May, 05 2008: I arrived home last night at 3am. My headache was gone but I could  barely open my eyes.  Look at my messy hair and my eyeglasses; I need to have a new one soon but not today. Today I just need a comfort bed and sleep tight. I would say the road trip to Laos was really exhausted but full of an adventure and fun.

 

I Left Bangkok on Wednesday, and arrived at Nong Khai on Thursday the early morning. We hire the van for the whole trip in Laos. We across the built Friendship Bridge from Nong Khai around 8am and head to Vientiane city.

 

Vientiane, capital of Laos is across the Mekong River; we visited the Temple called  That Luang The great Buddhist temple of Vientiane.

 

After that we were heading to Talad sao (Morning Market) to have a breakfast. Talad Sao is more like the department store. There were so many things you can find there such as foods, cloths, etc.  After we had breakfast, we alive again then we head to Patuxai (literally Victory Gate) at Lanchang Road. 

We didn’t have time much for Vientiane even that this city is really interesting but we could visited only 3 places as we need to go to Vang Vieng and it tooks us 3 hours drive from here to Vang Vieng

Vang Vieang for better or worse

 

Vang Vieang is the midway along Vientiane to Luang Prabang Road. The backpackers will stop here and spent the time with many activities such as caving and tubing down the river.) They usually spent the night or more here before going to Luang Prabang.

 

I think Vang Vieang is more like Pai - Mae Hong Song, Thailand. I really like it a lot. This place is a tourist magnet. I heard that some of the travelers even stay here far longer as their original planed.

We arrived there the late afternoon, after walk-in reservation and then had launch. I had headache because the lack of sleep on the bus and the road was basically going up and down. We could only manage our trip to the cave and then we had a dinner at the street’s food of Vang Vieang.

Sabaidee Luang Prabang

 

We left Vang Vieang the early morning after breakfast to Luang Prabang, which it takes 6 hours coz the road was very hilly.

We arrived at Luang Prabang the late afternoon. The City of Luang Prabang is doesn’t really feel like the second largest city of Laos at all but in fact luang Prabang is small enough where you can see same people popping up the same day.

 

Luang Prabang also has a wonderful night market selling the kind of handmade items. The lao are nice and friendly. We spoke almost the same language but sometimes the meanings were totally difference. Possibly 70 percent of the words in Thai and Lao are the same but many common words are different.

 

Sabaidee in Lao meaning “Hello” but in Thai it does mean “I’m fine” *haha* 

I visited “Patat Pusi” in the evening and spent the rest of the day cycling around the city. Where I can see Mea-khong river. We also had a very good coffee around there. You can easily find a coffee shop around Luang Pra Bang city. Many people suggest that Beer Lao has a very good taste, so don’t forget to try it also.

 I had a very wonderful night at Luang Prabang. I think I am fall in love with this small city already.

The daily alms-giving ceremony is a major attraction of Luang Prabang. So we woke up the early morning to join the ceremony. Along the quite street there were a hundreds monks walk by, we sated down on a mat at 6:30 am, with a bamboo container full of sticky rice. Each time a monk walks by we dips into the container and give him handful rice.

 

After we finished the ceremony, we had breakfast at the shop near ‘Dara Market’. After that we transfer the guesthouse coz last night we didn’t sleep well. You can easily find a guesthouse in Luang Prabang, there were many price starting from $x.

We visited Wat Xiang Thong, The one of the best-known images of Laos.

I really like the walls that depict a variety of tales including the Laos version of the Ramayana. 

 

We also visited Haw Kham (Royal Palace Museum), the opposite of Phu si hill. This was after the Luang Prabang kingdom became a French protectorate, so the building features a blend of Lao and French styles.

The late afternoon, we had a slightly problem with the van driver. The main problem was the lack of communication and the how phone-line networking  there works. As we transfer to the new guesthouse and try to inform the driver but we couldn’t contact so we couldn’t find him.

 

We spent many hours waited for him, fortunate Luang Prabang is a small city. He finally popup and then head to Tat Kuang Si Waterfall (30Km from Luang Prabang). You can hire the tuk-tuk from Luang Prabang. It was very beautiful waterfall. And we were really relaxed.

 

We spend last night shopping at Lauang Prabang night market. Sadly we didn’t have more time to explore the city. And we barely could walk the day time because it was so boiling hot.

 

The way back home the hills road make me feel dizzy, headache and vomits. I guess I am a little bit scare to take the road trip up to the hills for a while. But I still like Luang Prabang a lot. So next time, I'm going to take a plane!  ;)

My friend has gone to Sydney. After 2 days he met a girl there and he said she looks like me.

 “What??!

“I met a girl here, she looks really like you.” 

“Haha, You can’t be serious.”

“I’ll send you her photo”

After a few days, he was back with her photos and here they are!

Do you think she looks like me?  

I’m so happy I have 7 days off because next week is Songkran Festival. Songkran is the Thai New Year. We celebrated it every year on 13 April to 15 April.  It’s water-throwing festival obviously. People on the streets with containers of water or water guns and drench each other and passersby.

 

Actually Songkran is a time to visit and pay our respects to elders such as family and friends. The old traditional is to pouring a small amount of water to other people hands, it’s sing of respect.

 

 

Nowadays, the water-throwing is the most obvious celebrations of Songkran. And that is why I’ve never joined the festival. They make it more like water fights. People are throwing water at each other like crazy.

 
Anyway, it’s supposed to be fun festival. So happy Songkran Everybody! And don’t forget Water- use it Wisetly! 

Happy New Year to you all!  ^_^

 

Links

• History of the Songkran Festival
• Photos of Songkran water throwing
• Video of Songkran festivities

I was shocked when one my best friend said she moves to stay with a man she loves. And she dates him only 2 weeks.

"I can’t take this!"  I replied.

I can’t believe you moved there. I can’t believe you trust someone you know only 2 weeks!!!

"When you meet someone right for you, it just easy likes that."  She said.

"Gosh, how can you be so sure about that?" I said in disbelief.

"I’m sure; my sense is telling me…."

"Your sense might be wrong…What if you wake up tomorrow and things are change!! What if… err what if you found out that he is gay!" I protested.

"Stop it. He isn’t gay! I know him ok?"

"Well, may be he isn’t gay but can’t you just take things slow?"

"We have our plan. She paused. We will soon have our baby. I know it doesn’t seem to make any sense, but please understand us!"

"You will soon have a baby?!??" Oh my...this is beyond ridiculous!

"Yes, we are hoping to have our baby soon."

 Gosh, since when she starts saying “we” this and “we” that???

Ok fine, everyone has their life… I’ve got to understand. It’s time for me to accept this. I can’t help to feel left out. It’s ridiculous.

I was letting these things bothering me along the way home, I can’t fall asleep. I kept thinking what is gonna be like … like...
When All My Friends Get Married-Except Me. Can married and single still be good friends? Can we still hang out?

Well, I don’t know…

I just feel like we can’t be the same anymore. We can’t go back to be the same.  Things have changed.  I might need sometimes to accept that and adjust it bit per bit…

First thing I need to get use to is “We” and “Us”.

I think you guys have heard about the Hp contest "What do you have to say?"

Well, I guess it's time for me to say something...I think this is the oddest campaign I ever seen in my life. I’m sorry I can’t be positive anymore. It isn’t about the prize or how much I should get or anything. But it’s about The Unfair Rules.

 

1. Non-US people are not welcome – They welcome people around the world to join the contest, but the prize will go to on those who are legal residents of the United States.

 

I don’t think that makes much sense.

  

2. Prize Judging --The Visitors around the world can vote online but the Sponsor will judge. It means that even you got the highest score you won’t win any prize!! Only the community prize or shall I say the FAKE prize?

 

I remember last time I submitted my banner to Vox Banner Contest, that was last 2 years maybe. I didn’t win. But it was fun! There was no prize but the winner’s theme will be featured on LiveJournal, Vox and TypePad.. But this time, it is not so…

 

3. The community prize – No prize will be awarded to the "Community Prize" winner. (Even if you get the highest vote) The "prize" is that the winner’s theme will be featured on LiveJournal, Vox and TypePad.

 

I just want to say if you don’t respect online votes, you don’t have to have online voting. You don’t have to tell people to vote. You can have only the Sponsor judge the contest.

 

I don’t think this is fair. I see that only the sponsor benefits from this contest. Correct me if i'm wrong. 

 

To all of my friends and fellow Voxers, I’m terribly sorry that I wasn’t aware of the rule before I asked you guys to vote for me.

Childhood Memories

Hi everyone, I’ve submitted my Banner to the HP contest, it would be greatful if you will give me a vote.
You can just simply CLICK HERE and then VOTE for me, that's it! No need to register.  
Thankies everyone! & Happy Easter! ^o^

Grabbed this from Marie.

Describe Me in one word...  just one word.

Heres how to Play :

1. Put my one word in the comments section of this post. Just one word that you think best describes me.

2. Then copy and paste it into your blog to have others do the same about you.

Tomorrow is my birthday. I just want to take a moment to say  thank you. I am so so so happy,touched and grateful for every comments,messages and post on Noos.vox.com, The Spice of Life and Bangkok360 Group.

You don’t know what that mean to me. I'm very excited every time I read your comments. I sometimes find myself smiling, giggling or laughing all by myself like crazy.

 Actually I was expecting to do something nicely like making a cake, going to the beach. But I need to cancel the entire plan I had. As usual I was so busy with my daily job and the freelance job giving me no time to go anywhere else. Then…I suddenly thought about writing someone a postcard. I don’t know how can i come up with this idea. But I just want to… and I thought it would be a good idea if I can write a postcard to say thank you to all of my neighbors.

If you’re interested in having a postcard from Thailand sent to you, then please left me a comment to let me know that you’re interested.

"Please do send me your address to my email: noos.vox@hotmail.com and provide me Your name and Your address." I’ll send my postcard after I received your address within a week.  (No shipping charges will be required).

Anyway If you do not feel comfortable giving your address away, don't worry about it. It’s understandable, I’m happy to have you as my neighbor anyway. ^__^

Ok, don’t’ panic! 31 is just a number, it’s just a number. Just don’t tell anyone. I’ll keep my mouth shut! That’s it! …

But the thing is how could I? They’re preparing a birthday cake for me! I was hoping that there will be no 31 candles on the top. We should've set up the new rule of the birthday cake to not having a candle at all!  Can we have a butterfly instead?

I thought I would freak out when I turn 30 but I didn’t. 30 was great for me!

Its good excuse to tell mom that I’ve already grown up when I did something mom doesn’t like.

But 31 is seems much harder on me than 30 was. I don’t know why but it feels like that. May be its hormones—or may be it was a cup of coffee!

It was like I woke up at my 38 years old in the morning and found that there were no husband, no kids, no job … And then I suddenly picturing an old woman with her cat sitting alone in the tiny room and try to coping with the loneliness. *lol*  

Anyway It’s good to know that I’m not 20-something anymore but I’m 30-something… and 30-something is much better than 20-something because …

Er… I don’t know…

May be here is…

I've got a gift from my best friend as I’ve already celebrated my birthday at Kupu-kupu barong resto. (Kupu Kupu means butterfly). It was fun. 

I arrived the apartment after dinner, my roommate hands me a pretty necklace. Since she knows I celebrated my birthday in advance.

I’m grateful in every minute to have them in my life. I can’t imagine living my lonely life all alone. It should be so hard… And it’s good to turn 31 because next year you will stop freak out and said that I’m turning 32… So what?! Bring it on…