International culture and medicine, Laos-style
DAY 183 – Vientiane is not chock-full of amenities but we have managed to find wi-fi, coffee, riverside meals with new road friends, and even some thyroid pills. [keep reading]
Over the river and through the woods to Vientiane we go
DAY 180 – On Day 180 of this long SE Asia trip we entered only our fourth country: Laos, and its capital of Vientiane. A busy day of trains 'n' tuk-tuks. [keep reading]
A reunion and a romp through Bangkok
DAY 179 – Long-term, open-ended travel allows you to explore obscure sights in a big city at your own pace. For example, these places in Bangkok, Thailand. [keep reading]
Forget the big cities – go to the provinces
DAY 127 – Do you prefer big cities or smaller, unknown places when you travel? Here are some reasons the smaller places might offer you a better experience. [keep reading]
Just visiting Chumphon, Thailand – or do we live here now?
DAY 121 – A day in Chumphon has become a month – I've restocked my insulin, joined a bike rally, seen ladyboy shows, and even fixed my MacBook with a toy keyboard. [keep reading]
The MacBook breaks and threatens to end my trip early
DAY 113 – When several keys on my money-earning MacBook stopped working in Thailand, I thought I'd have to end my trip. Here's how I fixed it (I think). [keep reading]
Buying cheap insulin in Chumphon, Thailand
DAY 102 – I ran out of insulin in small-town Thailand and had to find more somehow. I couldn't find my usual so I bought another type. It worked out fine, luckily. [keep reading]
Soaked with water and chalk: Day 100 on Songkran!
DAY 100 – As it happened, Day 100 of this Southeast Asia trip was Songkran, the Thai new year when people squirt water and smear chalk all over each other. [keep reading]
Ladyboy show at Kae’s Guesthouse, Chumphon
DAY 99 – We were persuaded to extend our stay at Kae's Guesthouse in Thailand to see a ladyboy show. We didn't know what that was but we sure found out! [keep reading]
Out of harm’s way and into Trang
DAY 96 – Trang, Thailand is pleasant with a typical Thai feel but with amazing temples hidden amongst the trees on the periphery. Plus, my insulin stayed cool there. [keep reading]
Sleeping between bombs: An accidental night in Hat Yai
DAY 94 – Thanks to some miscommunication, we ended up staying overnight in Hat Yai, Thailand where bombs had killed people at locations all around our hotel. Gulp. [keep reading]
The total rip-off tour of George Town, Malaysia
DAY 92 – Some "local tours" are just crass, dull visits to trinkets dealers. This one in George Town, Malaysia was a particular waste of money. Here's what happened. [keep reading]
The waterfall walks of the Tanah Rata jungle
DAY 80 – Traveling slowly means you can see everything a place has to offer – like the Jungle Walks and waterfalls in the green hills around Tanah Rata, Malaysia. [keep reading]
A dizzying day of merging cultures in Cameron Highlands
DAY 77 – A day in central Malaysia turned out to be a kind of trip to Britain and to Tamil India. Every day should be as illuminating and varied as this one! [keep reading]
Visiting the Orang Asli deep in the Malaysian jungle
DAY 69 – About a trip we took into the mystical deep Malaysian jungle to visit a primitive Orang Asli community and get to know about their lives among the trees. [keep reading]
Rich cultural mix of Malacca, Malaysia
DAY 62 – Sometimes a mix of international culture, rather than local color, makes a place interesting. Malacca, Malaysia is one such place. But bring enough insulin! [keep reading]