On our arrival in the Cameron Highlands, we noticed one thing.
It was cold!
Continue reading Cameron Highlands, Malaysia – Jungle Trails and a Photo Disaster!
Category Archives: travel diary
Thailand’s Islands of Koh Phi Phi and Koh Lanta – Parties, Sharks and Lovely Toilets!
21st – 27th October 2014
After a boat to the mainland, a long minibus ride and then another boat ride, I finally arrived on the island Koh Phi Phi. I hadn’t booked any accommodation and so picked a dorm from the accommodation touts that hound you as soon as you get off the boat. It was ok, and each bunk had a curtain around, which was great for privacy, but not so for socialising as you never knew if there was anyone in their little covered bunk! But I needn’t have worried for I was woken from my afternoon nap (this travelling lark can be tiring you know!) to the shouts of ‘Claire, Claire’, and it was Laura! She’d been on Koh Chang while I had headed onto the islands, so now she’d caught up with me and we prepared to wander the Koh Phi Phi lanes and have some fun. That we did!
Thailand’s Islands of Koh Samui and Koh Phangan
11th – 21st October 2014
On arrival in Koh Samui I wandered to the beach which was only about 50 metres from where I stayed. The beautiful clear waters gently lapped at the shore as the sun was nearly setting. The island was fairly quiet due to it being rainy season, but it had been rainy season for most of my travels throughout South East Asia, and although you get a big downpour every other day or so, the only time it has really been annoying was the washout at Phu Quoc Island in Vietnam!
Continue reading Thailand’s Islands of Koh Samui and Koh Phangan
The Elephant Nature Park in Chiang Mai, Thailand
4th October 2014
Before coming to Thailand, I’d already decided I would not be riding an elephant. I had heard horrendous stories of how elephants are tortured to enable them to become the ‘tame’ elephants that are able to be ridden. I didn’t want to support such barbaric treatment of these majestic creatures. After a little research on the internet, I found the Elephant Nature Park in Chiang Mai. An ethical park, founded by one lady Lek Chailert, who opened up this sanctuary in 1996. Here you can spend the day learning about the elephants, feeding them, walking with them, and washing them in the river. I was so excited to be going here as I have always loved elephants. I always remember going to the zoo as a little girl, and at the end of the day I would always want to go and see the elephants one more time, and my Dad would always take me back to see them again.
Continue reading The Elephant Nature Park in Chiang Mai, Thailand
Bangkok – Prostitutes, stinky markets, and Thai Green Curry
29th September 2014
I would have stayed longer in Cambodia but I was due to meet Stewart who was flying out for a ten day holiday.
First of all we stayed in the Sukhumvit area, and hit a few of the Bangkok bars in the local area. The fact that the first one was called ‘Shag Bar’ should have enlightened us as to what kind of bar it was, yes it really was that literal! Several old white guys with young Thai girls clinging onto them, sitting on their laps etc etc! It was amusing anyway. We left this bar and went to another, only to be met with the same ‘staff’ and clientelle, but what the hell, they were playing good music, the drinks were flowing and we were chatting to some people at the bar anyhow. We were in Bangkok after all, what would your trip be if you weren’t sat in a bar full of prostitutes?!! Pretty sure these were all of the female variety though!
Continue reading Bangkok – Prostitutes, stinky markets, and Thai Green Curry
The Mysterious Michel Desmarquet
During my trip in Vietnam, one day I met a rather eccentric French man, Michel Desmarquet. I spent a good few hours chatting to him, while Laura and him played a few games of chess. He was a very interesting character, who says he was abducted by aliens in the late 80’s, and has had a spiritual awakening through this. Continue reading The Mysterious Michel Desmarquet
The Mekong Delta Region, Vietnam
18th – 21st September 2014
The Mekong Delta region was a vast area of rivers, floating villages and markets. I spent the last few days of Vietnam in this area, before getting a boat over the border into Cambodia.
Here are a few photos from the area:
Rach Gia and Phu Quoc Island, Vietnam
12th – 18th September 2014
We decided to take a trip to the small island of Phu Quoc, just off the South West coast of Vietnam. This required an overnight stay in an obviously ‘seldom visited by tourists’ town, called Rach Gia. I say this because we were like local celebrities as we walked through the town and the local market, everyone from children to adults were either giggling, waving or shouting hello at us, or a combination of all three! It was insane! The local market had some very fine delicacies on display though, and as usual I got photos of some of the oddities….
Hoi An, Vietnam. Beaches, bike rides and tailor’s shops!
26th August – 3rd September 2014
Now, after the full on couple of months, and not getting the chill time I really wanted in Hanoi, this was my next planned chill out point. If riding a bicycle to the beaches, lazing by my lovely hotel pool, eating a massive delicious breakfast spread every morning, and buying dress after dress, all made to measure, constitutes chilling out, then I did a lot of it in the seven days I was in Hoi An! It was perfect!
Continue reading Hoi An, Vietnam. Beaches, bike rides and tailor’s shops!
The small city of Hue, Vietnam.
24th – 26th August 2014
I only spent one night in Hue, but it was quite a small city. I hired a motorbike for a day and rode around in the blistering heat, in the hunt for the tombs in the local area, which were more like palaces than what you’d expect of a tomb!
ontheroadwithclaire 