I'm writing this blog while having my feet scrubbed and massaged. This new innovation to give you the option of having a laptop will probably perplex massage aficionados; however, it is certainly likely to increase the uptake for people like me who get restless at the thought of just sitting down for 90 minutes whether or not they're being massaged (unless at the football of course, though there's typically been a lot more jumping up than usual this season as we're currently joint top of the league while I'm not there)
So we're at the end of a relaxing day where we've done little else apart from a walk around Krabie and sampling some excellent food, Szilvia's enjoying her first taste of authentic Thai food immensely.
I also managed to sneak an hour of US primary election coverage too and listen to various Fox news presenters unconvincingly claim that they'd predicted an Obama surge in Iowa. I'd forgotten what a depressing experience watching this 'news' channel was and even though it was reporting good news, even if probably insignificant in the long term, it still managed to be patronising as well as fawning towards the latest republican deity Mike Huckerby.
This blog is the diary of Laurence Wells during his travels around Asia
Blog Archive
About Me
Books I've read while travelling
The Kite Runner
by Kaled Hosseni
The God of Small Things
by Adurati Roy
Snow
by Orphun Parmuck
The Waiting Land
by Dervla Murphy
First they Killed my Father
by Loung Ung
Self
by Yann Martel
by Kaled Hosseni
The God of Small Things
by Adurati Roy
Snow
by Orphun Parmuck
The Waiting Land
by Dervla Murphy
First they Killed my Father
by Loung Ung
Self
by Yann Martel
Slideshows
Below are some sides shows of other photos. You are welcome to go to http://picasaweb.google.com/lozzawells to see them in their larger versions
Below are some sides shows of other photos. You are welcome to go to http://picasaweb.google.com/lozzawells to see them in their larger versions
Tour recommendations
Asahi Tours
We booked our trek, rafting and safari through them and received a very good service. Our guide Indra was superb and porters well kitted out. Ask for Fani, who was very enthusiastic and helpful and understanding of our expectations of service. I used them again to try and get a visa for Tibet but liaised with a diffrent person, whose lack of communication over Tibet visas delay was frustrating. However Fani sorted a very good flight deal for me and free taxi to the airport by way of apology, which was an unusual and welcome gesture.
Rubicon Tours
My trip to Halong Bay was excellent value and if you book direct through them you will get a discount on the high street tour agencies and certainly the hotel prices.
Hotel/hostel recommendations
Bow Chiangmai Guesthouse, Chaing Mai
A family run place, with very friendly and helpful staff (they waited 2 hours for us after closing you need to get there by 8 ususally as after then it's keycard entry) tastfully decorated and a reasonable rate.
Best House, Koh Lanta
Beautiful place, lovely owners, we found it hard to leave.
Asahi Tours
We booked our trek, rafting and safari through them and received a very good service. Our guide Indra was superb and porters well kitted out. Ask for Fani, who was very enthusiastic and helpful and understanding of our expectations of service. I used them again to try and get a visa for Tibet but liaised with a diffrent person, whose lack of communication over Tibet visas delay was frustrating. However Fani sorted a very good flight deal for me and free taxi to the airport by way of apology, which was an unusual and welcome gesture.
Rubicon Tours
My trip to Halong Bay was excellent value and if you book direct through them you will get a discount on the high street tour agencies and certainly the hotel prices.
Hotel/hostel recommendations
Bow Chiangmai Guesthouse, Chaing Mai
A family run place, with very friendly and helpful staff (they waited 2 hours for us after closing you need to get there by 8 ususally as after then it's keycard entry) tastfully decorated and a reasonable rate.
Best House, Koh Lanta
Beautiful place, lovely owners, we found it hard to leave.
Review - Lonely PLanet: SE Asia on a Shoestring
This was my first Lonely Planet purchase and while it seems to be the preferred choice of most people, I have to say it's been a mixed blessing. I went for the latest edition, but was suprised to discover the last update was March 2006, which must explain its inaccuaracies.
Sometimes it can be quite amusing how the travelling word begins with a lonely planet-ism such as there's only one ATM in Laos which is in Vietienne'': I counted 5 outside of Vietinene and there are at least half a dozen in the capital now. The pace of change is evidentally rapid across the region, espcaially in Laos and Cambodia and no-one would expect a book to be up-to-date with Visa situations and prices etc, but I have been suprised to find so many factual errors.
On the plus side, the maps are very useful and the potted histories and sights well written and informative. Obviously one is aware that lonely planet recommendations often hike thier prices, but the hotel listings are a good start.
However I get the impression that those responsible for checking up haven't been very thorough. For example, a guesthouse was mentioned in Chiang Khong and given an ok write up but the food wasn't mentioned, yet the place was renound and full every night serving up the best food for miles. I enquired how long they'd been doing it and it was several years before the last edition. Whoever wrote the review evidently just popped in to see a room.
Also, I don't think the LP would disagree that you must experience stuff yourself, but I do often find that sometimes the opinions it offers on places, especially the negative ones to be misplaced. A simple 'best viewed before the crowds decend' would be better than the off-putting 'tourist-trap best avoided' type entry.
So in summary - if you're going to SE Asia, don't get the all in one book from March 2006, go for the more up-to-date individual country versions, if not a more up-to-date rival.
Sometimes it can be quite amusing how the travelling word begins with a lonely planet-ism such as there's only one ATM in Laos which is in Vietienne'': I counted 5 outside of Vietinene and there are at least half a dozen in the capital now. The pace of change is evidentally rapid across the region, espcaially in Laos and Cambodia and no-one would expect a book to be up-to-date with Visa situations and prices etc, but I have been suprised to find so many factual errors.
On the plus side, the maps are very useful and the potted histories and sights well written and informative. Obviously one is aware that lonely planet recommendations often hike thier prices, but the hotel listings are a good start.
However I get the impression that those responsible for checking up haven't been very thorough. For example, a guesthouse was mentioned in Chiang Khong and given an ok write up but the food wasn't mentioned, yet the place was renound and full every night serving up the best food for miles. I enquired how long they'd been doing it and it was several years before the last edition. Whoever wrote the review evidently just popped in to see a room.
Also, I don't think the LP would disagree that you must experience stuff yourself, but I do often find that sometimes the opinions it offers on places, especially the negative ones to be misplaced. A simple 'best viewed before the crowds decend' would be better than the off-putting 'tourist-trap best avoided' type entry.
So in summary - if you're going to SE Asia, don't get the all in one book from March 2006, go for the more up-to-date individual country versions, if not a more up-to-date rival.
1 comment:
Lozza! Happy New Year to you and Szilvia. loving your blog and photos, looks as if you're having an amazing time. No doubt you've now heard that Clinton and McClain won the New Hampshire primary.
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