Room A22 (by Joe and Laura)
A remarkable coincidence on our return to Bangkok has given the south east Asia section of this trip a spooky twist.
By design, we booked into the same Guesthouse in Bangkok as we'd stayed the first time we arrived. By coincidence our arrival happened to be exactly three months to the day since we first landed from India - and by amazing chance, in a guest house of over 100 rooms, we were once again handed the key to room A22.
That would have been OK, other than when we woke up this morning after a suspiciously deep sleep, memories of the past 3 months took on a weird, dreamy deja-vu sort of feel: 'did we really do all that?', we wondered, 'or were we perhaps drugged and implanted with false memories whilst our metabolic energies were used to help power the Thai national grid for 3 months ? (a bit like in The Matrix)'.
Thankfully after a couple of coffees and a few stern words from Laura, we agreed we were pretty sure we did actually do it all.
Proceeding on that assumption, materially the three months cost a few thousand dollars, and other than a Beerlao t-shirt, a new washbag and a couple of new bedspreads (currently on a boat somewhere between here and home, we hope) we have little to show for it. But of course it's about the memories and experiences.
To wrap up south east Asia, we've put together a brief 'highlights/ 'favourites' package which, with apologies, may prove to be rather more meaningful for us in years to come than it is interesting for anyone else.
Anyway, here we go (assuming this did all take place, and I still have my doubts, frankly ...)
Favourites:
Favourite country:
Joe - Thailand (beautiful coastline and beaches in the south, comfortable accommodation and friendly people)
Laura - Laos (untouched landscapes, great food, incredibly warm people)
Favourite town or region:
Both - Southern Thailand coastline and islands (beautiful beaches, amazing limestone scenery and incredible sea-life in clear waters)
Most memorable journey:
Joe - Houaxyai to Louang Namtha, north Laos (unfinished dirt road for 8 hours, culminating in passengers having to pull the bus up a particularly steep hill tug-of-war style - see right)
Laura - Pai to Mae Hong Son (rolling hills, misty limestone karst, clear air)
Favourite accommodation:
Joe - Star Beach Bungalows, Chang island, Gulf of Thailand (very friendly staff, deeply chilled out with suitably shabby beach shack bar/ restaurant)
Laura - Thavisouk bungalows, Vang Vieng (perfect location, perfect views of the karsts and the river, best shower in South East Asia)
Most chilled place:
Joe - Phayam island, the Andaman coast, Thailand (beautiful 3km stretch of beach with very little development and friendly chilled-out bungalow accomodation at 'Smile Hut'. See Mr Smile - left)
Laura - I have to agree (see 'Biggest bum on the beach' blog)
Favourite sight/ attraction:
Joe - Monks with umbrellas, Louang Phabang, Laos (the wonderful orange robes provided a touch of magic all around this beautiful city - see right/ below).
Laura - Limestone karst (in Halong Bay, Vietnam; Pang Mapha region, north Thailand; Vang Vieng, Laos; Phang Nga, peninsula Thailand)
Favourite meal:
Joe - PAD HED and mashed potato, Cruise bar and restaurant, Tao island, Gulf of Thailand (simply: top notch pie)
Laura - Papaya salad wherever I could get my hands on it, the spicier the better
Spot for a drink:
Joe - Roof terrace, the Foreign Correspondents' Club, Phnom Penh (a safe expat oasis with views over a lawless city)
Laura - Panyee stilt village, Phang Nga bay (very still, deep ocean under your feet, surrounded by limestone cliffs - the fact that it was a Muslim village meant that there was no booze available, but it would have been the perfect place for a sun-downer)
Activity/ day trip:
Both - Snorkeling, Tao island, Gulf of Thailand (awesome introduction to a fascinating world of coral and tropical fish - see above/ left - Laura emerging from a dive)
Award for outstanding natural beauty:
Joe - Phang Nga Bay, Andaman coast Thailand (stunning limestone karsts rising out of clear turquoise waters - see right)
Laura - Halong Bay, Vietnam (very eerie, very beautiful, even on a grey day)
Sunset:
Joe - Si Phan Don (4000 island region), southern Laos (see left/ below):
Laura - No competition
Stars:
Both - Trekking from Louang Namtha, northern Laos (incredibly bright stars and constellations above the dark jungle canopy on no-moon night)
... off to the airport now.
Joe and Laura
By design, we booked into the same Guesthouse in Bangkok as we'd stayed the first time we arrived. By coincidence our arrival happened to be exactly three months to the day since we first landed from India - and by amazing chance, in a guest house of over 100 rooms, we were once again handed the key to room A22.
That would have been OK, other than when we woke up this morning after a suspiciously deep sleep, memories of the past 3 months took on a weird, dreamy deja-vu sort of feel: 'did we really do all that?', we wondered, 'or were we perhaps drugged and implanted with false memories whilst our metabolic energies were used to help power the Thai national grid for 3 months ? (a bit like in The Matrix)'.
Thankfully after a couple of coffees and a few stern words from Laura, we agreed we were pretty sure we did actually do it all.
Proceeding on that assumption, materially the three months cost a few thousand dollars, and other than a Beerlao t-shirt, a new washbag and a couple of new bedspreads (currently on a boat somewhere between here and home, we hope) we have little to show for it. But of course it's about the memories and experiences.
To wrap up south east Asia, we've put together a brief 'highlights/ 'favourites' package which, with apologies, may prove to be rather more meaningful for us in years to come than it is interesting for anyone else.
Anyway, here we go (assuming this did all take place, and I still have my doubts, frankly ...)
Favourites:
Favourite country:
Joe - Thailand (beautiful coastline and beaches in the south, comfortable accommodation and friendly people)
Laura - Laos (untouched landscapes, great food, incredibly warm people)
Favourite town or region:
Both - Southern Thailand coastline and islands (beautiful beaches, amazing limestone scenery and incredible sea-life in clear waters)
Most memorable journey:Joe - Houaxyai to Louang Namtha, north Laos (unfinished dirt road for 8 hours, culminating in passengers having to pull the bus up a particularly steep hill tug-of-war style - see right)
Laura - Pai to Mae Hong Son (rolling hills, misty limestone karst, clear air)
Favourite accommodation:
Joe - Star Beach Bungalows, Chang island, Gulf of Thailand (very friendly staff, deeply chilled out with suitably shabby beach shack bar/ restaurant)
Laura - Thavisouk bungalows, Vang Vieng (perfect location, perfect views of the karsts and the river, best shower in South East Asia)
Most chilled place:Joe - Phayam island, the Andaman coast, Thailand (beautiful 3km stretch of beach with very little development and friendly chilled-out bungalow accomodation at 'Smile Hut'. See Mr Smile - left)
Laura - I have to agree (see 'Biggest bum on the beach' blog)
Favourite sight/ attraction:
Joe - Monks with umbrellas, Louang Phabang, Laos (the wonderful orange robes provided a touch of magic all around this beautiful city - see right/ below).
Laura - Limestone karst (in Halong Bay, Vietnam; Pang Mapha region, north Thailand; Vang Vieng, Laos; Phang Nga, peninsula Thailand)Favourite meal:
Joe - PAD HED and mashed potato, Cruise bar and restaurant, Tao island, Gulf of Thailand (simply: top notch pie)
Laura - Papaya salad wherever I could get my hands on it, the spicier the better
Spot for a drink:
Joe - Roof terrace, the Foreign Correspondents' Club, Phnom Penh (a safe expat oasis with views over a lawless city)
Laura - Panyee stilt village, Phang Nga bay (very still, deep ocean under your feet, surrounded by limestone cliffs - the fact that it was a Muslim village meant that there was no booze available, but it would have been the perfect place for a sun-downer)Activity/ day trip:
Both - Snorkeling, Tao island, Gulf of Thailand (awesome introduction to a fascinating world of coral and tropical fish - see above/ left - Laura emerging from a dive)
Award for outstanding natural beauty:Joe - Phang Nga Bay, Andaman coast Thailand (stunning limestone karsts rising out of clear turquoise waters - see right)
Laura - Halong Bay, Vietnam (very eerie, very beautiful, even on a grey day)
Sunset:
Joe - Si Phan Don (4000 island region), southern Laos (see left/ below):
Laura - No competition
Stars:Both - Trekking from Louang Namtha, northern Laos (incredibly bright stars and constellations above the dark jungle canopy on no-moon night)
... off to the airport now.
Joe and Laura
posted by Joe and Laura at 9:11 am
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