Stalking around in the Mekong Delta, Việt Nam

As soon as I came back from Sen Monorom, I immediately booked a minivan in Phnom Penh - I had to leave the country within one day! So with my ever-trusty backpack, my new visa and much enthusiasm I moved toward the Cambodian-Vietnamese border crossing of Ha Tien, southern Vietnam. A few steps away from Vietnam  - the border crossing in Ha Tien....

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Tears of grief and joy in Phnom Penh - and again some elephants!

I promised you to tell you more about the fateful reign of the Cambodian Khmer Rouge that seemed so much to affect the country - and actually still affects the country. As I wrote before, nowadays there are the remaining landmines, the rotting infrastructure, hell, even the widespread corruption in almost every public branches. But during their short political reign of only 4 years the Khmer Rouge...

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Bamboo trains, a deserted island and a touristic ghost town...

After a couple of days I was somehow glad to escape the tourist masses of Siem Reap - I honestly haven't expected the town to be that busy. But at least travelling from here would be easy, as I was on the tourist-beaten track again. Almost every guesthouse and hotel in town offered a bus or minivan service to all major cities in Cambodia. My next target was therefore Battambang, Cambodia's second...

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Temple overdose in the Kingdom of Cambodia!

Again I'm writing this with a 3 week delay - sorting out good photos and typing all this stuff after an exciting day sure takes its time, believe me. Anyway, with the 4000 Islands behind me I squeezed myself into a bus filled with backpackers who wanted to do the nearby border crossing to Cambodia as well. After 10 minutes of driving towards the Lao-Cambodian border the bus suddenly (but not surprisingly)...

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A two-faced capital, another temple and dolphins in the Mekong...

After Vang Vieng the road conditions began definitely to improve - no wonder, we were approaching Vientiane, the shining capital of the «People's Democratic Republic of Laos». If there's a place in Laos where you can find communist kitsch, French-inspired street cafés, expensive cars, polished government buildings and AAA roads, then just pay Vientiane a visit. The President's Palace of Vientiane...

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More (Mis-)Adventures in Laos...

After the last bus ride I wasn't so sure if I'd enjoy the next one from Vieng Xai to Phonsavan (the location of the famous Plain of Jars), approximately 242km in southern direction. But to my biggest surprise the minivan driver was really careful this time, and we only got one single road-sick passenger this time. Unfortunately this luckless individual was sitting next to me, and she was pretty productive...

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Dragon Boat Races and on the trail of the Pathet Lao...

After surviving tourist-beaten Luang Prabang we were eager for some authentic action, to see the untouched Laos! I, Sam & Max decided to take the local option of public transportation to the northern village of Nong Khiaw, in a rusty old Hyundai bus. At the Bus station in Luang Prabang we first didn't know what awaited us......

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Welcome to the People's Democratic Republic of Laos!

Even though Thailand left me with sweet memories, I still was eager to see the real South East Asia - a South East Asia without McDonalds's, Starbucks Coffee or 7-Eleven. Instead I wanted to see rice paddies surrounded by limestone mountains, water buffalos taking a refreshing bath in a muddy pond or local kids playing in the mud instead with a PS3. Some westerners already might get a Culture Shock...

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More stuff in the North and the last days in Thailand...

After it was clear that Chiang Mai was OK, but by no meanings groundbreaking, it was again time to move on. During my time in Chiang Mai I've heard dozens of backpackers talking about the miracles of Pai, a peaceful town in the countryside 130 kilometers west of Chiang Mai. This small village, surrounded by a dry countryside, earned its name for being a destination for hippies and backpackers looking...

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