- Vientiane
An overnight bus from Bangkok’s Mo Chit bus terminal to Nong Khai and then a short tuk-tuk ride found me crossing the Frienship Bridge into Laos early on a Saturday morning.As usual I took a room at the Sailom Yen GH close to the Black Stupa and after a quick brush-up was at Noi’s Restaurant on the Mekhong beach front. Noi was one of my first Lao friends and she and her family have always treated me well. That weekend was no exception and the beers and food didn’t stop coming, up to the point where I was utterly stuffed!This was my first trip back to Laos since March this year and it was great to be back…
- Bohol
After my first busy week in Manila I headed to the island of Bohol, a few hours south of Luzon by plane.
Bohol is probably most famous for the Tarsier, the world’s smallest primate as well as the Chocolate Hills (unfortunately during the wet season grass grows on the hills and they appear green rather than their usual distinctive brown colour) but it also has a lot more history as well as golden beaches and great seafood.
After a day there on my own I was happy to see Karen a friend from Manila fly in to spend the weekend with me.
- Fun in Manila
From Jakarta I took a night flight with Cebu Pacific Air to Manila. This was my first trip to the Philippines and I was looking forward to meeting several women I knew from there.
My first week in Manila was very hectic, spending most of it in bars and clubs with my friends. Manila was exactly how I imagined it to be, a heady mix of Asian, Spanish and American cultures.
I stayed on Adriatico Street in downtown Malate, an area overrun with Korean mini-marts, street kids and hawkers selling Viagra, Rolex watches and old American coins. Hopefully I will be returning early next year.
