Bad Dress Code

4th August - Saw this guy in Chiang Mai and I had to stop and do a double take - I could not believe what he was wearing. What a fashion disaster. I could only think that he was wearing this outfit as a bet - he won.

Mae Rim Orphanage

Myself, Scotty (the American I met in Laos), his Thai girlfriend Nook, plus a mother, Cathy and daughter, Michelle from Idaho visited an orphanage in Mae Rim on Saturday the 2nd August and took the kids some presents including footballs, volleyballs, a pump and some groceries. the kids were a joy and tugged at the heartstrings. They were all there either because their parents are so poor they did not have enough money to look after them (isn't that a disgrace in this day and age with all the wealth in the world), or they are victims of their parents drug habits. Maybe, their parents are in prison or rehabilitation or so drugged they cannot look after their kids. We had a great afternoon playing football and volleyball in a nearby school before the rains came. All 5 of us joined the kids in the canteen for dinner and it was amazing to see how appreciative and disciplined and well behaved the children were - no histrionics, no tantrums and loads of smiles and pleasantries. When the kids finished their meals they went outside to wash their plates and cutlery, no having to be asked a dozen times and no long faces. At 8.00pm they all went to bed without any protest - quite when they went to sleep is probably another matter as we left soon after 8.00pm. Maybe some of the parents of spoilt children in the west should take lessons from this orphanage. If they did there may be no need for Supernanny. It was a treat to be able to spend time with the kids and the dedicated staff and of course the kids had a great time and made us very welcome. Thanks to everybody. Me and Scotty are in the back of the first picture and Cathy and Michelle can be seen in the bottom picture.

Last Night in Hoi-an

My last night meal before returning to Chiang Mai - great meal. The guys with me are Chris (middle) and Nick from Byrom Bay, Australia - nice guys. See BACK TO CHIANG MAI - scuba diving

Scuba Diving

Spent a nice day scuba diving, see BACK TO CHIANG MAI - scuba diving, around Cham Island in the Indo China Sea, a few kilometres from Hoi-an. After the dive had a great vegetarian lunch (see last picture of the table after eating) on the island and rested in hammocks for an hour before returning to Hoi-an. If you close your eyes and think of your ideal tropical island you will be thinking of Cham Island. The first picture is one of the dive sites.

Party Time

Every night in Hoi-an the small square is turned over to people having a good time. There is music, dancing and various competitions for the kids. Spent a happy hour checking it out.

Hoi-an, Vietnam

This is Hoi-an in Vietnam, see BACK TO CHIANG MAI - Hoi-an. It is a pretty little place which I hope comes across in these pictures. It was absolutely baking hot for the few days I spent there.

Saying Farewell

This is me, Ed and Steff at a restaurant in Don Khone on their last night before travelling on, see BACK TO CHIANG MAI - 4000 Islands. Ed is from Derbyshire and Steff from London. They met at Sheffield University and have been travelling together for around 4 months - nice couple.

Raging Waters

In Don Khone, the Mekong River at one point becomes raging rapids that cover an entire area. Every crack and crevasse has water rushing and raging through it and the noise must reach the same decibel level as a Pink Floyd concert. It is a tremendous sight and enhanced further by it being the aftermath of the rainy season. The volume of water is greatly increased. These pictures cannot due full justice to the experience, but hopefully you get an impression.

4000 Islands

Typical dwellings found in Don Khone on the 4000 Islands, Laos - notice the colour of the Mekong River and the satellite dish.

Wedding

These are 2 pictures of the wedding in Don Khone , 4000 islands, Laos, see BACK IN CHIANG MAI - 4000 Islands. The bride and groom are on the right in the top picture - the groom is wearing a shirt and tie and the bride wore traditional costume - didn't quite fit together. The music that blared from the poor quality speakers in the background could be heard for miles around which is OK except the sound was very distorted and had no clarity at all. As this was an island there was no escape.

A Great Day's Trekking

Pictures from the trek - see text BACK IN CHIANG MAI - trekking. 1st picture is me on top of the volcano. Next is me and the local guide somewhere in the jungle. 3rd, me again during the lunch break checking out the ants, the quiet, except for the chirrup of the chickada and the heat (it was in excess of 40 degrees celsius. The 4th picture is of the 2 guides scraping the resin from the Yang tree and the last is just one variety of mushroom to be found in that forest. This was a great day. Do check out the text.

Ban Khiet Ngong

About 1km from the Kingfisher Lodge is the village of Ban Khiet Ngong and these are some of the villagers. The kids from a very early age help with the family business. The 2 girls weaving are between 6 and 9 years old. Try getting some of the spoiled brats in the west to help in the same way. The guy in the photo is the non english speaking local who was the guide on the trek - see text under BACK TO CHIANG MAI - trekking

Kingfisher Lodge

Top is the view from reception at Kingfisher Lodge. The other 2 photos are the view from my bungalow at the Lodge and this field is where the water buffalo tramp every morning at 6.30am - see text under BACK TO CHIANG MAI - Kingfisher Lodge.

Disgusting Habit

I surreptitiously had to take this photo because of this women's habit. I was on a bus from Pakse to the Kingfisher Lodge - see text under BACK TO CHIANG MAI, Kingfisher Lodge. She produced a pair of nut crackers with one side having a sharp edge to them, trimmed off a sliver of bark, put it in her mouth and commenced chewing. She then cut through some sort of crab apple looking fruit, put that in her mouth with the bark and continued chewing. By this time I was fascinated. She then opened a box of leaves, took one out, put some paste on it and tried to clean her teeth. She failed because her teeth were a disgusting black and broken with several missing. Later she got a polythene bag and I had to turn away when she spat out this rusty red liquid, that was the culmination of everything she had inserted into her mouth, into the bag. Uuuurgh, this must be the Laos version of chewing tobacco and cannot be healthy and maybe is habit forming. For the rest of the 2 hour journey I was praying that she did not proposition me. I couldn't determine this woman's age, she still had handsome features despite the wrinkles and sun weathered skin.

The bus itself was very old and of course, in true Laos style, they filled it with as many passengers and goods as possible. When we came to a hill, 8 people had to get out so as the bus could get up the hill. The bus then waited for the 8 to join them. Imagine that happening on the 42 from Manchester to Didsbury or the 134 going up Muswell Hill, North London, there would be a riot and I'm sure several letters to the Guardian from Disgusted of Tunbridge Wells.

Pakse

This is the main street of Pakse, Southern Laos. Apparently, in the south of the country the average life expectancy is 40 years. If this street is any example they must die of boredom.

Vientiane

This is me by what is supposed to duplicate the Arc de Triomphe in Vientiane. Apparently, the story is that the Americans left some concrete with the Laos people to erect some sort of commemorative building. the Laos decided to replicate the Arc as a snub to America. It is half finished and very tatty and is now a meeting place for the youth of Vientiane.

Me and Scotty

THis is my last night in Luang Prabang, Laos before embarking on what turned out to be a nightmare journey to Vientiane (the capital of Laos) - see text under BACK TO CHIANG MAI. Me and Scotty in the Sports Bar on the Night Market. Scotty and I have since met up in Chiang Mai and shared a few adventures.

Luang Prabang, Laos, Night Market

The Night Market getting ready - bottom 2 pictures. A street is closed off around 5.00pm and all the traders put up gazebo's, lay out plastic sheets on which they display their wares. The market closes around 11.00pm. The top photo is the market in full swing. All the bars and restaurants nearby are packed so the place is buzzing.

Life in Kop Chiatt 4

Top - 2 of the village kids. Middle, Guy wearing her latest batch of scarves. Bottom is Porn getting the logs going ready to cook the breakfast eggs.

Life in Kop Chiatt 3

The top picture is of one of the village fishermen examining a line (he is the one who offered me a job teaching football and English and for this the village would provide me with a house, food and a wife - tempting offer). Me, Paul (the alcoholic with a beer in front of him) and Chris relaxing around the breakfast table. The bottom picture is of Porn cooking eggs for breakfast in a wok heated by 3 burning logs. The girl is Porn's cousin and she was fascinated by us westerners and followed us everywhere.

Life in Kop Chiatt 2

Top picture is of kids playing by the river - they are collecting rocks for building in the village. The middle picture are of kids drawing buildings that you can find on any street in any large city - none of the kids have ever been outside the village so methinks they are watching too much tv. The bottom picture is of Porn's family home - underneath is where all the cooking, eating and gatherings happen. See picture below.