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Luang Prabang

Sun, 10 Mar 2019 00:00:00 GMT

Luang Prabang is a small town in the heart of Laos. As in the whole of Laos, architecture has been highly influenced by the French. Houses in the old quarter are small, painted in happy colours, usually have a balcony made out of colomns and have typical (decorative) french doors. It is no wonder that the old town of Luang Prabang is on the Unesco World Heritage list. The center of this little town is a popular tourist attraction, most homes in have been converted into guesthouses, restaurants and stores. The asian lanterns and colourful lights make this town feel cosy and small, though it is always busy.

Every place in town is in walking distance, with the highest point in town, the That Chomsi stupa on mount Phousi, visible as a landmark from every point in town. Make sure you're in good shape before climbing the 300 steps up and be amazed by beautiful views of Luang Prabang.

But this sacred hill has more to offer than beautiful views. You'll find a small temple, where you can visit a giant Buddha footprint. As it is about my size, I'm not convinced it is really Buddha's footprint, but it does look like a giant footprint. Along the way you might encounter some monks. The etiquette for addressing a buddhist monk varies in every Asian country. Here in Laos, be respectful and try to limit your eye contact if you're a woman. These man have made a vow to be celibate during their period in the monestary. Though making pictures without consent is not the way to go, the younger generation of monks might surprise you by whipping out a smartphone and making some pictures of the beautiful surroundings. Always ask politely.

After enjoying the sun for a bit, walk down to the royal palace at the foot of the mountain. This palace was build in the 20th century and home of the last king of Laos. The garden is beautifully maintained and is freely accessible, as is the temple which is beautifully crafted with a lot of love and attention.

For visiting the palace, you will need to pay a small fee. Though it’s not allowed to make pictures inside the palace, it is beautiful and worth your time. The main entrance is beautifully decorated with scenes that depict traditional Lao life. It is quite different from the other rooms, which are quite sober. Lao kings have had a long and good history with various countries in the world. Part of the exibition shows gifts from visiting kings, presidents and ambassaders, varying from a piece of the moon (gift from the USA after the first moonlanding), silverware and ceramics.

As Laos has a high percentage of minority tribes, visiting the Traditional Art and Ethnology Center (TEAC) is a good way to learn more. This small museum focuses on the four main etnic groups; Hmong, Akha, Tai Lue and Khmu. All smaller groups are derived from these bigger groups. It is impossible to learn everything in this short amount of time, but it gives a good enough impression.

Shopping in Luang Prabang

As in any Asian countries, where there are tourists, there are night markets. If you feel like shopping, the center of town has a lot to offer, from jewelry to clothing, from toys to chopsticks. Of course a good amount of street food can't is impossible to miss. The Lao version of a french baguette is widely popular among tourists, filled with all kind of cold cuts or even a fried egg, all prepared on a tiny little cart. If you're craving a fresh fruit shake, this is the place to be, carts are lined up next to eachother. All look similar, all offer the same prices. There is little competition.

But if you’re looking for something with a little more meaning, take a half day to cross the bamboo bridge to the village on the other side of the Nam Khan river. You will find different ateliers where paper is handmade from different natural materials and traditional hand weavers. The atmosphere on this side of town is different, more laid back. You won't find a lot of tourists here, which makes for an excellent place to shop souvenirs for relatively fair prices. A handwoven scarf will cost you between €8 and €30, depending on the complexity of the work. Another adventage is that, though there is competition, you won't get called and you will not be followed by an over diligent salesperson. If you want to take the time to look and ask some questions about the product, this is the place to go.

Kuang Si

The main attraction in the area is the Kuang Si waterfall. Arrive early in the morning or later in the afternoon to enjoy Kuang Si in its peace. Though it is possible to book a combination tour, including the butterfly farm and the Pak Ou caves, you can easily spend the entire day at the waterfalls. Walk from the main entrance to the black bear shelter. Here you can view black bears that have been rescued from poachers, misusing these animals for their vile. Though different from the standards in Europe, the bears don't have a lot of room, the park is doing its best to ensure the wellbeing of these animals. They have room to walk around, relax and play with eachother.

After walking past the shelter, it is a small walk up to on of the most beautiful waterfalls you’ll ever see. The clear turquoise water is absolutely stunning. But the fun doesn’t end here. You’ve only just arrived at the bottom of the waterfall. If you’re feeling adventurous, take the path up to the top. It is about an hour walk, but it is worth the effort. Along the way, you will be accompanied by the most beautiful butterflies and dragonflies.

But there is more. Take a walk up to the Phalesi cave. Now it isn’t the most beautiful cave you’ll ever see, nor is it very big or magnificant. But it might be the most exciting one. When arriving at the entrance, you’ll receive a flashlight and 2 bananas. This is where it gets strange. Why would you need two bananas? Can you possibly get lost? Will you need them to distract wild animals as you flee the cave? What is in this cave? You will just have to see for yourself. All I can tell you is, I got out alive…

After visiting the cave, relax at the nearby Spring water restaurant or, if you want a bit more privacy, walk your way back to the top of the waterfall. Halfway in, you’ll find a beautiful little riverstream. Accompanied by some thirsty cows, it’s an excellent place to lay down and read a book.

In summary

Luang Prabang is a little town with beautiful architecture and wonderfully nice and inviting people. It is worth visiting this town, which has been called out as a Unesco world heritage site. Want to know more in preparation to your visit? Go to www.luangprabang-laos.com to find out more.

Check out my photo gallery here .

Land of a thousand elephants

Tue, 05 Mar 2019 04:24:08 GMT

From Pai, in the land of the smile, I travelled to Laos, the land of a thousand elephants (though I haven't spotted any elephants yet). First stop was Luang Namtha. Though bumpy and steep, the drive uphill to Luang Namtha was absolutely spectaculair. Atop the hill, beautiful valleys with trees and small riverstreams appear.

The center of this town, in the north of Laos, is quiet and small. There is one main street, which you can easily walk in under 10 minutes. This is the street were you'll see most guesthouses, some combined with a restaurant. Though eco tourism is on the uprise in this area, you will not see mega hotels in this area, there is no party scene. Luang Namtha is for nature lovers that love to explore and come back to town to relax with a cold Beerlao (Lao beer).

The majority of inhabitants in Luang Namtha consists of minorities. These live in the rural areas, in the mountains of Luang Namtha. In collaboration with the different tour operators in town, these villages welcome small groups of foreigners with a maximum of 2 visits a week, with operators being assigned parts of the area which do not overlap. During a tour you will therefore never encounter another group.

Though some traditions in these villages are still intact, when visiting you'll see that these tribes are a lot more modernised than you'd think. Villages have electricity and can connect with the outside world via satellite dishes and phones. Traditional clothing has made room for store bought clothing. But there are some things that can never be perfected by industrialisation. The art of making paper with bamboo pulp, the hand weaving of fabric, the braiding of baskets, the making of traditional musical instruments. These are all traditions that these minorities are struggling to keep intact as young members seem to be rapidly choosing different paths.

Exploring Luang Namtha

Joining a trekking tour is the best way to explore the mountains of Luang Namtha. One day is enough to explore the beauty of the area, but if you're feeling adventurous, there are tours that take up several days and include homestays in a few villages. Different agencies offer different routes, so if you're looking for a specific route you might want to do some research first.

If you're hoping to spot mountain lions, wild elephants or even monkeys, Luang Namtha is not the place for you. Though trekking, even for several days, is possible with a guided tour, the chances you will spot any of these animals are slim. What you will encounter are large trees, with beautiful exposed and entwined roots, a large array of butterflies and colourful insects you might not have seen before. The trees will sometimes open up, like a beautiful frame, to expose a the mountains on the other side of the valley.

During the day, your guide will provide you with special, jungle-cooked, meals. Check out this display of food. The jungle soup in the middle was cooked in bamboo, found in the forest.

Next to it being a great way to meet new people from all around the world (it sometimes felt like the united nations) another way of exploring the area is by joining a kayak tour. There are not a lot of things that will make you feel as small as being in a tiny boat, partly being pushed by the river's stream, in between mountains covered in different shades of green and red.

For lunch, you're treated with different Lao dishes, accompanied by fish that has been cooked on an open fire. This all is traditionally eaten with sticky rice. You will easily get used to eating this all with your hands. Next to it being a wonderful experience, it is simply delicious.

In town

After a day of trekking or kayaking, nothing is better than taking a cold shower and head to town to relax for bit and eat dinner. To be hones, if you're used to the intricate combination of spices and flavours used in Thai cuisine, Lao cuisine might be a little disappointing. A traditional Lao meal consists of different little dishes, accompanied by sticky rice. This does look beautiful, but so far most dishes contain oyster sauce and thus all seem to taste about the same. Though the river weed (looks like Japanese nori, but with adds garlic, tomato and sesame it's way more flavourful) is my favourite and delicious for dipping a small ball of sticky rice.

If you are a picky eater, Luang Namtha also provides enough western style food, like pizza, pasta and hamburgers and Thai cuisine. And if you're feeling adventurous, try the night market, which offers a different variety of grilled meat.

Speaking of markets, the morning market, which is at the edge of town, offers a variety of vegetables, fruit, meat and other delights. The colourful presentations will put a smile on your face. If you're in Luang Namtha, make time to visit, it is big and impressive. Though it might not fit with western standards of animal welfare as you will see live animals (chicken, frogs, fish) in small spaces waiting to be bought and slaughtered.

Hungry for more? Check out my photo gallery here.

A piece of Pai

Thu, 21 Feb 2019 15:22:39 GMT

Pai is a picture perfect little town in the hills of northern Thailand. From Chiang Mai city it will take only a few hours to get there and with its deep valleys, it is truly picture perfect and definitely worth your time.

From Chiang Mai a mini van will take you to Pai within 3 hours. Be prepared, these might feel like the 3 longest hours of your life as the bus will drive up a mountain containing a mere 762 curves. Motion sickness pills may help you survive the ride. If you’re feeling adventurous, there are several companies that rent out scooters for your ride from Chiang Mai to Pai and deliver your luggage for you for a reasonable price. This however is at your own risk. Along the way we encountered a transport van that lost some mattresses along the way and our own driver almost hit some tourists driving on the wrong side of the road.

But the view up to Pai is beautiful. Along the way you will see deep valleys, large trees and blue skies. Like everything outside the major cities, it is quiet and picture perfect.

Though Pai isn’t as big a tourist attraction as Chiang Mai, it is crowded with foreigners ‘finding themselves’ over a long period of time. Colourful dreads and clothes, tattoos and nose piercings seem to be all the rage. You will encounter people that ‘just want to be themselves’, but in the end all start to look alike. This however makes for a very laid back atmosphere. The crowded streets of Chiang Mai seem like a world away.

Pai itself isn’t very big, you can get by in the town center on foot. But to visit the main tourist attractions, you will need another method of transportation. Scooters are easily accessible and though a driver’s license is required by law, you will not need one to rent one. This if course is at your own risk. You will have to leave your passport or pay a deposit as insurance (I opted for option number two, as leaving your passport in the hand of strangers is never a good idea).

Get up early and drive up to the Ta Pai Hot Springs. Though a bit overpriced (300 baht, which makes about 9 euros), it is something special. These natural springs have a temperature up to 80 degrees Celsius. The higher you go up the springs, the warmer it gets. After showering with cold water for days, it is really nice to jump in a warm bath. There is a special part of the park reserved to cook a hardboiled egg, but as the water isn't suitable for drinking, this is at your own risk. It seems to be very popular among mostly Chinese tourists nevertheless.

After this relaxing bath, drive up to the Pambook waterfall (entrance free). As I visited Pai during the dry season the waterfall wasn’t as spectacular as I expected but it is beautiful. The benefit of visiting during this season is that you can get very close. Visitors tend to pile up as many rocks as possible, just for the fun of it. Of course I couldn’t stay behind.

After visiting the waterfall, drive up to the Bamboo Bridge (entrance 30 baht/0,90 euro). This is a very steep, narrow and rocky road, so be careful. It is easy to get distracted by the view along the way. It’s beauty can simply not be captured within a photo, though I’ve tried! The Bamboo Bridge itself was an existing bridge, partly transformed to a tourist attraction. At the beginning of the bridge you will see straw huts and a fake cow, indicating that this is how farmers used to live, though there is no explanation anywhere. Walking further you will see the enormous fields where rice and other crops are grown. It is a bit awkward walking along the path, while there are farmers really working hard, in the hot sun, preparing the land for the coming rain season. But as Thai people are naturally friendly, you will be greeted kindly by most.

After this visit, the only way back is down the hill again. After a few kilometers, you will encounter Pambook café, serving coffee, tea and fresh fruit shakes. Take a rest and indulge in a fresh strawberry shake (these are grown in the area) and enjoy the view.

After this quick stop, visit the land split. This seismic curiosity arised in 2008, when a farmer woke up to find a giant split on his hillside. Instead of dwelling in misery because of his misfortune (part of his crops were affected), he decided to make this force of nature available to everyone. Entrance is therefore free, though donations are welcome. When arriving, you will be greeted by one of the friendliest people you will ever meet and offered a cold glass of homemade roselle lemonade. Besides that you will get to taste his banana chips with homemade roselle jam and freshly roasted peanuts. Everything is made from the products grown on the land and is a 100% organic. If you’d like to purchase some of the products, that's possibly in return for a donation.

The land split itself is something special. After 2008 several more earthquakes visited the hillside, leaving their own mark. But inside the split, nature has miraculously recovered itself in only a short amount of time. At the foot of the hillside, you will encounter the farm were papaya trees, lime trees, kaffir limes, (Thai) basil and many more fruit, vegetables and herbs are grown.

Around 5 o’clock, make your way to Pai Canyon. Though it is nothing like the grand canyon, the panoramic view is amazing. Sit quietly and watch the sun set behind the mountain tops.

Now you must be feeling hungry. No worries, Pai has a lot to offer for everyone. At 6 o’ clock the night market starts in the town’s main street. Small food carts will offer a variety of dishes. Several stalls will sell locally farmed fruit, with strawberries being the main attraction. These are among the sweetest I’ve ever tasted. If you fancy spring rolls, this is the place to be. With meat or vegetarian, sweet or savory. Anything I possible. But as more foreigners are discovering Pai, you will see a lot of carts selling western style dishes. The Thai banana pancakes have been replaced with French crepes, often served with Nutella. Hamburgers, hotdogs, pizza, bruschetta, sushi. Any popular hipster dish you will find at western food festivals is available here. Inbetween bites, shop for locally produced souveniers, jewelry, soap and other cosmetics.

If you’re you looking for good quality Thai food, then stay of the main street and walk into any restaurant serving purely Thai food. You will be amazed at the hospitality and the time and effort these entrepreneurs take to make you feel welcome. A free glass of cool water, a fan turning your way and the imaculate presentation of the dishes. Restaurant 'Two sisters' is a bit out the way, but it is well worth paying a visit to. Among other things it serves a lovely coconut soup.

If you’re a vegetarian or vegan, Pai is the perfect place for you. Restaurants like Kome Maun serve a variety of dishes which are vegetable and/or tofu based. Though meatlovers aren’t excluded, for an additional price you can order any dish with a side of chicken or beef.

If you still have the energy at the end of the day, Pai offers a variety of cafes, where happy hour lasts deep into the night. If you're looking for a more mellow setting, visit the Jazz house. If you're lucky, you get to enjoy live music from local artists.

Though it is possible to experience Pai within a day, it is worth staying for a couple more. Only then will you get the real chilled and relax Pai experience. Want to see more? Check out my Pai photo gallery here .

Cooking Thai food

Sat, 16 Feb 2019 13:54:33 GMT

Last year I received a cooking course for my birthday. I always wanted to learn how to cook Thai food, so I figured now would be a great time to collect. The Thai Kitchen Cookery Centre was established in 1995 en was the first to offer cooking courses to foreigners.

The market

The workshop started with an early visit to the market. Here our cooking class got to see and smell different vegetables and herbs that are used in the Thai kitchen. Our teacher explained the variety in ingredients that depict typical thai food. I saw various products I hadn't seen before and it was fantastic to learn what was actually in the different dishes I'd tasted already.

The dishes

Next it was time to start cooking. The first dish was a springroll. This was a group effort, we had to chop all the ingredients into tiny cubes for our filling. This specific springroll contained carrots, cabbage, tofu and bean sprouts.

After this, we individually made a Thai soup of our own choosing. I made a spicy Tom Yam Goong soup. I've tasted this soup before and always wanted to know how to make this myself, but the number of ingredients always made me think it was a complicated dish. However, it isn't at all. Preparation will take you about 10 minutes at most, as the ingredients don't need to be chopped very finely. The cooking time was also about 10 to 15 minutes. Here's my plate of ingredients (coconut milk and coconut cream were added to make a broth):

And this is the end result, a fragrant dish with the smell of coconut, lime, lemongrass and a hint of coriander, with fried spingrolls on the side:

Next it was on the our main dishes. I decided to make a red curry with tofu and Pad Thai, Thailand's national dish. The red curry was also a team effort. Everyone helped in chopping the ingredients for the curry paste as fine as possible. After that, it was time to create an even finer paste using the pestle and mortar. As most of us had European roots, there weren't a lot of chili's in the paste, but our teacher promised me some extra chili paste to spike up my dish if I wanted to:

Now it was time to start cooking. Using a wok I added first heated the curry paste in hot oil. As the smell got stronger I added the ingredients. And from this:

I created this, a red curry with tofu and Thai eggplant and Pad Thai:

It was the best Thai food ever, if I do say so myself. This experience was amazing. If you are ever in Chiang Mai and want to learn how to make authentic Thai dishes, make sure to find the Thai Kitchen Cookery Centre . These professionals will have even the most unexperienced cooks create magic in the kitchen, while having a lot of fun in the process (do not be tempted to crack an egg using your forehead, you will fail!). If you'd like the recipes, send me a message and I will gladly share them with you.

Chiang Mai

Wed, 13 Feb 2019 09:32:31 GMT

I've arrived in Chiang Mai, a city in northern Thailand. It's old city is confined within a square, partly still surrounded by the ruins of the old city wall. But Chiang Mai is much more than this.

I took the nighttrain from Bangkok to Chiang Mai. The nighttrain is a great way to travel and buy time at the same time. If you have to sleep anyway, why not travel comfortably at the same time. After 12 hours I arrived in Chiang Mai. Outside of the trainstation there are a lot of small red firewagon looking buses. These buses are typical Chiang Mai taxis, that will take you anywhere in the city for a reasonable price.

After settling in my hostel (private room with private bathroom, I am a bit of a glampacker) in the old city center I took an exploratory walk. As the old city center is just ..., it is perfect to get around on foot, though the main method of transportation used by tourists that have a longer stay in the city is a scooter. I prefer walking, because I believe it's the best way to observe and well, I have the time. But, as in any major city, you will have no trouble finding a taxi(bus) or a tuktuk that will get you wherever you want to go.

Strolling around the city center, you will encounter a lot of buddhist temples. As a big part of the Thai population is buddhist, you will see the most beautifully crafted ornaments made out of stone and wood, splashed with a lot of colour, mirrored tiles and even gold. All in honour of this religion, that teaches to do good, to get better in the next life. I visited a lot of temples, but Wat Phan Tao impressed me the most, with its magnitude. It is easy to forget that you're visiting a place of worship, but seeing someone in prayer makes you humble to this fact. When entering a temple, silence is advised. Though this silence makes the experience all the more meaningful.

Visit the Lanna folkmuseum to learn more about the Lanna people and the way they practise Buddhism. Learn why temples are decorated the way they are and have a better understanding of the architectural complexity and the detailed elements that make a building into a temple.

Next to these holy temples, the old city is filled with restaurants, guesthouses and hostels, though you will not see enormous hotels here. These are located outside the remaining city walls. Tourism is, as in a big part of Thailand, the number one source of income. This makes Chiang Mai a very busy city. If you're looking for a place to relax and enjoy some peace and quiet, this is not the place for you. Though there are ways to seek some peace and quiet in this region. If you're looking for a rest, visit the Nong Buak Hard public park. Entrance is free. You will see families having picnicks, backpackers practicing yoga and tourists taking pictures before the beautiful floral backgrounds and water fountains. A wonderful to lie down and relax with a book.

If you're a nature lover and like to hike, get up early and walk the monk trail to Wat Phra That Doi Suthep (yet another temple, but it is worth it). As it is a steep walk up the mountain, this is not for the weak. Walk trough the jungle and enjoy the view. You will see some small waterfalls along the way. After a while the jungle will open up to a beautiful view of the 'small' Wat Pha Lat temple. Take a rest and enjoy the view, the peace, the silence. You will encounter some tourists, but as this temple isn' t the main attraction in the area, you will have the time and space to make beautiful pictures.

After this, walk further up the monk trail to Wat Phra That Doi Suthep. I have to be honest, midway I was having a hard time and was thinking I'd made a mistake. Why did I put myself in this situation? I'm not the hiking type. But I pushed and made it. Arriving at the foot of the temple, yet another challange arrived. To get up the temple, I needed to walk the 306 step naga stairs. So, I decided to fuel up with some Pad Thai and a fresh coconut first. After that, it was stepping time. Arriving at the temple, it was all worth it. I treated myself to a taxi ride back to the old city (yes, you can reach these points by car/scooter too).

At night chiang Mai's vibrant nightlife wakes. The sunday night market is an experience on it's own. It is big, streets are temporarily closed of to traffic. You will find your typical pashima scarfs, keychains, magnets and photo postcards. But a big part of this market contains of stalls selling beautiful handmade dolls, chopsticks and woodwork. You will see craftsman handcarving soap into beautiful and colourful orchids. Woman crocheting dolls and handbags, artist selling and painting on the spot (the talent here is amazing!). And of course, the smells. Barbequed skewers of sometimes unidentifiable meat, the sweet smell of freshly cut fruit, banana pancakes and fruit shakes. You will not go hungry here.

When walking trough the city, try to avoid the main streets and be surprised by the most wicked and suprisingly bold street art in Chiang Mai. Here a simple tag just won't do, you will rarely see it. True artists here, make something more graphic.

So here's my report of Chiang Mai, a city worth visiting. There is something to do for everyone. The experiences I had are just the tip of the iceberg, there is so much more to do and to see. In my next post, I will tell you all about the cooking class I took here. Yet another experience in Chiang Mai, worth mentioning.

Though you will have to visit Chiang Mai yourself to get the complete experience, I will upload some photos in my gallery soon.

Sawasdee ka (Hello)

Wed, 06 Feb 2019 15:23:17 GMT

After a 10 hour flight I've arrived in Bangkok. After going trough customs and picking up my backpack, I took a train to the city. After that it was a 30 minute taxi ride to the homestay I've booked for my visit to Ban Krachao.

A homestay means that you will be staying on the property of a local Thai person. There are different variations, ranging from booking a room in a familyhouse to different rooms with bathrooms on one property. In some cases it is possible to eat with the family. In my case I'd booked a separate room with private bathroom and optional breakfast. Booking a homestay is a way of supporting local entrepeneurs. Besides that, it really feels like you're on a holiday when you're trying to communicate with locals that only speak basic English. It has it's charms. If you're ever in the Ban Krachao area, I do recommend 88 Homestay . It looks exactly as pictured and the people there are really friendly.

After settling in the room, I took a short biking trip. Biking is the best way to get around in this area as there is so much to see. It is also relatively safe, there aren't a lot of cars and people drive cautiously. The area is a mixture of modern villas, which are quickly being build all around the area, and the wooden, more traditional, pavillions. The contrast between wealthy and poor is also visible in this part of Bangkok. Between uprising villas there are also homes, made out of cheap materials, where whole families (including grandparents) live in a small amount of space. Different from Bangkok though is that people aren't living on the street. You might encounter some stray dogs though.

Even though Ban Krachao is still part of Bangkok, it has a different and much more relaxed atmosphere. It reminds me of a caribean island, with multicoloured houses and concrete highways, intertwining with nature. People grow a variety of fruit trees including mango, coconut, durian and bananas. Gardens are well taken care of, with a variety of flowers and plants. Inbetween homes you might find some small banana and coconut orchards.

It is a village within a city, where everyone seems to know each other and every person, native or foreign, is greeted. People are polite, a bit shy, but wiling to help and answer any questions you may have. As tourism is still up and coming in this area (it isn't even mentioned in my Lonely Planet!), there aren't a lot of tourists. You might have to rely on your hands and feet to get around, but people are willing to help, sometimes even supported by Google translate.

The second day I got up early and took a walk to Sri Nakhon Kuenkhan Park. This park is accesible by bike or on foot. In between the concrete paths you will find a reconstruction of the biodiversity that used to exist within the area. The swamp-like lakes make for picture perfect views. As it is yet to be discovered by foreign visitors, it is a very quiet place to observe the animals that live here. You might see some squirls, a variety of birds, fish, butterflies and if you're lucky even a water monitor (giant lizard).

On my way back I found a local restaurant serving Thai food. For only 50 Baht (about €1,50) I had my first pad thai of the trip. This typical thai dish is made with rice noodles, vegetables and any type of protein stir fried in a fish sauce and with ground peanuts.

Why go? If you like a relaxed athmosphere and you don't mind not having everything at arms reach (restaurants and supermarkets are scarce and you will not find a Starbucks or any other foodchain here), this is a perfect place to relax. Rent a bike, take your time, enjoy some peace and quiet. Perfect when you've just come of the plane and want to adjust to the change in climate, without the noise of the city (though at night you might hear some dogs barking).

The first pictures have been uploaded to the photo gallery.

Preparing for take off

Mon, 04 Feb 2019 13:26:40 GMT

In a couple of hours I will be boarding a plane, taking me to Bangkok, Thailand.

The last couple of weeks I've been meeting up with a lot of friends and family, wanting to meet up with me before my journey. Unfortunately I couldn't see everyone, but I received a lot of phone calls, messages and even practical gifts that I can use along the way (you know who you are and I will be writing one line a day ;-)).

A lot of people asked me which places I will be visiting. I will start in Bangkok, where I will be staying near Ban Krachao, which is also known as the green lung of Bangkok because of it's green character. After that, I will be travelling up north to Chiang Mai to see it's beautiful temples and hopefully learn how to cook proper Thai food. After that I will travel to Chiang Rai and, among other things, visit the golden triangle. This is where the borders of Thailand, Laos and Myanmar meet. After this I will cross the border over to Laos. After Laos I will visit Vietnam and Cambodia, and return to Thailand for my flight back to Amsterdam.

As you might have noticed, my itinerary is a little vague after I leave Thailand. The reason for this is that I simply do not know how I will be travelling trough these countries. I have a couple of months and will be taking my time getting from one place to another. Hopefully I will receive some tips along the way to safely deviate from the beaten track and experience some truelly amazing things.

During this journey I will be using trains and buses as much as I can. This has different reasons. It leads to places you might have missed when flying and I do have time to make unplanned stops. It is a great way to meet people making a similar journey and share travel tips. Taking a night train saves time, as you need to sleep anyway. Last but not least, it is very affordable.

In a couple of hours I will be boarding and my journey will begin. I will be arriving in Bangkok on the morning of 5 February. As you might have heared, there is a lot of smog covering this city at the moment. Though action has been taken to lower the smog levels this is a continuing issue, caused by extreme traffic pollution. As I will be staying near Ban Krachao, 'the green lung' of Bangkok, I hope the air quality will be better. I will keep you updated in the next couple of days.

It's a fact

Mon, 28 Jan 2019 18:09:11 GMT

It's a fact, soon I will be leaving Amsterdam to travel trough southeast Asia. Before I leave, I would like to share with you how this all came about.

The last couple of months I found myself in a job I was good at, but didn't particularly like. I wasn't my best person and felt I could do better. However not knowing what it is that I did want to do kept me stuck in a a place I didn't want to be in. It was time to make some changes. I didn't want to change me, I was quite happy with myself. I couldn't change the work environment I was in. The only option that was left was to change the thing I had an actual influence in. And thus I made the decision to quit my job.

It was a shock to many. Did I have another job? Did I know what I was going to do? How was I going to pay my bills? These are some of the questions I got asked. People didn't understand how I could make such a crazy decision at my age. But what I found alarming was people telling me that they understood. That it was daring, brave even. That they would if they could. These were people of my generation, struggling with life. Struggling to find a balance between careers, social life, family. Not doing the things they want to do. Keeping up appearances, pretending to be fine. People being overworked and unhappy.

I can not even put in writing the relieve I felt when I made a decision to choose for my own happines and health. I felt as if an enormous weight was lifted of my shoulders. Starting 2019 I was free to do whatever I wanted to do with my time, no obligations whatsoever. And to make the most of this free time, I decided to go travelling. Not to 'find myself', I have a good enough idea of who I am. But to enjoy the time I have,and make fantastic memories. So it's a fact. on 4 February I will starting my journey trough southeast Asia, starting with Bangkok, Thailand. If you're interested, check out my travel logs in the coming months, where I'll be sharing travel updates.