The jungle, Christmas and crossing to Laos
Blijf op de hoogte en volg Laura
29 December 2015 | Laos, Luang Prabang
If I recall it well, the last blog I wrote was on the day we left Bangkok, right before we went to the busstation to take the night bus to Chiang Mai. The night bus was a success, it even included space for your legs. (This is quite special for Asian vehicles.)
In the morning we arrived really early in Chiang Mai, around 06.30 a.m.. We got a taxi to the residence where we were staying. We could not yet go to our room, but we could store our luggage. So at 7 a.m. we walked to the city centre. The next question what we could do at 7 in the morning and the answer to that was "temples " most temples open at 6 a.m. so we went to the most beautiful /special temple of Chiang Mai (according to the Lonely Planet). After that we got some breakfast and visited another temple complex. The rest of the day was an easy one. I did not do that much and rested a lot.
The next day the jungle safari started. At 9 a.m. a taxi picked us up. Jungle Joe (that's what we called him) was our leader and we walked through the jungle for two days. The night in-between we slept in a bamboo house somewhere on a hill. The view was beautiful and during the trip we visited several waterfalls for refreshments. It also included whitewater rafting and for almost an hour we sat peacefully on a floating bamboo unit. Well, it was peaceful until the other raft caught up on us and the water fight began. Sadly I did not bring my water gun.
The day after we took a bus to Chiang Rai. This was a fine ride and when we reached Chiang Rai we got ready for an Italian Christmas dinner. We went out to a fancy restaurant, wore a dress and (accidentally) dropped by the local church. It was Christmas eve!
On first Christmas day we went on a sightseeing tour. We saw the white temple, the black house and some villages close to the borders with Laos and Myanmar. It took the entire say and was quite exhausting, but definitely worth it.
On Saturday we took a local bus to Chiang Khong where we were planning on crossing the border to Laos. We stayed in a 16-bed dorm run by an English man, Alan, who also runned the British pub next door. After chatting for about 30 minutes he left to do groceries and left us behind saying: "Well, if there's people coming, just serve them, and keep them talking, if you want... You'll be fine." so all of the sudden I was bartending a bar where I hadn't been before. That was unexpected. :)
On Sunday we crossed the border to Laos. We started a 2 day slow boat trip from Huay Xai to Luang Prabang where we are now. This trip was amazing. The county is so beautiful... So green and peaceful. There were some little villages along the coast with houses build of bamboo and some plantages on the beach.
Tomorrow we'll rent a scooter and check out the waterfalls and the caves nearby. Those are supposed to be worth it. :)
Also, my phone won't let me post pictures to this blog, but there are some on my Facebook.
In the morning we arrived really early in Chiang Mai, around 06.30 a.m.. We got a taxi to the residence where we were staying. We could not yet go to our room, but we could store our luggage. So at 7 a.m. we walked to the city centre. The next question what we could do at 7 in the morning and the answer to that was "temples " most temples open at 6 a.m. so we went to the most beautiful /special temple of Chiang Mai (according to the Lonely Planet). After that we got some breakfast and visited another temple complex. The rest of the day was an easy one. I did not do that much and rested a lot.
The next day the jungle safari started. At 9 a.m. a taxi picked us up. Jungle Joe (that's what we called him) was our leader and we walked through the jungle for two days. The night in-between we slept in a bamboo house somewhere on a hill. The view was beautiful and during the trip we visited several waterfalls for refreshments. It also included whitewater rafting and for almost an hour we sat peacefully on a floating bamboo unit. Well, it was peaceful until the other raft caught up on us and the water fight began. Sadly I did not bring my water gun.
The day after we took a bus to Chiang Rai. This was a fine ride and when we reached Chiang Rai we got ready for an Italian Christmas dinner. We went out to a fancy restaurant, wore a dress and (accidentally) dropped by the local church. It was Christmas eve!
On first Christmas day we went on a sightseeing tour. We saw the white temple, the black house and some villages close to the borders with Laos and Myanmar. It took the entire say and was quite exhausting, but definitely worth it.
On Saturday we took a local bus to Chiang Khong where we were planning on crossing the border to Laos. We stayed in a 16-bed dorm run by an English man, Alan, who also runned the British pub next door. After chatting for about 30 minutes he left to do groceries and left us behind saying: "Well, if there's people coming, just serve them, and keep them talking, if you want... You'll be fine." so all of the sudden I was bartending a bar where I hadn't been before. That was unexpected. :)
On Sunday we crossed the border to Laos. We started a 2 day slow boat trip from Huay Xai to Luang Prabang where we are now. This trip was amazing. The county is so beautiful... So green and peaceful. There were some little villages along the coast with houses build of bamboo and some plantages on the beach.
Tomorrow we'll rent a scooter and check out the waterfalls and the caves nearby. Those are supposed to be worth it. :)
Also, my phone won't let me post pictures to this blog, but there are some on my Facebook.
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29 December 2015 - 16:30
Mariette:
Hi Laura and Winnie,
This sounds all like very much fun and simething you will remember the rest of your life. Enjoy and I am looking forward to the photos on facebook. -
31 December 2015 - 08:40
Oma José:
Wat heb ik weer genoten van je verslag, Laura. Ik volg je, jullie, op de kaart. Ik ben ook benieuwd naar een fotoreportage t.z.t. Ik zit niet op facebook.
Het is vandaag oudejaarsdag. Jullie sluiten op een bijzondere plek het oude jaar af en beginnen ver van ons vandaan aan het nieuwe jaar.
Ik wens jullie alletwee een heel goed jaar toe. Ben benieuwd of daar waar jullie zijn Nieuwjaar gevierd wordt. Of hebben ze daar een andere jaartelling?
Veel groeten voor jullie beiden. -
31 December 2015 - 15:48
Jan:
Hai hai Laura,
Stoere meiden op wereldreis,`t is me wat.
Lijkt me wel extra speciaal zo`n kerst mee te maken,wellicht misschien dat het er nog eens voor mij van komt,ben pas 62.
Heb winnie ook een en ander teruggeseint,kun je even overleggen wie ik ook weer was.
Apropo die vraag van Oma Josè of men daar de jaarwisseling viert ,vind ik hartstikke mooi.
Wellicht doen ze dit !!!! Maar hoe laat??? is het bij jullie al nieuwjaar of???????
Hartelijke groet en een supersonisch uiteinde van 2015 en mooi begin van2016.
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