After a wholesome breakfast of omelettes, baguette, fresh fruit and a strong Lao coffee, we headed down the road to hire a bicycle. It is all very informal here – hand over 25,000 kip (less than £1), and you are on your way. With our hats placed in the front basket, we pedal away. The roads are flat, our bikes single geared but far more … Continue reading Cycling Don Det and Neighbouring Don Khon.
The ancient city of Ayutthaya was the Thai capital for 417 years. The city was founded in 1350 by King U-Thong when the Thais were forced to retreat southwards from Sukhothai by their northern neighbours. Across those 400+ years, thirty-three kings of various dynasties ruled the kingdom. In 1767, Ayatthaya was occupied and destroyed, much of it razed to the ground by the Burmese. The … Continue reading Ayutthaya – Temples, Day One…
Recharged and with a good breakfast inside us, we set off early, keen to get to Wat Mahathat before all the buses laden with day visitors from Bangkok. The name ‘Mahathat’ translates as Great Relic Chedi and the temple was constructed to house the remains of the Buddha himself no less. Legend has it that King Ramesuan was looking out of his palace, surveying his … Continue reading Ayutthaya – Temples, Day Two…
Our heritage walk of Kanchanaburi is centred around the Pak Phraek Road area. This is the oldest community in Kanchanaburi, and its name is derived from the Chinese words Pak and Phek, which translates as the crossroad. When these homes were built they would have been beside the river. These days, they are a whole street further back running adjacent to the Sky Walk and … Continue reading Kanchanaburi Heritage Street and the Old Paper Mill
Okay, there were more than two we visited today but we feel that this pair deserve a mention, well worth a look if your time in Luang Prabang permits. Wat That Luang was the cremation site for Laos royalty up until 1975. Built on a low hill in 1817, close to the banks of the Mekong. If you are imagining grandeur then sorry to disappoint, … Continue reading Two more temples…
Lampang, a well kept secret, a hidden gem. Think along the lines of the temples of Chiang Mai but almost having the place to yourself. The older part of the city is along the northern banks of the Wang River, the markets and bustle of the locals going about their business to the south. The pace of life in the old quarter is slow, the … Continue reading Lampang – who knew?
Riding back into Melaka from the bus station yesterday we noticed a deserted monorail theme park, so with it being within walking distance why not go and explore further? It’s a deceptively short distance from where we are staying, the one way system around the city must have made the journey longer by car! In no time at all we can see the track running … Continue reading Abandoned Melaka
The Melaka Gateway project once promised a state of the art cruise ship terminal, and aspirational living with stunning views overlooking the Straits of Melaka. In November 2020 the Malaysian government brought a halt to the whole scheme. The Gateway was to be constructed on reclaimed islands, but because the project missed deadlines the plug was pulled. In a bizarre situation ninety-nine percent of the … Continue reading Ghost Town…!
Oldest On the Bus 