If you know me, you will be aware of the fact that I take great pride in my rigorous gym routine. On any given Saturday prior to commencing this adventure, I would walk from my car to the Woolworths 10 metres away and stock up on a weekend supply of Romany Creams and Coke (Zero of course – got to watch those love handles). I’d then proceed to move to my couch and spend the next 24 hours watching ‘My 600 lb Life’ and feel good about myself. Monique – I still hold you accountable for this TV show by the way…
Author: Marc
Vientiane, Vang Vieng and the Gibbon Experience
The past 2 weeks have been a pretty great mix of relaxing and adventure. Laos has a lot to offer when it comes to the great outdoors. In 2 weeks, I’ve trekked, kayaked, zip lined, swam and tubed. It’s like a standard Iron Man competition!
The Tha Khaek loop
This has safely been one of my South East Asian highlights, and the crazy thing is I wasn’t going to do it. It meant deviating from my ‘only ride a scooter on an island’ rule, to riding one for 500kms around Central Laos. Spending 4 days riding through beautiful scenery – sign me up any day!
The 4000 Islands
The islands are one of those places you plan to spend 2 nights at, but end up doubling your trip and then some. The word ‘island’ may mislead you – we’re not talking about the crystal clear blue water ones… it’s the end of the rainy season in Laos and the Mekong is 7 meters higher than usual. The islands are, in essence, gigantic sand bars in the middle of the Mekong River.
Crossing into Laos – the worst border crossing ever?
Every blog post and travel article I’ve read relating to the southern border crossing between Cambodia and Laos makes it sound like an episode of the Walking Dead. Some say it’s the worst border crossing of their lives – they clearly haven’t crossed between South Africa and Zimbabwe!
Angkor in pictures
The temples of Angkor. Wow! The collection of temples made me wish I was born a few centuries ago to be amongst one of the few to have discovered them. They’re gobsmackingly beautiful. Most of them were being built around 900AD and are still standing. Quite a feat when you think that the average skyscraper in China only lasts 20 years!
The road from Sihanoukville to Battambang
I’m the guy that is always 10 minutes early for everything. I’m not the guy that misses a bus or a plane. I’m never late for a meeting and I try to know my plan, know the duration of a trip, and know when to get off a bus. This went pear-shaped enroute to Battambang, however.
I went to a tropical island and it was meh
I’ve just arrived back to mainland Cambodia after spending a few days on Koh Rong Samloem… a tropical island an hour off the coast. I can hear the collective sighs of ooh and aah from here, but honestly, I was left a little frustrated and disappointed with it. It’s a tropical island, how bad can it be?
The abandoned buildings of Bokor National Park
Exploring an abandoned, derelict church located in the middle of nowhere, in thick mist and no visibility. You’ll shit yourself a little. There’s something about abandoned buildings that intrigues me whilst at the same time, scares me. I can’t help but wander through them and scaring myself a little.
Dinks in Transit 