The countryside hurtled by to the soundtrack of excruciatingly loud music and a blaring bus horn. Landmarks, and local villages, merely a blur as we shot past without slowing, barely missing small children, dogs, pigs and chickens… we didn’t miss the cow. I knew we were about to hit something when the driver hit the brakes so hard I was thrown forward in my seat. Transport in Laos can be an adventure and, for us, that adventure started a few days before the incident with the cow, and continued on for a couple of weeks there after…
About Kelly Turpin
Kelly has a Bachelor of Ecotourism and a passion for the natural world. Before her life as a full-time traveller and freelance writer, she was a personal trainer and has also worked as a snorkelling guide on the Great Barrier Reef. Kelly has written, and published, educational children's activity books and is now dabbling at writing a cookbook. She has raised three sons, operated her own business and spent two years travelling around Australia - towing a fishing boat and living in a tent. Kelly and her hubby now live on their 45ft sailing yacht. They plan to sail slowly around the world, visiting as many places as possible.
In southern Laos, where the Mekong River flows into Cambodia, you will find a spectacular archipelago of islands, rocks and sandbars. This archipelago is called Si Phan Don, which translate to 4000 Islands. Si Phan Don is definitely the place to go if you want the laid-back bohemian lifestyle of backpackers, hammocks, and beer. Many people visit these islands for the type of relaxation that can only be found when the internet connection is so slow you will forgo the use of it to pursue other activities such as river tubing, kayaking, or watching endless episodes of “Friends” at the Friends Bar, all of which can be found here!
Caring is sharing...
- Click to share on Threads (Opens in new window) Threads
- Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window) Pinterest
- Click to share on X (Opens in new window) X
- Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook
- Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window) Tumblr
- Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window) WhatsApp
- Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window) Reddit
The charming Bolaven Plateau, known for its exceptional coffee and dramatic waterfalls, is a place of verdant tranquillity amid the muddy scenery of rustic villages and unpretentious markets. An eclectic array of sights and sounds, coupled with the pungent aroma of the agrarian lifestyle, and the scent of roasted coffee, make the Bolaven Plateau a beguiling destination for those in search of a rudimentary excursion of Laos. If coffee and waterfalls aren’t your thing, there is always tea, trekking or just relaxation.
Caring is sharing...
- Click to share on Threads (Opens in new window) Threads
- Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window) Pinterest
- Click to share on X (Opens in new window) X
- Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook
- Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window) Tumblr
- Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window) WhatsApp
- Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window) Reddit
Everything you need to know about visiting Konglor Cave, including accommodation and how to get there. Don’t miss this spectacular cave!
Caring is sharing...
- Click to share on Threads (Opens in new window) Threads
- Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window) Pinterest
- Click to share on X (Opens in new window) X
- Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook
- Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window) Tumblr
- Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window) WhatsApp
- Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window) Reddit
What could possibly be so interesting about looking at a pile of jars on a plain? Well… they are made of stone, they are big, and there are hundreds of them! No one really has any idea why they are there and what they were used for.
“For what purpose, and by whom the jars were created remains, to this day, a mystery. There are, of course, many theories surrounding these ancient jars. Some theories are backed up by partial evidence including Madeleine Colani’s research in the 1930’s which concluded that the jars were associated with burial practices. Local theories include the jars being used to brew rice wine and, my favourite… that they were the cups of giants.”
Caring is sharing...
- Click to share on Threads (Opens in new window) Threads
- Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window) Pinterest
- Click to share on X (Opens in new window) X
- Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook
- Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window) Tumblr
- Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window) WhatsApp
- Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window) Reddit
Once in the cave we took hold of the rope and began to pull ourselves deeper into the cave. Soon all natural light had disappeared. It was dark, very dark and my torch was pretty much useless… I was sticking to Dwayne like glue. I didn’t like the fact I couldn’t see anything and, surprising myself, I was a little scared! Yep me, I couldn’t believe it. I couldn’t relax, I was almost on top of Dwayne now, holding onto his leg, I just couldn’t get close enough to feel safe….
Caring is sharing...
- Click to share on Threads (Opens in new window) Threads
- Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window) Pinterest
- Click to share on X (Opens in new window) X
- Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook
- Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window) Tumblr
- Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window) WhatsApp
- Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window) Reddit
Kuang Si Waterfall is simply stunning. The turquoise water is at centerstage and when you first see it, it momentarily blinds you to anything else. It is blue! Really blue, not brown, not clear… but blue. I don’t know what it is, but swimming in blue water somehow makes the experience all the more special. It’s true! You don’t see the advertising companies showing you photos of the windy overcast days on the Great Barrier Reef… but believe me they happen!
We were really looking forward to our cruise down the Mekong River and it didn’t disappoint. We had heard mixed reviews from people on the slow-boats, the majority of which were positive but still mixed, so we had a decision to make. We did choose to pay a little extra to have some of the organising done for us. With Nagi of Mekong, getting to the border from our hotel in Chiang Khong, crossing the border and getting to the boat was all taken care of. For us that was a bonus. It probably saved us a day or two, which meant more time in Laos! The cruise included accommodation, village tours, rice whiskey tasting, hot buffet meals and drinks and tour of caves…
Caring is sharing...
- Click to share on Threads (Opens in new window) Threads
- Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window) Pinterest
- Click to share on X (Opens in new window) X
- Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook
- Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window) Tumblr
- Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window) WhatsApp
- Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window) Reddit
There is a profusion of things to see and do, in and around, the Chiang Mai area in Northern Thailand. During the time we spent there we really only scratched the surface of this interesting cultural destination…… Pai is as touristy as a place can get and still be full of character and culture. This quirky town is full of backpackers, hippies and tree-huggers……. Our next overnight stop was at Mae Hong Son. We left Pai early in the morning and rode through the mist covered mountains. It was beautiful… but very cold!…… Back in Chiang Mai it was time to visit the markets….
Caring is sharing...
- Click to share on Threads (Opens in new window) Threads
- Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window) Pinterest
- Click to share on X (Opens in new window) X
- Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook
- Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window) Tumblr
- Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window) WhatsApp
- Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window) Reddit
ABOUT US
We explore the world by land and by Sea. Our home, and usual mode of transport, is Thorfinn, our Adams-designed yacht. Trains, planes and automobiles get us to all the other destinations!
We share our travel tips, incredible destination, things to see and do, sailing, live-aboard life and cooking on a boat.
We use Wise!
The Wise card is an excellent option for travellers, offering lower fees and better exchange rates compared to traditional credit and debit cards when spending or withdrawing money abroad. It provides flexibility, ease of use, and enhanced security features.




