4,000 Islands in Laos: Relax in Paradise?

 

The 4,000 islands are found along the Mekong River in Southern Laos. A collection of tropical islands and teal blue waters are home to the, Irrawaddy dolphin, the only species known to live in freshwater. 

The dolphin has a blunt nose, resembling the head shape of an orca, and has a traditional body shape of a dolphin. The locals tell us there are only about 20 left in the area, and they can be seen up close on kayak tours.

 

After sweating waterfalls for about two days, we decided to move on to Vietnam, and leave behind this unusual place. Although it has been given raving reviews, there was something very unusual about the islands that I cant quite pinpoint. My mom and I cycled the main island and the smaller to watch the sunset, and we had a chance to inter tube a short ways down the river. 

Maybe now is a better time as any, but often when you hear travel stories, they always seem to leave out the negatives or glorify the bad events they do share. There was something very bizarre about visiting this place... no one ever smiled... never heard laughter... and it was always such a hassle to do anything... I'd be interested to hear other reviews... perhaps it was just bad timing?

I'm excited to be moving onwards, but am very weary about getting onto another bus. Laos drivers are insane!! The tour bus ahead of us rolled, threw the front windshield, and blocked the road sideways. Saw the bus, but everyone had been brought elsewhere before we passed. I can only hope the best. We've heard of SEVERAL incidents of serious bus crashes, people nearly dying in Vang Vieng, motorcycle incidents, and people going to hospitable here that don't even have running water.  I watched a guy in Malaysia give himself stitches with regular needle and thread. 

 I suppose on the bonus side, it's very easy to get over the counter prescriptions... just ask any "pharmacist," but know what you're asking for/ and getting before you take it. One medication they offered my friend had Poison symbols on every side of the box, no instructions in English... but it came HIGHLY recommended! Needless to say, she didn't buy that version. 

Oh... and I've never really been a fan of Lonely Planet, till now. I would definitely recommend getting a travel guide before coming to SE Asia. Doable w/o it, but SOOO much easier with one, considering you probably don't speak their language :)

Street Performer Juggles/Balances 10 Contact Balls

I saw this street performer in Pai, Thailand. He was "practicing" as he does every day on a busy street full of motorcycles scrambling tourists and stray animals. It must take some serious concentration! He told me he can balance five on his head and was working for the sixth.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AhFc3cJY_j8
 I put the video on youtube, it takes to long to load it on this page ;)

Worlds Largest Water fight

Thousands of buckets of water, squirt guns of every genre, and kids with their painted red hands line the streets in celebration of the Songkran Festival. Each morning became a game between my mom and I to see who could stay dry longer while we playfully mazed our way through the gauntlet. They say when you can’t beat them, join em! My monkey backpack was filled with water and tube fed my gun while I sneakily drenched unsuspecting people. Of course everyone expected to get wet, but you never knew who would get you next. Adults, children, grandparents, locals and foreigners were all equals as we waged water wars and cleansed one another in celebration of the Lao & Thai New Years.

“Mi My Lao” or Happy New Year in Laos             

Tacomepai: Thai Organic Farm, Simply Paradise

There are places in the world that unexplainably special. The moment you walk in, an overwhelming sense of satisfaction takes over, and you know you’ve found a place your soul identifies as home. Tacomepai is one of those places, a tucked in organic farm that makes me feel as if I have found my Never Never Land. It seems to be a sink for travellers; the lost boys (and girls) never want to go home. We spend our days creating a fantasy of ornate bamboo tree houses, cosy mud palaces, boiling eggs in hot springs, and experimenting with the magic of agriculture.

Tree house hut at Tacomepai

A day of hard labour consisted of 10 of us casually hammering a wooden roof onto a hut, spending more than 3 hours playing in the hot springs, collecting morning glory leaves along the river side (like a spinach which we ate for dinner), and a late night with moonshine by the bonfire. We hack away at branches with machetes… getting a bit of firewood for the kitchen stove, and cook together as a family. Everyone pitches in what money and work they are willing to give, and together we create this incredible place, Tacomepai.

I like to call this "loo" the "White Thrown"

Everything we need we can make out of bamboo… any structure, shoe, plate, door latch, baskets, instruments… and once you’re shown how… perhaps anyone could make it! Even the pigs are happy! You walk over to their pen and they greet you with happy wet noses and wiggly curly tails. Feeding them is one of my favourite things to do! 

Happy Organic Farm Pigs

Free messages… if you get on someone’s good side ;) a school where the seats and tables are swings, a pond with rope swing and high bamboo platform to jump from, rice paddies, live music every night, and spectacular views of the mountains.

Travel Thailand by Motorbike, explore the open road ahead

 My friends, places like this are the reasons I travel. If I were to only have ever spent just a day here, the things I would learn and bring back home would still change my take on life forever. I could spend a very long time on this farm, cause they’ve definitely got it right!

3 Day Hiking Trek out of Chiang Mai: No Chillie No Power!!

 

After a experiencing the craziness of Khao San Road in Bangkok, I decided to take the advice of a good friend and head northward. The TAT (Tourism Authority of Thailand) hooked us up with a great package deal of 10 days travel including a night bus to Chang Mai and 3 day trek with elephant riding, jungle huts, bamboo rafting and white water rafting. Needless to say I was definitely looking forward to it! 

Riding an elephant was a lot like riding a horse, only a lot bigger! Its a bizarre sensation feeding an elephant a banana while you're riding on top of him. He will reach back with his trunk in a grabbing like motion, feeling for the sweet treat. Apparently elephants can eat up to 250kg of food per day. Unlike Koala Bears, they will only sleep 4 hours a day and spend 20 eating. Sitting on the wooden seat atop the elephant is a bit impersonal, so I moved forward to ride bare back. Holding on for dear life, I learned to move with the large strides the noble creature.

 

Hiking through Northern Thailand with my Mom

Oh, I forgot to mention, I managed to find my Mom in Bangkok, and that is of course her with me on the elephant!! She's still a little weary about the toilets around here, but she's having a blast! It's been amazing talking to other travelers about traveling with my mom, nearly all of them were excited about the opportunity and really wanted to meet her. No ordinary mom would travel half way across the world to do some jungle trek with their daughter :)  

Its hard to share the spectacular moments and bonding that happened on the trek, cause it was simply magic! A truck load of strangers headed off to the jungle, not one of them having a clue as to what they were getting themselves into. Well of course I had to break the ice... so I managed to convince several people, strangers, to try eating salted bamboo worms, grubs, and crickets found in elephant poo. You may be surprised... but at least 5 others gave it a go! Whoo Hoo!! ( I've got video... but it may end up in a audition video for survivor... )

 

Eating fried chicken noodles and veggies off bananna leaves with machettie carved bamboo chopsticks. Bond, our Jungle Guide always says "No Chile No Power!!" That means stick some of those spicy red and green peppers on your meal!

We found hidden waterfalls and palace sized caves that shimmered like diamonds. So close to bats you could have grabbed them, hats made of giant leaves, and a water pipe carved out of bamboo! Bond was a true jungle boy, scaling trees and eating the fruits of the forest. He seemed to know every fruit tree, and a thousand games to play with the provisions of the forest. 

These few days were an amazing time of my life I hope to never forget!!