"On My Bum"

We all have our own reason, as to why we choose to take off and remove ourselves from our regular life routine.   Some like to take a holiday for a week or so, stay in one location and simply relax and enjoy the resort.  Others may choose to travel and utilise different modes of transport and explore several towns and cultures.

I wanted to visit a place that I'd heard of back in 1991 from when I meet an eighteen year old female Canadian traveller in Nepal. She was travelling solo; I was twenty-one and travelling with a friend.  I was intrigued by her and her travels.  The opportunity arose at the end of 2013, when I was going to Bali and then on to Malaysia to explore the destination and view some hotels.  Laos was only a 2 hour 45minute flight away from Kuala Lumpur, that would take me to Vientiane the capital.  I'd then sit at the airport cafe for a few hours before boarding a forty-five minute flight to arrive into Luang Prabang.   Laos was that long awaited destination.

To get to Laos there is no direct path from here, it is bit of a hop-skip and jump either via Vietnam, Cambodia, Malaysia or Thailand.  But this was an opportunity and it was the UNESCO town of Luang Prabang, that I wanted to experience and that's what I did for ten days.

Sure, I doubled up on visiting the night market, having a g&t at a café or restaurant along the Mekong or Nam Khan Rivers before dinner or walking in and out of stores pondering their wares and where to spend my money.  The expats are prevalent in town, but so are the opportunistic locals.  Designer clothes and home wares to delicious croissants, were all there for purchasing, as well as home-stitched clothing or a serving of sticky rice (eaten with your fingers of course!).

Having the joy and freedom to consume my breakfast, lunch and dinner at any time and at any location, there was only so much aimless gazing I could do.  I started to click photos of all that I was observing.  I was on this journey alone, so I embraced living in the moment and called this moment “On My Bum” as that’s what I was doing, sitting on my bum as I clicked these and other pics during my breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Enjoy!

Vientiane Airport cafe

Sakkaline Road

Sakkaline Road

Kitsalat Road

Kitsalat Road

Ock Pop Tok Textiles - fairtrade village

Elephant Village Sanctuary

Shangri-Loa expedition up the Nam Khan River

Sakkaline Road

a Tad Sae Waterfall cafe

located between Nam Khan River & Sakkaline Road

The owner of the cafe

Ps. Not on my bum, but the sounds they generate

Wanting to escape and experience the unknown?  Travel With A Difference can also coordinate a celebratory, well-being or a bespoke free-spirit holiday. 

a group adventure in thailand...

Mary Myer, one of TWAD's delightful consultants recently travelled with a family group to Thailand and now she shares some words of their experiences...

Thailand –what a wonderful destination to travel through with a family, young and old alike will enjoy soaking up the culture and the sun in this friendly country.

I was recently given the opportunity to travel with my family group there in December, and they are still talking about it. One of the many highlights for the children was a visit to the Tiger Temple just out of Bangkok. This tour can be combined with a trip to the famous Bridge Over the River Kwai. Visitors get the chance to pat, bottle feed and play with four month old tiger cubs. A magical experience! A volunteer program is also in place there.

Our 3 busy days in Bangkok included having made to measure suits fitted for the men; then we flew to Chiang Mai, a beautiful place in the North. Here we were fortunate to spend a full day with “Eddie’s Elephant Camp” learning the commands used to ride and train an elephant. We began with instruction on some basic Thai language before we were welcomed into in a local, private home where a delicious lunch was provided.



Go Mary...

 Everyone had a turn at “driving” the elephant which was hilarious.
Chiang Mai is famous for it’s silk and has some gorgeous handicrafts for sale; ladies if you want any outfits made, here is the place to have it done.

We stayed in 2 and 3 bedroom apartment style accommodation and the highlight was the JW Marriott at Mai Khao Beach, one hour North of Patong Beach in Phuket. The children/teens club offers many varied activities including Thai kickboxing, boot camp and sunset cycling tours into the local village were popular. This resort was family friendly but also catered well for parents wanting a quiet drink at one of the bars at sunset or a romantic dinner.
We spent a full day with John Grays sea kayaking adventure and for me this was the most memorable day of our whole trip. In the afternoon we learnt to make flower arrangements to be given up as offerings to the gods in the limestone caves at dusk. Our cave had about a dozen floating offerings alight with fragrant incense and candles. It was one of those AHA moments in life for me!
Our group enjoyed shopping for bargains in Patong Beach and the many restaurants which were clean and cheap.

An adventure holiday such as this has created priceless memories.

Phone Mary today to discuss and book your Thailand or group holiday: 0416 798 495