Just because you have children is no reason to swear off traveling. For the wander lustful parent, the richness of the world can be enhanced by the experiences of your own children, so long as you always consider their interests, and desires when choosing destinations and making itineraries.
The only landlocked country in Southeast Asia, Laos is a great place to take your children and yourself, because it has plenty to offer a traveling family — after all, one of its nicknames is "Land of a Million Elephants," and everybody wants to see elephants, right?
A lush and tropical country, almost 2 million foreigners visit each year, so traveling with children there won't feel like pioneer work although it is certainly one of the more off the beaten paths. You will discover it is more rustic than it's neighboring country of Thailand but that simply adds to the excitement and adventure.
For a fun time in Laos, where children and adults can enjoy their time together, head toward the following places and experiences.
Kuang Si Waterfall
Exploring and swimming are both easy to do at the Kuang Si waterfall. Get there early since most tourists arrive after 10 a.m., and up until that time, it will feel as though you're the only ones in the park. You'll need to take a tuk tuk out and back, so be sure to factor that necessity in with your budget. There are plenty of restaurants around the waterfall for whenever you get hungry, so there's no need to worry about packing enough food for you and your brood for the whole day. Ideal for kids who are good swimmers and eager to explore, even introverted and shy children will enjoy their time here, so long as you accompany them in and around the water.
Shangri Lao Expedition
Take a full day tour at Shangri Lao, where you can explore the camp with a guide on foot. Visit the veterinarians in the elephant hospital, and enjoy a meal or snack by the river. Ask questions and learn about the lives of the elephants in that region and throughout the world. The elephant ride wanders through teak forests, thick jungles and up and down hills until you and your family reach the Huay Sae Valley, where you'll hop on ponies more suited to the increasingly difficult terrain. After about half an hour of stunning views through more forests and jungles, you'll end up at the Nam Khan River, where a bamboo raft will guide you lazily back downriver to the Shangri Lao camp.
Note: I strongly suggest you do some due diligence on elephant riding. The methods used to get elephants, train them to accept riders, and the pain the baskets cause them is really enough to have you skip it. But you can still enjoy the elephants and see for yourself what their lives are like.
Vang Vieng
Another excellent tour opportunity for adults and children can be had in the small and picturesque village of Vang Vieng. The tour starts at a historical cave that Laotians used as a defense bunker against the Chinese back in the 19th century. From the cave you can see breathtaking views of the landscape and areas surrounding you, which is why it made such a helpful and formidable bunker. From the cave, you'll head out to visit a plantation and another scenic village, before enjoying a boat trip along the Nam Song River. When the sun gets higher in the afternoon, you and your family will hop on bikes for a trip through the countryside, where you'll see rice fields, caves, and small villages. A tiring but beautiful trip, this tour provides ample opportunity to see the land and learn about the history and culture of the region.
Alternatively, you can skip the tours and go it on your own. The locals are super friendly and the roads are not heavily traveled so bike, motorbike, or even walking are all great ways to get around and explore. We spent about 1 month in Vang Vieng and had the time of our lives. Rent a scooter and explore for every rice field or dirt road leads to one spectacular view, cave, or lagoon after another.
Elephant Village
One more elephant-based reason to take your family to Laos , the Elephant Village has a bit of a sullied reputation for being over-priced and touristy, but your kids will totally eat it up, so it's still worth a visit. Elephant rides are available, including riding like a mahout where you and your little ones can steer the elephants by voice and foot commands. Ride, pet, feed, learn — the elephant interaction here really is top-notch, and every now and then you'll get lucky and see a baby elephant, too. If you don't mind the expense, you can also relax in the pool and bar, too.
Note: If you are going to ride, please consider doing it like the mahouts do rather than the bulky baskets. It is easier and more familiar for the elephants that way. We rode this way in Thailand and it was an incredible experience. We researched the camps heavily in order to find one we felt rescued the elephants and treated them well but even still I am not sure we would do it again.
Cooking School
Learn to cook Laotian food with your kids at one of the cooking schools in Luang Prabang. All of the schools will give you a crash course in basic Laotian cooking, and some actually cater toward children, so they'll feel more included and have a great time. The best part is that when you're done with your class, you get to sit down and eat what you cook. Even kids who usually eschew the kitchen will love this part of your Laotian adventure and just thin of the culinary treats you can cook for your friends back home!
So, head to Laos with your wee ones in tow, and discover for yourselves why traveling the world with your children can increase every one's awareness and appreciation of a brand-new place.
The only landlocked country in Southeast Asia, Laos is a great place to take your children and yourself, because it has plenty to offer a traveling family — after all, one of its nicknames is "Land of a Million Elephants," and everybody wants to see elephants, right?
A lush and tropical country, almost 2 million foreigners visit each year, so traveling with children there won't feel like pioneer work although it is certainly one of the more off the beaten paths. You will discover it is more rustic than it's neighboring country of Thailand but that simply adds to the excitement and adventure.
For a fun time in Laos, where children and adults can enjoy their time together, head toward the following places and experiences.
Kuang Si Waterfall
Exploring and swimming are both easy to do at the Kuang Si waterfall. Get there early since most tourists arrive after 10 a.m., and up until that time, it will feel as though you're the only ones in the park. You'll need to take a tuk tuk out and back, so be sure to factor that necessity in with your budget. There are plenty of restaurants around the waterfall for whenever you get hungry, so there's no need to worry about packing enough food for you and your brood for the whole day. Ideal for kids who are good swimmers and eager to explore, even introverted and shy children will enjoy their time here, so long as you accompany them in and around the water.
Shangri Lao Expedition
Take a full day tour at Shangri Lao, where you can explore the camp with a guide on foot. Visit the veterinarians in the elephant hospital, and enjoy a meal or snack by the river. Ask questions and learn about the lives of the elephants in that region and throughout the world. The elephant ride wanders through teak forests, thick jungles and up and down hills until you and your family reach the Huay Sae Valley, where you'll hop on ponies more suited to the increasingly difficult terrain. After about half an hour of stunning views through more forests and jungles, you'll end up at the Nam Khan River, where a bamboo raft will guide you lazily back downriver to the Shangri Lao camp.
Note: I strongly suggest you do some due diligence on elephant riding. The methods used to get elephants, train them to accept riders, and the pain the baskets cause them is really enough to have you skip it. But you can still enjoy the elephants and see for yourself what their lives are like.
Vang Vieng
Another excellent tour opportunity for adults and children can be had in the small and picturesque village of Vang Vieng. The tour starts at a historical cave that Laotians used as a defense bunker against the Chinese back in the 19th century. From the cave you can see breathtaking views of the landscape and areas surrounding you, which is why it made such a helpful and formidable bunker. From the cave, you'll head out to visit a plantation and another scenic village, before enjoying a boat trip along the Nam Song River. When the sun gets higher in the afternoon, you and your family will hop on bikes for a trip through the countryside, where you'll see rice fields, caves, and small villages. A tiring but beautiful trip, this tour provides ample opportunity to see the land and learn about the history and culture of the region.
Alternatively, you can skip the tours and go it on your own. The locals are super friendly and the roads are not heavily traveled so bike, motorbike, or even walking are all great ways to get around and explore. We spent about 1 month in Vang Vieng and had the time of our lives. Rent a scooter and explore for every rice field or dirt road leads to one spectacular view, cave, or lagoon after another.
Elephant Village
One more elephant-based reason to take your family to Laos , the Elephant Village has a bit of a sullied reputation for being over-priced and touristy, but your kids will totally eat it up, so it's still worth a visit. Elephant rides are available, including riding like a mahout where you and your little ones can steer the elephants by voice and foot commands. Ride, pet, feed, learn — the elephant interaction here really is top-notch, and every now and then you'll get lucky and see a baby elephant, too. If you don't mind the expense, you can also relax in the pool and bar, too.
Note: If you are going to ride, please consider doing it like the mahouts do rather than the bulky baskets. It is easier and more familiar for the elephants that way. We rode this way in Thailand and it was an incredible experience. We researched the camps heavily in order to find one we felt rescued the elephants and treated them well but even still I am not sure we would do it again.
Cooking School
Learn to cook Laotian food with your kids at one of the cooking schools in Luang Prabang. All of the schools will give you a crash course in basic Laotian cooking, and some actually cater toward children, so they'll feel more included and have a great time. The best part is that when you're done with your class, you get to sit down and eat what you cook. Even kids who usually eschew the kitchen will love this part of your Laotian adventure and just thin of the culinary treats you can cook for your friends back home!
So, head to Laos with your wee ones in tow, and discover for yourselves why traveling the world with your children can increase every one's awareness and appreciation of a brand-new place.
Second up in our travel hotel review series are 2 of our favorite countries. We have spent a lot of time in Thailand and Malaysia this year but Cambodia and Laos are where we found adventure, peace and deep connections with the culture. It is also where we found some amazing hotels at even more amazing deals.
None of these are luxury spots, that just isn't really our style. But they were all clean, comfortable, and perfectly sufficient for a nights rest, and in some cases even more!
Cambodia
Siem Reap
Palm Village Resort $35 a night for a triple (let us squeeze in) including breakfast
Palm Village Resort, just outside the main town of Siem Reap was perhaps the loveliest place we have stayed thus far. The staff was incredibly welcoming and adored our children. We rented the triple room, which came with a double and a single bed. The room was nothing special, but it was comfortable and clean with AC, TV and a large bathroom.
The attached restaurant served a nice variety of food, even made to order for the kids. The included breakfast was large and also had a wide variety of Khmer and Western cuisine. The WIFI internet worked well in the room...most of the time!
The best part of this hotel was the location and garden filled surroundings. Set just outside town you could really get a reprieve from the hectic day touring the temples or hanging out in town. The hotel also had a large pool which was a relief from the humidity and heat of Cambodia. They also have a wonderful tuk tuk driver who was able to stick with us the entire time taking us to temples, dinner, or basically anyplace we wanted for an extremely reasonable fare.
Battambang
Battambang Lotus Hotel $23 per night including breakfast (we needed 2 rooms)
Battambang Lotus hotel is a bit obtrusive when first entering. It appears a large hotel and when you enter the furniture is large and quite imposing. Beautiful but somewhat out of place.
The rooms are lovely and again clean. Bathrooms even had a bathtub which is a nice option not offered very often in Asia. The rooms come with SAT TV, AC, and a lackluster breakfast but certainly better then nothing. The WIFI worked well when it was on but we found that it went in and out often.
The location is not the best as its not walking distance to town but on several occasions the manager of the hotel offered to take us to town to run errands and a tuk tuk costs very little if you need to go that route. There is a nice salt water pool and many areas for relaxing around the lobby.
Phnom Penh
Cyclo $40 per night suite
Cyclo was definitely the coolest room set up we've had so far. For $40 we had a nice little living room area, refrigerator, large bathroom with tub, a bedroom and a airy balcony. Upstairs, in a loft type area, we also had another bedroom and small bathroom. It was a fun set up for the kids but admittedly the beds were really hard! The WIFI worked well throughout the room. We had a different a room upstairs at one point and the internet did not function as well so try and get a lower floor room if that is important to you.
They offer many room types to fit every need. The property also has a nice French themed restaurant, large hang out area on the roof complete with a huge jacuzzi, an Xbox and a pool table. The location was great, near a mall and lots of cool little side streets to explore.
Sihanoukeville
Beach Road Hotel $20 a night (2 rooms)
Sihanoukeville is FULL of inexpensive hotels. We chose Beach Road as it was centrally located and one of the cheapest with AC and a pool that we could find. The rooms were clean, spacious, and the WIFI worked great. The rooms we had came with SAT TV and a refrigerator, always nice additions.
The location was good and bad. The good; a spa and a movie theater were attached to the hotel, the restaurant was large, comfy and had a nice variety of food and a pool table, and the beach was a short walk down the road. There was also a nice pool but it didn't seem very clean by the end of our stay. The chlorine level simply rose each week. The bad; that would have to be the large nightclub attached to the back end of our room. The music blared until 2am, not an issue for us really but for some I know this would be a deal breaker.
We got a 30% discount for staying for one month. This made our cost $28/night for two large rooms.
Laos
Vientianne
Suksavanh River 2 Hotel $30 a night, family room (they let us squeeze in), breakfast included
I knew when I was in the capital of Laos I wanted to be on the river. Most of the hotels were outside our price bracket until I stumbled upon the Suksavanh. It is in a perfect location, right across the street from the Mekong River and an easy walk to loads of great restaurants and a beautiful and large playground.
The rooms were nothing special but they were clean, had 2 large comfortable beds, SAT TV, solid WIFI, and a fridge. The restaurant onsite provided a nice breakfast and the staff was really great, always going above and beyond to help. My 5-year-old was quite the hit! There is no pool but for a small fee the hotel next door will let you swim all day.
Vang Vieng
Laos Haven Hotel $21 a night including breakfast, for a triple room
Vang Vieng is one of our favorite spots we have traveled to so far. Part of why we loved it so much was the hotel. It was not fancy, but it was inexpensive and perfect for what we needed. The only downside was the internet, it was a very weak signal and really why we left after 3 weeks. But that being said, none of the hotels seemed to have good WIFI, maybe something to do with the stunning limestone cliffs surrounding the town. Maybe the connection has improved since our visit. For a more in depth look check out this video .
The room was basic but clean and the owners became like family after the first couple of days. The breakfast was amazing and the food throughout the day was even better. We squeezed into one room and they didn't mind at all, even gave us all breakfast free of charge. Perhaps the best part was the location. It is sort of a party town and can get loud in the evenings. Laos Haven is set at the far end of of the strip so it was quiet at night yet still close enough to easily walk to everything.
After being on the road for over a year we have figured out what works and what doesn't when looking for accomodations. First of all, we like to book our hotels slightly in advance, in order to avoid the whole, traipsing through town with 3 kids and tons of luggage deal. We also only book 1-2 nights in case we don't like it and want to move on! There are loads of great sites when looking to book a hotel like agoda, booking, or hostelbookers.
Sometimes though we want more then a hotel! Wimdu is one site where we go to find affordable apartments and unique lodging opportunities. Sometimes hotel living can get to us and having a kitchen to cook familiar foods in and more space to spread out in is just the cure to fix our hotel funk! If living in hotels is just not working try and branch out to a different living environment and see if that helps!
None of these are luxury spots, that just isn't really our style. But they were all clean, comfortable, and perfectly sufficient for a nights rest, and in some cases even more!
Cambodia
Siem Reap
Palm Village Resort, just outside the main town of Siem Reap was perhaps the loveliest place we have stayed thus far. The staff was incredibly welcoming and adored our children. We rented the triple room, which came with a double and a single bed. The room was nothing special, but it was comfortable and clean with AC, TV and a large bathroom.
The attached restaurant served a nice variety of food, even made to order for the kids. The included breakfast was large and also had a wide variety of Khmer and Western cuisine. The WIFI internet worked well in the room...most of the time!
The best part of this hotel was the location and garden filled surroundings. Set just outside town you could really get a reprieve from the hectic day touring the temples or hanging out in town. The hotel also had a large pool which was a relief from the humidity and heat of Cambodia. They also have a wonderful tuk tuk driver who was able to stick with us the entire time taking us to temples, dinner, or basically anyplace we wanted for an extremely reasonable fare.
Battambang
Battambang Lotus Hotel $23 per night including breakfast (we needed 2 rooms)Battambang Lotus hotel is a bit obtrusive when first entering. It appears a large hotel and when you enter the furniture is large and quite imposing. Beautiful but somewhat out of place.
The rooms are lovely and again clean. Bathrooms even had a bathtub which is a nice option not offered very often in Asia. The rooms come with SAT TV, AC, and a lackluster breakfast but certainly better then nothing. The WIFI worked well when it was on but we found that it went in and out often.
The location is not the best as its not walking distance to town but on several occasions the manager of the hotel offered to take us to town to run errands and a tuk tuk costs very little if you need to go that route. There is a nice salt water pool and many areas for relaxing around the lobby.
Phnom Penh
Cyclo $40 per night suiteCyclo was definitely the coolest room set up we've had so far. For $40 we had a nice little living room area, refrigerator, large bathroom with tub, a bedroom and a airy balcony. Upstairs, in a loft type area, we also had another bedroom and small bathroom. It was a fun set up for the kids but admittedly the beds were really hard! The WIFI worked well throughout the room. We had a different a room upstairs at one point and the internet did not function as well so try and get a lower floor room if that is important to you.
They offer many room types to fit every need. The property also has a nice French themed restaurant, large hang out area on the roof complete with a huge jacuzzi, an Xbox and a pool table. The location was great, near a mall and lots of cool little side streets to explore.
Sihanoukeville
Sihanoukeville is FULL of inexpensive hotels. We chose Beach Road as it was centrally located and one of the cheapest with AC and a pool that we could find. The rooms were clean, spacious, and the WIFI worked great. The rooms we had came with SAT TV and a refrigerator, always nice additions.
The location was good and bad. The good; a spa and a movie theater were attached to the hotel, the restaurant was large, comfy and had a nice variety of food and a pool table, and the beach was a short walk down the road. There was also a nice pool but it didn't seem very clean by the end of our stay. The chlorine level simply rose each week. The bad; that would have to be the large nightclub attached to the back end of our room. The music blared until 2am, not an issue for us really but for some I know this would be a deal breaker.
We got a 30% discount for staying for one month. This made our cost $28/night for two large rooms.
Laos
Vientianne
I knew when I was in the capital of Laos I wanted to be on the river. Most of the hotels were outside our price bracket until I stumbled upon the Suksavanh. It is in a perfect location, right across the street from the Mekong River and an easy walk to loads of great restaurants and a beautiful and large playground.
The rooms were nothing special but they were clean, had 2 large comfortable beds, SAT TV, solid WIFI, and a fridge. The restaurant onsite provided a nice breakfast and the staff was really great, always going above and beyond to help. My 5-year-old was quite the hit! There is no pool but for a small fee the hotel next door will let you swim all day.
Vang Vieng
Laos Haven Hotel $21 a night including breakfast, for a triple room Vang Vieng is one of our favorite spots we have traveled to so far. Part of why we loved it so much was the hotel. It was not fancy, but it was inexpensive and perfect for what we needed. The only downside was the internet, it was a very weak signal and really why we left after 3 weeks. But that being said, none of the hotels seemed to have good WIFI, maybe something to do with the stunning limestone cliffs surrounding the town. Maybe the connection has improved since our visit. For a more in depth look check out this video .
The room was basic but clean and the owners became like family after the first couple of days. The breakfast was amazing and the food throughout the day was even better. We squeezed into one room and they didn't mind at all, even gave us all breakfast free of charge. Perhaps the best part was the location. It is sort of a party town and can get loud in the evenings. Laos Haven is set at the far end of of the strip so it was quiet at night yet still close enough to easily walk to everything.
After being on the road for over a year we have figured out what works and what doesn't when looking for accomodations. First of all, we like to book our hotels slightly in advance, in order to avoid the whole, traipsing through town with 3 kids and tons of luggage deal. We also only book 1-2 nights in case we don't like it and want to move on! There are loads of great sites when looking to book a hotel like agoda, booking, or hostelbookers.
Sometimes though we want more then a hotel! Wimdu is one site where we go to find affordable apartments and unique lodging opportunities. Sometimes hotel living can get to us and having a kitchen to cook familiar foods in and more space to spread out in is just the cure to fix our hotel funk! If living in hotels is just not working try and branch out to a different living environment and see if that helps!
As 2012 draws to a close I have been thinking back through our year traveling around the world! I sit here in wild wonder at where we have been, who we have met, and the experiences we have all had! Instead of the run of the mill photo round up of the year I decided to start annual awards. Every year will feature different categories and all will highlight the best of our year!
So here it is; our 2012 best of awards!
Best historical landmark
No question at all on this one. Angkor Wat would place first in a lot of different categories for travel. It is enormous, stunningly beautiful, historical and a must see on anyone’s itinerary in Asia. Easily our pick for first place. We spent 3 days exploring all the temples and I wish it could have been more. Be sure to do the sunrise morning, it is worth the 4am wake up, and it takes a lot for the night owl in me to admit that.
A close second for us was also a UNESCO heritage site. Ayutthaya, the former capital of Siam, is rich in history and full of stunning temples and ruins. They suffered a devastating blow during the floods in 2011, so supporting the town through tourism is a wonderful benefit to them. It is a landmark town worthwhile of the 1 hour train ride North from Bangkok. Warning: It is hot as hell there or at least it was in March so a room with AC is a must!
Best amusement park
We are not huge amusement park goers but this year we saw quite a few. Without a doubt Universal Studios in Singapore takes first place. We spent the entire day going on roller coasters, 4D rides, watching shows, and so much more. It was definitely the highlight of our time in Singapore. Quick tip though; get the fast pass so you can skirt the lines, with a 5 year old that was a life saver!
Runner up would have to be the Lost World of Tambun in Ipoh, Malaysia. Not anything like Universal but it had a charm of its own. We spent the entire day enjoying the waterpark, tiger feeding, amusement rides, hot springs, copper panning, and small Animal Park. The Lost World is really the perfect size park as even though it offered many different things to do, we never felt overwhelmed.
Best snorkelling spot
Snorkelling is one of my favorite activities. It takes a special kind of beach and ocean water to really make it stand out. One of the best places I have ever snorkelled and certainly the best this year was in the Perhentian Islands off the East coast of Malaysia. Beautiful secluded beaches and a reef directly offshore, so even the little guys can snorkel with no problems, made this an easy pick!
Koh Phi Phi Island in Thailand comes up in second place. The beach made famous by the movie “The Beach”, is absolutely stunning. An added benefit to the snorkelling was that we got to swim with some sharks while we were there. The noise and air pollution that is overrunning this beautiful spot took it out of first place for us though. The reef is slowly dying and it is hard to really fall in love with a beach when you can hardly find it behind all the tourist boats.
Best cave
One of the best days on our entire journey so far was in a cave. Hands down the best cave was an unmarked cave in a village near Vang Vieng, Laos. The boys helped each other, pushed me way outside my comfort zone, and we even got to swim deep inside this remarkable Earth cavity.
A close second was a day we spent up in Northern Thailand in Tham Lod cave. Roughly 2 hours North of Pai, it was a beautiful motor bike drive up, where we were met with one of the most astounding caves I have ever seen. A river runs slowly through this massive cavern so you are able to take a bamboo canoe to navigate to various on /off points. It is definitely worth a day trip north!
Best sign
One day I will do an entire post just on the funny signs we come across. For now though I leave you with 2 of my favorites from this year. The first one is a menu choice from our hotel in Battambang where apparently they serve up your friends rather than French fries to go along with your meal. During our stay they also were convinced that apple juice was the proper name for ketchup. Confusion ruled the meals, in a fun way!
Bathroom signs and bathrooms themselves are always something interesting in Asia. TP or no, squat toilet or western, you never know what you will get. This instructive sign was found in Chiang Mai, Thailand and the faces in the sign as well as the need to explain this process just cracked us up!
Best hawker stall/ street food
I’ll split this one up. Best hawker market food we have had is Long Beach in Penang. Hawker markets are basically street food that is set up all under one roof. They offer everything from Chinese food, Satay, Western food, soups, roti, etc. It is fast, cheap, and mostly delicious. You can find hawker markets all over Penang but in our experience Long Beach in Batu Ferringhi was the best.
For street food Thailand wins this hands down. From Bangkok to Chiang Mai the food is incredibly cheap and wonderfully flavorful. One woman in particular is our absolute favourite. She has her stand inside the temple grounds for the weekend markets just down the main street from the Tae Pae gate. She makes one dish only, Pad Thai, and it is the best we have had anyplace. If you get a chance head down to see her…oh and you can get a $3 foot massage while you eat it…from a different lady of course
Most used phrase
When you travel all the time in strange and exotic locations things just do not always go the way you expect. Actually what we have learned is to not really expect anything and just live in the moment and go with the flow. But it is from our, let’s say, misadventures that our most used phrases come from.
“This is going to make a great story…someday!” Used most often during bus travel but not exclusively reserved for those trips, this phrase sees a lot of action in our family and really helps us through the less exotic parts of full time travel.
“What is going on here”, or “what is this all about”, comes out often as well. Asia seems to be the capital of random things put together and it is often times impossible to decipher the connection…hence the phrase!
Best train ride
Since starting our trip we have taken countless train journeys. Some were short and others quite long but they have all been comfortable, exciting, and fun! The first place spot is held by a train unlike any others. In Battambang, Cambodia, for a very reasonable rate you can ride on the bamboo railway. A creative way to make use of the railroad after it was ruined for actual trains in the 1970’s. Locals transport goods and run bamboo train tours out to a local brick factory. It was exhilarating as we took off from the “station” and quickly realized how fast this thing could really go. Even more exciting when you realize it’s only 1 track for 2 way traffic…have no fear you simply pay attention and disassemble the train when another train carrying more passengers comes by.
In second place is one ride from Bangkok to Chiang Mai. We have taken this route several times over the year but this particular train ride was the most fun we have had on a train. It was just my oldest son and I and after seeing that our seats were not so lovely we decided to find the restaurant car. To our delight it turned into a nightclub after 8pm and we ate, danced, drank, and had a great time meeting other travellers.
Best sunset
Not much to say on this category. We have seen a lot of sunsets over the year and even more sunrises than ever before in my life. Without a doubt Penang takes first place in this category. We were lucky enough to have a view of the sunset over the ocean every single day for months. The only problem was picking my favourite sunset photo.
Coming in as runner up has to be the sunset over the Mekong River in Vientianne, Laos. Loads of people converge on the steps down to the river to watch in amazement as Mother Nature paints a sunset night after night. It is incredibly peaceful to sit among locals and watch.
Best flash mob
No award ceremony for 2012 would be complete without at least 1 mention of Gangnum style, the K-pop sensation that seemingly has been sweeping the world over. Now I have not actually seen the real video, which has topped over 1 billion views on YouTube but I am still familiar with the song. As my 9 year old and I made a quick stop into the Gurney mall in Penang, we heard the music begin to blare and made our way to the center court of the mall to find a full blown flash mob. I have always wanted to see or be in one so this was such a treat. We watched, we videotaped, and here we are sharing the video of the best flash mob we saw this year.
In second place, yes we actually saw 2 flash mobs this year, is a Christmas flash mob that we saw in a small mall on Langkawi Island, Malaysia. At a time when I was not feeling very much in the Christmas spirit it really brought tears to my eyes. I was at the mall to work so unfortunately did not have a camera and didn’t capture it.
Best Lord of the Flies moment
Two separate times this year I or another mom has remarked that what we were watching was a true Lord of the Flies moment. First place goes to my son and his friend, who within minutes of landing on Monkey Beach spotted, captured, killed, cooked, and ate a humungous crab. I do not like crab usually but we all had a taste and something about the freshness made it scrumptious.
While tubing down a river in Laos we came across several locals doing what they do every day; watering their buffalo, washing their clothes, and fishing. But the thing that struck us as a LOTF moment was when we came across these young boys in their underpants and spears trying to catch an evening meal.
Best beach
Best beach seemed a category we just had to include since we have spent the majority of the year on a beach. This was a hard one to choose but when looking at the beauty, fun and resources of the area the first place award has to go to Koh Samet in Thailand. 3 hours to the East of Bangkok and set in the gulf of Thailand this small island packed a huge punch of fun. Beautiful beach, food vendors and massages available everywhere, restaurants on the beach complete with cushions for maximum comfort, and best of all daily fireworks, nightclubs, and amazing fire shows. Needless to say, we had a great time!
Second place goes to the Perhentian Islands, which also snagged an award for best snorkelling. This Malaysia Island set is serene, striking, and the most relaxing place we have been so far. Although there are pretty much only tourists there it is never busy or overrun and most of the island doesn’t even use electricity for the majority of the day. We had a wonderful stay and would not hesitate to go back.
Best festival
Unquestionably the winner here is the Yi Peng festival that we travelled 100 hours to see! It was beautiful, peaceful, magical, and downright life changing. Anytime you are even remotely in the area be sure to head up to Chiang Mai, Thailand and partake in this amazing festival. It was probably the best thing I did the entire year!
Runner up in the category is the Chinese New Year celebration also in Chiang Mai, Thailand. There were acrobats, dragons, and a parade that wasn’t too overwhelming but still fun. Nothing really amazing but we had a great morning celebrating!
Most stunning trees
Trees are possibly the most enchanting things on the planet in my opinion. They shock and amaze me on a regular basis. They are also the thing that pictures just cannot seem to capture. The magic and grandeur is just lost and you really need to be there to get the full feeling. First place award for trees goes to the silk cotton trees that envelope the ruins at Ta Prohm in Angkor Wat. This Cambodian wonder truly needs to be seen to be believed.
The runner up was tough to choose but in the interest of showing something different I decided to choose artificial trees. The Avatar like trees in the Gardens by the Bay in Singapore will amaze you. Take my advice and be sure to head there next time you are in Singapore. They are directly across the street from the Marina Bay Sands making an evening visit breath taking!
Grossest meat on a stick
There is no shortage of gross things that Asians eat on a stick. They do not waste anything and we have seen embryos, baby chicks, tarantulas, and numerous types of bugs. But the winner of this category has to be the bats on sticks that we saw in Laos. Maybe if it was just the meat it would not have been so unthinkable to eat but when you could still see the hair, teeth, and claws it, well, it takes the place as winner of grossest food on a stick!
A close second, and this was a tough choice, has to be the snakes on the stick that we saw in Cambodia. Do I really need to say more here….just look at the picture! Yuck!
Best animal encounter
We have enjoyed a lot of amazing animal encounters this year but 2 stand out quite a bit as the level of interaction was not something you would ever find in the US. First place goes to our time with the elephants in Pai, Thailand. Frolicking in the water, feeding them and just being in their presence in such a close and intimate way was just spectacular!
Second place is our time spent at the Orangutan Island in Bukit Merah, Malaysia. It is a rehab facility that really cares for and tries to reintegrate the primates back to their wild habitat on Borneo. We could have stayed for hours watching them play but our favourite part was watching the different personalities in the toddlers and pre-schoolers.
Most life changing/touching experience
The award for this category goes, hands down to the killing fields in Cambodia. You cannot walk away from that place with the same feelings about humanity as you have when walking in. It is done beautifully and respectfully but was without a doubt the hardest day I have spent on the journey. I would NOT recommend it for children under 12 as it is very deep subject matter and a level of respect and quiet needs to be displayed.
Second place goes to the Yi Peng lantern festival, where for a brief moment we actually felt the negativity of the planet rise to the skies and felt a magical Peace overcome us. As I said before if you are ever in the Thailand area in November this is a must see!
Best reference to my old home, Costa Rica
An extremely popular saying in Costa Rica is Pura Vida, it is said throughout the Spanish community but in Costa Rica it is everything from a way of life to a greeting! We have actually run into this saying several times since we have been in Asia. Our first month was spent in Chiang Mai. We explored every inch of that city and in our travelling around we came across the words “Pura Vida” spray painted on a wall. We were shocked and delighted, took many pictures, and now consider it an award winner. It is a random category, but a winner none the less.
In Pai, Thailand we also came across the words Pura Vida. There is a hotel overlooking a beautiful rice paddy called Pura Vida. The property is stunning and really seems to fit the saying, pure life!
Most beautiful Mosque
In the 12 months of 2012 we spent over half that time in countries that are predominantly Muslim. That has availed us numerous opportunities to visit Mosques. The Blue Mosque in Shah Alam, outside Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia is the winner for us. It was so much larger than we had been expecting and absolutely stunning. We spent 2 hours there listening to the Iman, and oohing and ahhing at the splendor and grandeur of the walls and floors around us. Word of warning; be sure to pay attention to exactly where you take your shoes off upon entering. The Mosque is so huge that we actually lost our shoes for over an hour.
Our runner up is the Masjid Kapitan Keling, the oldest Mosque in Penang. Georgetown Penang is a UNESCO world heritage site and there is good reason for this distinction. It is a wonderful place to soak in religion, history, and culture and a perfect spot to enjoy a day or 2. The Keling Mosque is beautiful and worth stopping by to see. There is usually a guide there to show you around and explain things, which is helpful as it is sometimes difficult to know the right way to behave in a new religious environment. Do not go on Fridays, the high prayer day.
Best use of Gold
We have seen a lot of amazing structures and figures made out of gold over the last year so this was also a hard category to pick the two winners for. In first place is a magnificent golden Buddha statue housed at the Burmese Buddhist temple in Penang, Malaysia. We were shocked at how beautiful the entire grounds were but the Buddha and the temple it is housed in are simply magnificent.
A close runner up is one of Chiang Mai’s largest attractions. On Doi Suthep is a stunning and spiritual temple. The centrepiece of the temple grounds is a huge golden chedi flanked by countless Buddha statues also golden. It is special chedi where you will find people circling in meditative contemplation. It was extremely spiritual and peaceful to watch.
Most Creative way to pump gas
Our last category seems random but honestly we have seen so many cool and downright dangerous ways to pump gas in Asia. Our first place winner is insane, basically a metal drum with a hand crank on it. This definitely wouldn't pass any safety standards in the US but hey it works so why not! Not sure about the shower cap but I bet its a cheap fix for something!
The runner up is one of the coolest gas pumps ever. It is located in Pai, Thailand and I am pretty sure I have never seen it before. A freestanding station perfect for motorbikes! I never saw a car at it so not sure if they are allowed or not. Since most people get around in Northern Thailnd by motorbike its perfect. Exploring around Pai is really spread out so its geat to have these spread throughout the countryside. The best part is the cheering and clapping that commences through a loudspeaker once your gas has been pumped...we felt like celebrities:)
Start to finish this has been an amazing year, our first of nonstop travel. We visited 5 countries, 23 destination towns, and experienced countless outings. It was a wonderful year and we cannot wait to see what the New Year brings.
What are your travel plans for the 2013??
So here it is; our 2012 best of awards!
Best historical landmark
No question at all on this one. Angkor Wat would place first in a lot of different categories for travel. It is enormous, stunningly beautiful, historical and a must see on anyone’s itinerary in Asia. Easily our pick for first place. We spent 3 days exploring all the temples and I wish it could have been more. Be sure to do the sunrise morning, it is worth the 4am wake up, and it takes a lot for the night owl in me to admit that.
A close second for us was also a UNESCO heritage site. Ayutthaya, the former capital of Siam, is rich in history and full of stunning temples and ruins. They suffered a devastating blow during the floods in 2011, so supporting the town through tourism is a wonderful benefit to them. It is a landmark town worthwhile of the 1 hour train ride North from Bangkok. Warning: It is hot as hell there or at least it was in March so a room with AC is a must!
Best amusement park
We are not huge amusement park goers but this year we saw quite a few. Without a doubt Universal Studios in Singapore takes first place. We spent the entire day going on roller coasters, 4D rides, watching shows, and so much more. It was definitely the highlight of our time in Singapore. Quick tip though; get the fast pass so you can skirt the lines, with a 5 year old that was a life saver!
Runner up would have to be the Lost World of Tambun in Ipoh, Malaysia. Not anything like Universal but it had a charm of its own. We spent the entire day enjoying the waterpark, tiger feeding, amusement rides, hot springs, copper panning, and small Animal Park. The Lost World is really the perfect size park as even though it offered many different things to do, we never felt overwhelmed.
Best snorkelling spot
Snorkelling is one of my favorite activities. It takes a special kind of beach and ocean water to really make it stand out. One of the best places I have ever snorkelled and certainly the best this year was in the Perhentian Islands off the East coast of Malaysia. Beautiful secluded beaches and a reef directly offshore, so even the little guys can snorkel with no problems, made this an easy pick!
Koh Phi Phi Island in Thailand comes up in second place. The beach made famous by the movie “The Beach”, is absolutely stunning. An added benefit to the snorkelling was that we got to swim with some sharks while we were there. The noise and air pollution that is overrunning this beautiful spot took it out of first place for us though. The reef is slowly dying and it is hard to really fall in love with a beach when you can hardly find it behind all the tourist boats.
Best cave
One of the best days on our entire journey so far was in a cave. Hands down the best cave was an unmarked cave in a village near Vang Vieng, Laos. The boys helped each other, pushed me way outside my comfort zone, and we even got to swim deep inside this remarkable Earth cavity.
A close second was a day we spent up in Northern Thailand in Tham Lod cave. Roughly 2 hours North of Pai, it was a beautiful motor bike drive up, where we were met with one of the most astounding caves I have ever seen. A river runs slowly through this massive cavern so you are able to take a bamboo canoe to navigate to various on /off points. It is definitely worth a day trip north!
Best sign
One day I will do an entire post just on the funny signs we come across. For now though I leave you with 2 of my favorites from this year. The first one is a menu choice from our hotel in Battambang where apparently they serve up your friends rather than French fries to go along with your meal. During our stay they also were convinced that apple juice was the proper name for ketchup. Confusion ruled the meals, in a fun way!
Bathroom signs and bathrooms themselves are always something interesting in Asia. TP or no, squat toilet or western, you never know what you will get. This instructive sign was found in Chiang Mai, Thailand and the faces in the sign as well as the need to explain this process just cracked us up!
Best hawker stall/ street food
I’ll split this one up. Best hawker market food we have had is Long Beach in Penang. Hawker markets are basically street food that is set up all under one roof. They offer everything from Chinese food, Satay, Western food, soups, roti, etc. It is fast, cheap, and mostly delicious. You can find hawker markets all over Penang but in our experience Long Beach in Batu Ferringhi was the best.
For street food Thailand wins this hands down. From Bangkok to Chiang Mai the food is incredibly cheap and wonderfully flavorful. One woman in particular is our absolute favourite. She has her stand inside the temple grounds for the weekend markets just down the main street from the Tae Pae gate. She makes one dish only, Pad Thai, and it is the best we have had anyplace. If you get a chance head down to see her…oh and you can get a $3 foot massage while you eat it…from a different lady of course
Most used phrase
When you travel all the time in strange and exotic locations things just do not always go the way you expect. Actually what we have learned is to not really expect anything and just live in the moment and go with the flow. But it is from our, let’s say, misadventures that our most used phrases come from.
“This is going to make a great story…someday!” Used most often during bus travel but not exclusively reserved for those trips, this phrase sees a lot of action in our family and really helps us through the less exotic parts of full time travel.
“What is going on here”, or “what is this all about”, comes out often as well. Asia seems to be the capital of random things put together and it is often times impossible to decipher the connection…hence the phrase!
Best train ride
Since starting our trip we have taken countless train journeys. Some were short and others quite long but they have all been comfortable, exciting, and fun! The first place spot is held by a train unlike any others. In Battambang, Cambodia, for a very reasonable rate you can ride on the bamboo railway. A creative way to make use of the railroad after it was ruined for actual trains in the 1970’s. Locals transport goods and run bamboo train tours out to a local brick factory. It was exhilarating as we took off from the “station” and quickly realized how fast this thing could really go. Even more exciting when you realize it’s only 1 track for 2 way traffic…have no fear you simply pay attention and disassemble the train when another train carrying more passengers comes by.
In second place is one ride from Bangkok to Chiang Mai. We have taken this route several times over the year but this particular train ride was the most fun we have had on a train. It was just my oldest son and I and after seeing that our seats were not so lovely we decided to find the restaurant car. To our delight it turned into a nightclub after 8pm and we ate, danced, drank, and had a great time meeting other travellers.
Best sunset
Not much to say on this category. We have seen a lot of sunsets over the year and even more sunrises than ever before in my life. Without a doubt Penang takes first place in this category. We were lucky enough to have a view of the sunset over the ocean every single day for months. The only problem was picking my favourite sunset photo.
Coming in as runner up has to be the sunset over the Mekong River in Vientianne, Laos. Loads of people converge on the steps down to the river to watch in amazement as Mother Nature paints a sunset night after night. It is incredibly peaceful to sit among locals and watch.
Best flash mob
No award ceremony for 2012 would be complete without at least 1 mention of Gangnum style, the K-pop sensation that seemingly has been sweeping the world over. Now I have not actually seen the real video, which has topped over 1 billion views on YouTube but I am still familiar with the song. As my 9 year old and I made a quick stop into the Gurney mall in Penang, we heard the music begin to blare and made our way to the center court of the mall to find a full blown flash mob. I have always wanted to see or be in one so this was such a treat. We watched, we videotaped, and here we are sharing the video of the best flash mob we saw this year.
In second place, yes we actually saw 2 flash mobs this year, is a Christmas flash mob that we saw in a small mall on Langkawi Island, Malaysia. At a time when I was not feeling very much in the Christmas spirit it really brought tears to my eyes. I was at the mall to work so unfortunately did not have a camera and didn’t capture it.
Best Lord of the Flies moment
Two separate times this year I or another mom has remarked that what we were watching was a true Lord of the Flies moment. First place goes to my son and his friend, who within minutes of landing on Monkey Beach spotted, captured, killed, cooked, and ate a humungous crab. I do not like crab usually but we all had a taste and something about the freshness made it scrumptious.
While tubing down a river in Laos we came across several locals doing what they do every day; watering their buffalo, washing their clothes, and fishing. But the thing that struck us as a LOTF moment was when we came across these young boys in their underpants and spears trying to catch an evening meal.
Best beach
Best beach seemed a category we just had to include since we have spent the majority of the year on a beach. This was a hard one to choose but when looking at the beauty, fun and resources of the area the first place award has to go to Koh Samet in Thailand. 3 hours to the East of Bangkok and set in the gulf of Thailand this small island packed a huge punch of fun. Beautiful beach, food vendors and massages available everywhere, restaurants on the beach complete with cushions for maximum comfort, and best of all daily fireworks, nightclubs, and amazing fire shows. Needless to say, we had a great time!
Second place goes to the Perhentian Islands, which also snagged an award for best snorkelling. This Malaysia Island set is serene, striking, and the most relaxing place we have been so far. Although there are pretty much only tourists there it is never busy or overrun and most of the island doesn’t even use electricity for the majority of the day. We had a wonderful stay and would not hesitate to go back.
Best festival
Unquestionably the winner here is the Yi Peng festival that we travelled 100 hours to see! It was beautiful, peaceful, magical, and downright life changing. Anytime you are even remotely in the area be sure to head up to Chiang Mai, Thailand and partake in this amazing festival. It was probably the best thing I did the entire year!
Runner up in the category is the Chinese New Year celebration also in Chiang Mai, Thailand. There were acrobats, dragons, and a parade that wasn’t too overwhelming but still fun. Nothing really amazing but we had a great morning celebrating!
Most stunning trees
Trees are possibly the most enchanting things on the planet in my opinion. They shock and amaze me on a regular basis. They are also the thing that pictures just cannot seem to capture. The magic and grandeur is just lost and you really need to be there to get the full feeling. First place award for trees goes to the silk cotton trees that envelope the ruins at Ta Prohm in Angkor Wat. This Cambodian wonder truly needs to be seen to be believed.
The runner up was tough to choose but in the interest of showing something different I decided to choose artificial trees. The Avatar like trees in the Gardens by the Bay in Singapore will amaze you. Take my advice and be sure to head there next time you are in Singapore. They are directly across the street from the Marina Bay Sands making an evening visit breath taking!
Grossest meat on a stick
There is no shortage of gross things that Asians eat on a stick. They do not waste anything and we have seen embryos, baby chicks, tarantulas, and numerous types of bugs. But the winner of this category has to be the bats on sticks that we saw in Laos. Maybe if it was just the meat it would not have been so unthinkable to eat but when you could still see the hair, teeth, and claws it, well, it takes the place as winner of grossest food on a stick!
A close second, and this was a tough choice, has to be the snakes on the stick that we saw in Cambodia. Do I really need to say more here….just look at the picture! Yuck!
Best animal encounter
We have enjoyed a lot of amazing animal encounters this year but 2 stand out quite a bit as the level of interaction was not something you would ever find in the US. First place goes to our time with the elephants in Pai, Thailand. Frolicking in the water, feeding them and just being in their presence in such a close and intimate way was just spectacular!
Second place is our time spent at the Orangutan Island in Bukit Merah, Malaysia. It is a rehab facility that really cares for and tries to reintegrate the primates back to their wild habitat on Borneo. We could have stayed for hours watching them play but our favourite part was watching the different personalities in the toddlers and pre-schoolers.
Most life changing/touching experience
The award for this category goes, hands down to the killing fields in Cambodia. You cannot walk away from that place with the same feelings about humanity as you have when walking in. It is done beautifully and respectfully but was without a doubt the hardest day I have spent on the journey. I would NOT recommend it for children under 12 as it is very deep subject matter and a level of respect and quiet needs to be displayed.
Second place goes to the Yi Peng lantern festival, where for a brief moment we actually felt the negativity of the planet rise to the skies and felt a magical Peace overcome us. As I said before if you are ever in the Thailand area in November this is a must see!
Best reference to my old home, Costa Rica
An extremely popular saying in Costa Rica is Pura Vida, it is said throughout the Spanish community but in Costa Rica it is everything from a way of life to a greeting! We have actually run into this saying several times since we have been in Asia. Our first month was spent in Chiang Mai. We explored every inch of that city and in our travelling around we came across the words “Pura Vida” spray painted on a wall. We were shocked and delighted, took many pictures, and now consider it an award winner. It is a random category, but a winner none the less.
In Pai, Thailand we also came across the words Pura Vida. There is a hotel overlooking a beautiful rice paddy called Pura Vida. The property is stunning and really seems to fit the saying, pure life!
Most beautiful Mosque
In the 12 months of 2012 we spent over half that time in countries that are predominantly Muslim. That has availed us numerous opportunities to visit Mosques. The Blue Mosque in Shah Alam, outside Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia is the winner for us. It was so much larger than we had been expecting and absolutely stunning. We spent 2 hours there listening to the Iman, and oohing and ahhing at the splendor and grandeur of the walls and floors around us. Word of warning; be sure to pay attention to exactly where you take your shoes off upon entering. The Mosque is so huge that we actually lost our shoes for over an hour.
Our runner up is the Masjid Kapitan Keling, the oldest Mosque in Penang. Georgetown Penang is a UNESCO world heritage site and there is good reason for this distinction. It is a wonderful place to soak in religion, history, and culture and a perfect spot to enjoy a day or 2. The Keling Mosque is beautiful and worth stopping by to see. There is usually a guide there to show you around and explain things, which is helpful as it is sometimes difficult to know the right way to behave in a new religious environment. Do not go on Fridays, the high prayer day.
Best use of Gold
We have seen a lot of amazing structures and figures made out of gold over the last year so this was also a hard category to pick the two winners for. In first place is a magnificent golden Buddha statue housed at the Burmese Buddhist temple in Penang, Malaysia. We were shocked at how beautiful the entire grounds were but the Buddha and the temple it is housed in are simply magnificent.
A close runner up is one of Chiang Mai’s largest attractions. On Doi Suthep is a stunning and spiritual temple. The centrepiece of the temple grounds is a huge golden chedi flanked by countless Buddha statues also golden. It is special chedi where you will find people circling in meditative contemplation. It was extremely spiritual and peaceful to watch.
Most Creative way to pump gas
Our last category seems random but honestly we have seen so many cool and downright dangerous ways to pump gas in Asia. Our first place winner is insane, basically a metal drum with a hand crank on it. This definitely wouldn't pass any safety standards in the US but hey it works so why not! Not sure about the shower cap but I bet its a cheap fix for something!
The runner up is one of the coolest gas pumps ever. It is located in Pai, Thailand and I am pretty sure I have never seen it before. A freestanding station perfect for motorbikes! I never saw a car at it so not sure if they are allowed or not. Since most people get around in Northern Thailnd by motorbike its perfect. Exploring around Pai is really spread out so its geat to have these spread throughout the countryside. The best part is the cheering and clapping that commences through a loudspeaker once your gas has been pumped...we felt like celebrities:)
Start to finish this has been an amazing year, our first of nonstop travel. We visited 5 countries, 23 destination towns, and experienced countless outings. It was a wonderful year and we cannot wait to see what the New Year brings.
Happy New Year!
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| click to enlarge |
I decided to leave my youngest at home as he is not a strong swimmer yet. My 12-year-old son is a better swimmer than I, and they had life jackets available at the rental office for my 8-year-old, free of charge. So I insisted on that for him. We decided to go at 10am, before the hardcore drinkers were even awake. This turned out to be a really good decision!
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| Some of the view along the way |
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| The flying fox that reportedly led to quite a few deaths |
I left the choice up to them as to what rides they thought were safe and which ones weren't. I was pleased that they chose wisely and didn't get themselves hurt or killed. My oldest did suffer from some pretty sore arms after about 15 times on the rope swing but he made it through. The bars were pretty dead as it was early by party standards. The men running the rides were really nice and had fun jumping in the water with the boys. I am a bit too timid myself to partake but I cheered them on from a safe, picture-taking distance and may or may not have had a beer Laos in my hand!
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| Clowning around at one of the bars |
After about an hour there chatting and swimming, we decided it was time to get back in and mosey down the river. We spotted several more smaller bars but declined the bottle toss and instead focused on the views and our own conversations. Surprisingly calm and quiet we hooked ourselves together and just enjoyed each others company and scenes of locals and wildlife.
I am guessing it was around 1pm that we decided we were all pretty hungry. We searched the banks for more bars or restaurants but there was nothing, absolutely nothing to fill our bellies. The views, small boys spear fishing in their undies, water buffalo cooling off, and women busy with chores was enough to keep our minds off the hunger pangs though.
Of course had we realized, as you all will now, we could have eaten from quite a good selection earlier in the day at the bars. This really was our only complaint from an otherwise amazing day!
All in all the whole day took about 5 hours although if we had skipped the bars I suspect it would have been closer to 3 hours. If you are in the area with or without kids I would definitely recommend this activity. It can be a peaceful day and at the same time qualifies for a family adventure travel outing!
What to bring
Camera (invest in one of the many waterproof pouches for sale in town to keep it dry. I was skeptical but they actually work great with their 3 zip lock, fold over, MacGyver-esque mechanisms)
Sunscreen
Money
The tube rentals were 30,000 kip (roughly $4.50 US) each. We also had to leave an additional 30,000 kip per tube as a deposit which they returned to us when we brought the tubes back at the end of the day. The tuk-tuk ride up to the starting point was also included in that price. At the end of the line we were right back where we started so easily walked up the bank from the river and returned the tubes and got our deposit money back.
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