Luang Namtha and Lunag Prabang

Luang Namtha is a developing destination for trekking. Bigger than the previous place, yet very quiet and relaxing. Took a bicycle and rode to the surrounding villages. It's amazing how people are surprised and kids happy when a farang (foreigner) say hello in Lao (I learnt 2 basic words) to them and they answer so glad and smiling!

Luang Prabang is the UNESCO world heritage. It's charming, full of nice, comfortable guesthouses and temples.

There is a big emphesise on creating eco freindly and consious tourism, support local communities and I really like the attitude. Wanna say to the Lao people and organisations: guys keep going this way! Dont get commercialised and do not sell your lovely country to tourists!

hill tribes in Laos

Lots to write about and too lazy to do it. I will definitively type my diary.
1.Eventually I overcame cultural shock and got more relaxed about Asia. Leaving for Laos I met a couple who told me one name to go for trekking in Laos to the hill tribes, assuring real, experience. Vieng Phoukan. As soon as I crossed the border to Lao (a short boat ride on the Mekong river)I felt: I like Laos. It's so relaxing and people are so unspoiled by tourism. Just themselves. Calm and friendly. I met a bunch of cool backpackers crossing the border but the day after I took the bus Vieng Phukan with a french couple and the rest went opposite direction.
When we arrived in Vieng Phukan we couldn't believe the place like this still exist. We were the only tourists in the village. Everybody was watching us, children were quite shy but followed us. When we started taking pics of them and showing on a digital camera they were very happy to see it and we had the whole bunch of kids and mothers and babies following us! Only some houses had electricity by generator and shower with bucket of cold water. And that was only beginning of our adventure.
3 days trekking through the jungle. Beautiful but sometimes the hit and humidity were really hard to bare. We ate with our hands, sharing food - 3 days the same things and Lao food is not as good as Thai which i can keep on and on. We bath in the rivers. Saw buffaloes, huge butterflies and lots of strange insects. The worst was danger of getting bitten by leeches.
For a night we stayed at the Akha (hill tribe from China) village. Life the is very basic. At the beginning children were simply scared of us, little ones were crying and escaping! We felt like a green creates coming by UFO! We were under constant observation. Kids were walking around our house, everything was new Ahka people: cameras, our underwear drying outside, glasses and my contact lenses, brushing our teeth. Everything.
To start communication we started drawing to them. Soon a big circle around us: kids and their parents. David, the french guy was explaining them in french and looked like the French language was very amusing - they were laughing.
I got up very early bcs of roasters and all the animals in the village. I took a piece of paper to write for my diary; I had a group of teen guys who were helping organise our stay and food around me waiting. So I started drawing for them: skyscrapers, cars, people, trains etc. Before leaving the village we visited the house of the chief and we were offered Akha whisky and a melon shape and size - cucumber (traditional way of hospitality in the villages here so we couldn't refuse even if it was 9-10 am)
Next night we stayed in another village accommodated for the night at the people's houses. People were happy to have us around, especially kids. Where more open for farangs (foreigners).
On the way back we got bitten and sucked by leeches - disgusting! At the end we visited the cave and then the car was waiting for us, visited 2 other villages and got back to VP.

learning about Buddhism

I went for 2 days retreat to a Buddhist university - away from the town beautiful centre made on purpose to teach people about Buddhism and meditation. Stayed overnight. There was something wiered about it as we were given white dresses and woken up at 5am by the gong but interesting experience and great opportunity to talk to young monks who were absolutely open and honest in answering our questions about Buddhism and Thai culture.

trekking in chiang mai

I'm just back from the National Geographic adventure. Lots to talk about so the details you could read once I'm back and type the diary I keep writing. In brief: trekking in the jungle, staying at the hill tribe village, where we slept in the "bamboo hotel" as all the houses made of bamboo in the jungle, elephant trekking, trip on the bamboo raft along the river. Once I get it, I will email you a film that one guy took while I was attacked by a baby elephant. What's more? buffaloes swimming in the river, we getting completely wet and dirty, shower using a bucket and cold water, people in the village smoking opium.
It was a great feeling of real adventure and peace of nature and simplicity.

Too hot

It's still hot. Together with pollution is really hard to bear. Even the contact lenses get steemed. Tomorrow I'm off to Chiang Mai.
Temples and buddhas everywhere. Good pics but can't upload on this computer. Some Thai speak English but usually it is almost impossible to underestand them. No point to take a guide anywhere. Better read the guide book. Too hot understand the book.
White old men with beautiful Thai girls holding their hands, walking in the centre.

Welcome to Thailand

So finally I arrived in long awaited Thailand, Bangkok. So lots of temples and Buddhas everywhere. I think I really like in here. It's bit hard for it's SO hot and humid. You take shower I don't know how many times per day and just after you feel overwhelming humidity again. Food is great. Everything is cheap. Actually the first thing I did even b4 seeing the main sightseeings was... shopping. Having got rid of my winter alpaca stuff my backpack become empty again. Not for long though. Oh yes a women in me took over common sense this time and I know it's not the end.
The only problem I see is the language as it really limits perception and possibilities of getting know the country. People seem kind and friendly, shame it's hard to communicate and also make me feel handicapped when I cant read the letters. They don't remind you anything so public transport is a real problem: tuk-tuk or taxi?
I went for the real Thai massage and hey guys, it's got nothing to do with the traditional massage we know and... the best amazing massage I ever had and could imagine!
Bangkok - kosan road- travelers mecca, life is so easy here: everything for backpackers.