Tali Goes Travelling

That Was Luang Prabang

Lazy humid days doing yoga by the river. Exploring temples in the sweltering midday heat. Escaping to the Kuang Si Falls for a brief respite from the scorching sun. Watching monks doing the alms at day break. Watching the sun set over the Mekong. That was Luang Prabang.

Please Don’t Rush

Welcomed to this beautiful country by school children blowing us kisses and waving to us as we exited Passport Control, I knew immediately that Laos was about to become one of my favourite countries. They say the PDR in Lao PDR actually means “Please Don’t Rush,” because, well, ‘island-time’ takes on a whole new meaning in this … Continue reading →

I Want More Pai!

Leaving Chaing Mai for the hippy village of Pai, we got an insight into what happens when you overstay in Thailand. The sad reality of two late 40 something men talking about their mushroom trips, what kind of painkillers they could get and who was taking care of their ‘plants’ reminded us to enjoy Thailand … Continue reading →

Stop Bugging Me, Chiang Mai!

Chiang Mai is a city of temples, monks, hippies and wanna-be hippies – but that’s not what caught my attention in this sweltering northern city. Searching for accommodation in a post-night-train-stupor (read: very broken and jolted-sleep), it was almost standing on a dead scorpion that woke me right up and reminded me just where exactly … Continue reading →

On the Road: Mangawhai

New Zealand isn’t really “On the Road” for me, it’s home. I’m currently on a brief stopover here, organising my visa and repacking my bags before I set off for a year in Spain. It’s so nice to be home and to see New Zealand through fresh eyes – not having lived here for over … Continue reading →

Scooters, Snorkels and Sunsets on Ko Lanta

After a week doing little more than trying to find three meals a day in Ao Nang, we were ready for a bit more action by the time we got to Ko Lanta. The west coast beaches, usually so emerald- and millpond-like during the high season, more closely resembled the inside of a washing machine … Continue reading →

On the Road: Angkor Wat

I knew that 3 months would not be enough to see all of Southeast Asia, but one place I was not willing to miss was the temple of Angkor Wat, in Cambodia. Although the sunrise didn’t play ball for us, the drizzle sent the majority of tourists scattering for cover, clearing space for us to … Continue reading →

On the Road: Vientiane

In the centre of Vientiane lies a monument suspiciously similar to Paris’ Arc de Triomphe. Patuxai has seen better days (like a lot of Vientiane) but with a view out over the city and a public park behind it, it’s still a great place to enjoy a lazy Sunday afternoon in Laos.

Not Expecting Much in Ao Nang

I didn’t have very high expectations for Ao Nang, Lonely Planet warned that it “provides ‘civilisation’ instead of scenery” and that it’s “not the tropical hideaway that most people are looking for.” Friends had warned me that it was too touristy. But I had to get out of Bangkok. I needed to be by the … Continue reading →

On the Road: Luang Prabang

It’s been hot in Luang Prabang, there’s not a lot of breeze by the river and it’s humid. So to escape the heat we followed the recommendation of some locals to escape to shade of the beautiful Kuang Si waterfalls for a day.