room. It should have been called the ear drum disintegrating boat. Haha, it was only the second day that we were in the engine room though and it wasn't that bad. incidentally, the picture I posted lasted time was from the film Apocaplypse now. The actual slow boats looked like this.
Luang Prabang was the next stop (after a night in Pek Bang... What noise does a chicken in a minefield make? Suspicious lack of chickens there!) and that place was great. Very little to do, apart from wander around aimlessly without a CBD in sight, or visit waterfalls. The waterfalls (two different ones) were unbelievable and the water was actually turquiose even with the sun behind cloud. There was also a random tiger, very strange. So what better thing to do in a place of such natural beauty than try a back flip off a waterfall and smash your face up? Nice one me. It wasn't that bad though, all healed now.
Vang Vieng was next on the well trodden trail. This is basically just a place to break up the long journey to Vientiane, and it shows. Hoards of backpackers, an over supply of guesthouses and a DVD player in every bar/restaurant. Not all bad but it gets tiresome after a while. They also had tubing there. That was truly inspired. If you go to Laos, go to Vang Vieng and tube. I did, two days on the trot.
Up to the Now
So now I'm in Vientiane, the capital city that never was (not even a city). I was thinking about getting a job here if possible but I've been under the weather for a few days now, swollen glans, sore throat etc so I'm not really bursting with the get up and go required. Still, three mails ain't that much to send is it? Might as do it now whilst I'm on line.
Revoposty and Other Matters
I'm afraid I trust the Laos postal system as much as I trust a Laos truck driver who's indicating left. Therefore, revoposty might be on a break for a while, but then again, nothing ventured and that.
As for the competition; well, we've a call for 2007 but that was my brother. We can't have that can we. 2008 was the next one called by a certain Scroz. I'm sceptical that she was 2008th but no call no prize. Well done Scroz, a genuine piece of Laos art work will be winging its way to you shortly. I bet 2000 was taken by some miserable random... come on randoms, give us your addresses... ooh, or anyone currently on the mailing list is welcome to send me some distant rellie's or a mates address. Whatever.
... civilisation. But could you call it that? Vientiane is the 'capital' of Laos, but let's face it, it hasn't really worked that hard to earn its title. Many of the roads are still dirt, last night the power was down for 3 hours in the guesthouse, and these guys are more mental than Thais on the road. Still, coming through Laos has been a treat.
On The Beaten Track
I have to admit I've followed the same route as probably thousands of travellers. Not something I like to do, but lets be honest, I always end up doing it anyway. Before I start, it might be useful to have a look at a map of Laos first off. So I started off in the North West coming in from the border with Thailand. From there it was two days up the river on a slow boat. Slow boat conjours up images of dangling ones toes in the water as you chug along and take in the atmosphere. Not when you're sat in the engine room. It should have been called the ear drum disintegrating boat. Haha, it was only the second day that we were in the engine room though and it wasn't that bad. incidentally, the picture I posted lasted time was from the film Apocaplypse now. The actual slow boats looked like this.
Luang Prabang was the next stop (after a night in Pek Bang... What noise does a chicken in a minefield make? Suspicious lack of chickens there!) and that place was great. Very little to do, apart from wander around aimlessly without a CBD in sight, or visit waterfalls. The waterfalls (two different ones) were unbelievable and the water was actually turquiose even with the sun behind cloud. There was also a random tiger, very strange. So what better thing to do in a place of such natural beauty than try a back flip off a waterfall and smash your face up? Nice one me. It wasn't that bad though, all healed now.
Vang Vieng was next on the well trodden trail. This is basically just a place to break up the long journey to Vientiane, and it shows. Hoards of backpackers, an over supply of guesthouses and a DVD player in every bar/restaurant. Not all bad but it gets tiresome after a while. They also had tubing there. That was truly inspired. If you go to Laos, go to Vang Vieng and tube. I did, two days on the trot.
Up to the Now
So now I'm in Vientiane, the capital city that never was (not even a city). I was thinking about getting a job here if possible but I've been under the weather for a few days now, swollen glans, sore throat etc so I'm not really bursting with the get up and go required. Still, three mails ain't that much to send is it? Might as do it now whilst I'm on line.
Revoposty and Other Matters
I'm afraid I trust the Laos postal system as much as I trust a Laos truck driver who's indicating left. Therefore, revoposty might be on a break for a while, but then again, nothing ventured and that.
As for the competition; well, we've a call for 2007 but that was my brother. We can't have that can we. 2008 was the next one called by a certain Scroz. I'm sceptical that she was 2008th but no call no prize. Well done Scroz, a genuine piece of Laos art work will be winging its way to you shortly. I bet 2000 was taken by some miserable random... come on randoms, give us your addresses... ooh, or anyone currently on the mailing list is welcome to send me some distant rellie's or a mates address. Whatever.
Thursday, June 17, 2004
Get Yer Visa, Geezer
In the process of doing so. Unfortunately I hand over my passport to a shifty Thai guy (all Thai's look shifty when they take your pasport) and I only get it back tomorrow. I hate having to do that, but that's what it takes. So now I'm in the border town of Chiang Khong. It's right on the banks of the Mehkong River and over the water you can see Laos. How exciting. The journey here was uneventful despite taking 7 hours. You'd think that something interesting would happen in 7 hours but it didn't. I was on a second class bus with air con. The air con made the interior baltic and the seats were certainly not made with the average Western bloke in mind. Still the views on the way up were pleasant enough and I kept on thiking I was going to come across the reseach station in Khun Kong that I stayed at a few years back. Needless to say, I didn't. But it was the right area.
How to get to Laos?
Well Chiang Khong doesn't have a scooter rental place so my fvourite mode of transport is out. Oh yeah, plus the fact that rivers and scooters don't mix particularly well. Every guesthouse and travel agent in Chiang Khong offers a two day longboat trip up the river to Luang Prabang in Laos. Having looked around for the best price it dawned on me that every guesthouse and travel agent in Chiang Khong infact sells the same two day longboat trip. It looks class and for ten quid you can't moan so I leave tomorrow morning at eight thirty (passport and visa in hand or so I hope!) With England playing Switzerland(?) at eleven o'clock tonight my time, eight thirty sounds like a bit of a push. Since I'll be in Laos for a bit the blog may get a bit stale so amuse yourselves and others by putting up many witty comments.
Revoposty
Started to get word back about my forrays into mass postage. Gald to hear the some are getting through at least. I still need a random name and address though, come randoms... there's loads of you out there, though probably not that many that read this blog. As for the quality of the witticisms, I'm afraid that they might not quite be up to standard. As the number of addresses increases, the quality decreases. Sorry about that. At least you still get the bloody card.
Points Win Prizes
Indeed they do. As do page views. At the last look there's only about 30 or so to go. Don't forget to check. You wouldn't want to miss out on the super dooper prize that the lucky 2000th visitor wins. As always, the hit counter's at the bottom left of the screen.
In the process of doing so. Unfortunately I hand over my passport to a shifty Thai guy (all Thai's look shifty when they take your pasport) and I only get it back tomorrow. I hate having to do that, but that's what it takes. So now I'm in the border town of Chiang Khong. It's right on the banks of the Mehkong River and over the water you can see Laos. How exciting. The journey here was uneventful despite taking 7 hours. You'd think that something interesting would happen in 7 hours but it didn't. I was on a second class bus with air con. The air con made the interior baltic and the seats were certainly not made with the average Western bloke in mind. Still the views on the way up were pleasant enough and I kept on thiking I was going to come across the reseach station in Khun Kong that I stayed at a few years back. Needless to say, I didn't. But it was the right area.
How to get to Laos?
Well Chiang Khong doesn't have a scooter rental place so my fvourite mode of transport is out. Oh yeah, plus the fact that rivers and scooters don't mix particularly well. Every guesthouse and travel agent in Chiang Khong offers a two day longboat trip up the river to Luang Prabang in Laos. Having looked around for the best price it dawned on me that every guesthouse and travel agent in Chiang Khong infact sells the same two day longboat trip. It looks class and for ten quid you can't moan so I leave tomorrow morning at eight thirty (passport and visa in hand or so I hope!) With England playing Switzerland(?) at eleven o'clock tonight my time, eight thirty sounds like a bit of a push. Since I'll be in Laos for a bit the blog may get a bit stale so amuse yourselves and others by putting up many witty comments.
Revoposty
Started to get word back about my forrays into mass postage. Gald to hear the some are getting through at least. I still need a random name and address though, come randoms... there's loads of you out there, though probably not that many that read this blog. As for the quality of the witticisms, I'm afraid that they might not quite be up to standard. As the number of addresses increases, the quality decreases. Sorry about that. At least you still get the bloody card.
Points Win Prizes
Indeed they do. As do page views. At the last look there's only about 30 or so to go. Don't forget to check. You wouldn't want to miss out on the super dooper prize that the lucky 2000th visitor wins. As always, the hit counter's at the bottom left of the screen.
Sunday, June 13, 2004
Sunday, All Day
Indeed today is Sunday and has been all day. I'm now in Chiang Mai. I have a race against the clock to get to get a visa and get my ass to Laos before my Thai visa runs out. Okay, so I've dramatised it a bit. I do have seven days to get there. But I'm slow in my movements. You can't rush these things.
Peace in Phuket
Patong is not a peaceful place. In the Beach, when they go back to the mainland to get supplies and it's noisy and awful, that scene's filmed in Patong. So in search of a bit of peace I moved out to Surin and flash packed. Sod it, I needed rest before going up country. I over cooked it a bit with Surin as there's bugger all happening there and not much to do especially when it pisses it down every day. Nice room though.
Modes of Transport
My current favourite mode of transport is the scooter. I hired one in Surin to get about. Thrashed the shit out of the little 100cc chicken chaser and rode just about the length of Phuket, twice. The feds also got involved at one point.
This Country!
Coming down a hill into the next beach town and ahead of me was a lot of traffic. A bit weird for the beach roads in Phuket. Then I saw a bunch of cops and to my horror realised they were pulling over everyone. So I didn't blot through the road block like a hero crim on the run. I pulled over and started looking sheepish. This cop says, 'Where li ence?' Which I took to mean, could I have look at your license please. So I just shrugged and went, 'At hotel,' which I hope he translated as, I'm very sorry officer, I appear to have been rather foolish and left it at the hotel I'm currently residing in on your beautiful island. Of course, I have no such thing as a license, unless you class my license to swim without armbands when I was about five. I don't reckon that would have cut the mustard though.
The fed appeared to understand me and so I was happy. He then started writing me a ticket, and I was not happy. A license is required to ride the scooters in this country????? Honestly you should see the mess on the roads. I've just been driving through Chiang Mai for a couple of hours on a scooter, and it's a bloody god job I wasn't wearing white trouser. The upshot of the ticket was a 300 baht fine. Fine, that's only about 4 quid. Bloody annoying. So I paid my fine (which it appeared most of Phuket was having to pay judging by the queue to the payment table). Thoroughly annoyed, but happy not to have ended up in a Thai slammer, I got on my bike (haha, 'scuse the pun) and started looking to get back on the road. The cop about 7 meters infront of me started going mental and waving his arms and blowing his little whistle. So I just carried on shouting that I'd paid my fine and waving my receipt at him. Then I realised he was alerting me that I'd left my kickstand down. Red faces are a multi lingual way of proclaiming yourself as a twat.
About 5 minutes down the road I encountered the only roundabout in Thailand. So shocked to see such an advanced feature, I promptly went the wrong way round it. Maybe a license wouldn't be such a bad idea after all
Indeed today is Sunday and has been all day. I'm now in Chiang Mai. I have a race against the clock to get to get a visa and get my ass to Laos before my Thai visa runs out. Okay, so I've dramatised it a bit. I do have seven days to get there. But I'm slow in my movements. You can't rush these things.
Peace in Phuket
Patong is not a peaceful place. In the Beach, when they go back to the mainland to get supplies and it's noisy and awful, that scene's filmed in Patong. So in search of a bit of peace I moved out to Surin and flash packed. Sod it, I needed rest before going up country. I over cooked it a bit with Surin as there's bugger all happening there and not much to do especially when it pisses it down every day. Nice room though.
Modes of Transport
My current favourite mode of transport is the scooter. I hired one in Surin to get about. Thrashed the shit out of the little 100cc chicken chaser and rode just about the length of Phuket, twice. The feds also got involved at one point.
This Country!
Coming down a hill into the next beach town and ahead of me was a lot of traffic. A bit weird for the beach roads in Phuket. Then I saw a bunch of cops and to my horror realised they were pulling over everyone. So I didn't blot through the road block like a hero crim on the run. I pulled over and started looking sheepish. This cop says, 'Where li ence?' Which I took to mean, could I have look at your license please. So I just shrugged and went, 'At hotel,' which I hope he translated as, I'm very sorry officer, I appear to have been rather foolish and left it at the hotel I'm currently residing in on your beautiful island. Of course, I have no such thing as a license, unless you class my license to swim without armbands when I was about five. I don't reckon that would have cut the mustard though.
The fed appeared to understand me and so I was happy. He then started writing me a ticket, and I was not happy. A license is required to ride the scooters in this country????? Honestly you should see the mess on the roads. I've just been driving through Chiang Mai for a couple of hours on a scooter, and it's a bloody god job I wasn't wearing white trouser. The upshot of the ticket was a 300 baht fine. Fine, that's only about 4 quid. Bloody annoying. So I paid my fine (which it appeared most of Phuket was having to pay judging by the queue to the payment table). Thoroughly annoyed, but happy not to have ended up in a Thai slammer, I got on my bike (haha, 'scuse the pun) and started looking to get back on the road. The cop about 7 meters infront of me started going mental and waving his arms and blowing his little whistle. So I just carried on shouting that I'd paid my fine and waving my receipt at him. Then I realised he was alerting me that I'd left my kickstand down. Red faces are a multi lingual way of proclaiming yourself as a twat.
About 5 minutes down the road I encountered the only roundabout in Thailand. So shocked to see such an advanced feature, I promptly went the wrong way round it. Maybe a license wouldn't be such a bad idea after all
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