So, here’s what happened in the last few weeks (or is it months now?).
I think the last update was from Sri-Lanka. So let’s pick it up where we left off.
After our New Year party with Surren, we chilled out by the beach, with the locals (Mt Lavinia is more of a local beach, not many tourists there). Went to see him again at his place, close to there and had dinner with his family! Good times again!
Then (I’ll try to write this in chronological order but i may fail):
Spent time in Colombo sorting out visas and visa extensions. Went up North to Anuradhapura, saw ruins and rice fields and swamps and meter long snakes. Onwards to the beaches in the South (which are just amazing), taking a few days to relax and swing in hammocks all day.
Went back to Colombo, to Bangkok! Sorted out our visas for Vietnam there, ended up not seeing the city but Khao San instead and getting pretty much drunk every other day (in our old age, we need a day’s rest between two sessions now). Drank Guiness, mojitos, white russians and Changs. Met older Australians women , Swedish boys, American girls, irish dudes and etc. Bought street food and finally met some crazy French guys, who we ended up going to a reggae festival with, instead of going to Vietnam as we had planned.
The Reggae festival
It was amazing. Set beside a lake, close to Chiang Mai in the North of Thailand, a bit oustide the city. We met lots of other people here. The festival was really well organised. had some Burger Kings, slept outside in the hay, listened to music, met more funny people, danced, took photos and saw Bob Marley’s son (don’t ask me which one).
Onward
Chilled for a day after the festival and from there, hitched hiked to the Laos border by Chiang Kong, which includes many other stories such as being chased down Thailand country roads by a guy in tainted window pickup who had had a bit too much local alcohol and apparently wanted to shot us (dead). More on this maybe. Anyways, boat crossed over to Laos on a clear afternoon and saw the sun set on Thailand from the Laos banks. At this point the guys (and girls) went their way with Renz and I did a four day rushed trip to Vietnam, crossing Laos to get to Hanoi. It was hard, but I made it, finishing with a horrible 12 hour bus ride to get to the capital of Vietnam. Stayed there for a few days, met up with Sam and Rachel (who were going home cause they had had enough). Saw the Vietnamese new year here, but was so cold that I flew straight to Ho Chi Minh, were the weather was a lot better. Stayed there a bit, visited the town and flew back to bangkok to meet up with Renz!
The Islands in Thailand
Met up with Renz, and flew over to Phuket, met up with Gulshan and the three of us were on our way to Ko Phi Phi. Stayed there for a week, just hanging around, going to the beach and visiting. Met more people, again, went out to these fun beach bars/clubs, went swiming, rode boats, snorkeled, spend days in the hammocks and met Barbie and Ken (they do exist, and the’re from Sweden).
After that, I went home, cause I was missing my little girl and here I am! Back in London since the 18th of February!
Moral of the story
I have a bout 50 gigs of photos that I need to sort out and I feel like starting to plan my next trip! Definitely didn’t see enough of Thailand, Vietnam and Laos (and want to go back to Sri-Lanka).
Photos when I’m done with them, as promised for the last 4 months.
ps: An update on Renz. She’s fine, I left her but in good company. She’s in Malaysia at the minute but is coming back to Thailand in a couple of days and meeting up with friends we met before.
