Articles from this Category
15 September 2008
Luang Prabang is one place many people rave about … it is a riverine town on the side of the Mekong and home to an eclectic mix of Lao shophouses, royal palace, temples and colonial mansions. By day, one can explore these sights. But by night … the street gets converted into a handicraft megamart, the […]
14 September 2008
Above: The Chinese-made Xian MA60 aircraft. I travel from Xieng Khouang to Luang Prabang today. It was was meant to be a half-hour direct flight departing at 1340. But it turned out be two flights and a 2h20 transit in Vientiane (totalling over 3h30). Because I had booked about 6 months in advance, the airlines’ […]
13 September 2008
Today I took an excursion with several others to the three Jar sites which have been opened up and are safe … meaning no mines within the marked paths. While on the road, our English member pointed out this large fruit … she described it as looking like a melon on the outside with a […]
12 September 2008
Today I left Vientiane at 1340 flying Lao Airlines to Xieng Khouang (Phonsavan). Coming in to land 30 mins later was interesting. The countryside with pock-marked by craters, some filled with water. This is the most-bombed province in the most-bombed country in the world (says the Mines Action Group information. The US bombarded the area […]
11 September 2008
It is my last night here in Vientiane and my last night with my Couchsurfing host Patrick. We hit town for a nice dinner by the Mekong, looking over at Thailand on the other side. Then to a roof top bar for a few beers and margaritas. He has been most hospitable … his maid […]
10 September 2008
Today, I continued my exploration of Vientiane, which means City of Sandalwood. It was a hot and sweaty affair.
9 September 2008
I woke early for my 0905 flight from Kuala Lumpur to Vientiane before taking the bus to the airport. The Air Asia hub at KL’s low-cost carrier terminal was abuzz with activity … the departures board overflowed with flights. It is interesting to see that their brand is well-recognised amongst some Ozzies now with some […]
8 September 2008
Just before noon, I flew to Malaysia’s “big smoke” and capital Kuala Lumpur. Air Asia’s sister-company, had amazing deals with rooms at MYR35 (about USD10). The room and stylish ensuite itself was only about USD3 but you pay for your air-conditioning by buying credits which was another USD3 … plus I loaned a towel for […]
5 September 2008
Mooncakes are my favourite Chinese sweet apart from oni (a concoction of mashed taro/yam with lard and sugar). They are eaten during the eighth lunar month in the lead-up to the Moon Cake Festival (aka Mid-Autumn Festival) … supposedly secret messages passed in these cakes helped overthrow an oppressive regime. And then there was something about […]
4 September 2008
Above: Bunga kantan or torch ginger flower. A fragrant addition to some Malaysian dishes. Today we celebrated Mum’s birthday again. It felt like only weeks ago that we did this on a bigger scale but that was 9 months ago … when we celebrated it on her passport date-of-birth … but now we’re doing it […]