Wednesday, March 31, 2010

Ha Long Bay

here's a view that brendan had. lovely.

Monday, March 29, 2010

Vietnam itinerary ideas

- fly into Hanoi (2 nights)
- Hanoi to Halong City (3 hour trip 40,000 VND, buses/tour trips/boats): trip to Halong Bay and Cat Ba Islands (3 nights)
- Back to Hanoi, overnight train to Lao Cai then arrive in Lao Cai in morning and take one hour shuttle bus from post office Sa Pa (3 nights): trekking to visit hill tribes and eat local food/drink 
- Back to Hanoi, 14 hour train ride to Hue (take 7pm night train) (3 nights): DMZ tour for $9, UNESCO heritage sites
- Hue to Hoi An, 2 hours by train from Hue to Danang train station then catch ride to Hoi An (3 nights): Tra Que Vegetable Farm, beaches, handicrafts, Chuc Thahn Pagoda (buddhist temple), Cam Kim Island, Cham Island, Thahn Ha Pottery Village
- from Hoi An catch ride back to Danang then travel to Nha Trang by train (3 nights): eat LOBBY in Nha Trang, visit beaches, relax at the Thap Ba Hot Spring Centre
- Nha Trang to Mui Ne by bus, takes 5-6 hours and leave at 7:30 am and 8pm (3 nights): sand dunes, water sports
- Mui Ne to Ho Chi Mihn direct by bus (2 nights): eat street food like Tony
- Ho Chi Mihn to Chau Doc (by bus, tour Mekong Delta with tour company to travel to the border ~$40) --> travel by boat in Cambodia (2 days, 1 night)

Tuesday, March 23, 2010

I will never go wherever this is. EVER!!!!

i will not be eating any spiders voluntarily.

Also, if i see one of those fucking things, im coming home. or at least running and screaming until someone kills it.

Monday, March 22, 2010

Laos itinerary

Laos itinerary (just over a week):

- Huay Xai to Pakbeng (1 night) to Luang Prabang
- Luang Prabang: Kwang Si Falls, Pak Ou Caves, village treks, book flight from Vientiane to Hanoi with Loa Airlines (3 nights)
- to Vang Vieng by bus or minibus (express bus 8 hours 85,000 kip, minibus 7 hours 95,000 kip): caving, trekking, kayaking, river-tubing, rent motorcycles (3 nights)
- from Vang Vieng to Vientiane by bus (4-5 hours 25,000 kip): Lao theatre, wats, museum, massages (1 night)
- flight to Hanoi


Sunday, March 21, 2010

Yoga classes in South East Asia

Thailand:
- Bangkok --> Absolute Yoga
- Chiang Mai --> Yogasala
Laos:
- Vientiane --> Vientiane Yoga Studio
Cambodia:
- Phnom Phen --> Nata Raj Yoga
- Siem Reap --> Raja Yoga (meditation)
Vietnam:
- Hanoi --> Zenith Yoga
- Ho Chi Minh --> Breathing Room, Saigon Yoga

Saturday, March 20, 2010

Thailand itinerary

Working on the itinerary for Thailand (~2 weeks):


- first night at the airport guesthouse then travel downtown (1 night)
- explore Bangkok (2 nights)
- Bangkok to Kanchanburi (by train from Thonburi station costs 100B, 3 hours): river raft guesthouse, caves, waterfalls (3 nights)
- bus or minibus/van from Kanchanburi to Ayutthaya (main station to Suphanburi 2 hours, 45B then connect to Ayutthaya 1.5 hours, 49B - or minivan direct for 350B): bike around (1 night)
- Ayyuttha to Lopburi (via train 1 hour): temples, OVERRUN with monkeys, enough time to see the city between the morning and evening trains (1 night)
- Lopburi to Phitsanulok (3-4 hours via train for 28-64B) then on arrival immediately connect to Sukhothai same day by bus (1 hour bus ride from Phitsanulok, 54B): historical capital, bike the UNESCO World Heritage Site/national park (2 nights in Sukhothai) 
- Chiang Mai from Sukhothai (4-5 hours by bus): cycle the city, a day of hill-tribe trekking (3 nights)
- Chiang Mai to Chiang Khong (by bus from Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai, then Chiang Rai to Chiang Khong): relax (1 night) --> border crossing into Laos (2 day boat trip down the Mekong to Pakbeng then Luang Prabang)

Deep Fried

Why "The Fried Spider"? Well... deep fried tarantulas (a Cambodian delicacy) will be just one of many new sights to experience in South East Asia. This is a place for documenting and sharing these travel stories. Writing them down for us. Keeping those at home in the loop.

2 and a 1/2 months before we leave. Lots to do before then. Saving up, reading up, packing up.