A Wandering Sole

Southeast Asia Recap: Funny Signage and Dogs

// November 20th, 2011 // 9 Comments » // Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam

Yesterday’s Southeast Asia recap focusing on food and transport shows two of the more typical blog topics when it comes to travel. Often, I find that I take pictures of signage and random things (like funny looking dogs) and forget to compile and post them. In reality, these little oddities and humorous mistranslations are one my favorite parts of travel. There’s nothing better than having fits of laughter at a train station while locals look at you and your friend as those crazy Americans.

The Signage:

Really, it’s free. How generous.

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Southeast Asia Recap: Food and Transport

// November 19th, 2011 // 3 Comments » // Bali, Cambodia, Food, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam

Last week, my friend Lauren (aka my southeast Asia travel buddy) and I caught up over lunch. We first traveled abroad together in Africa in 2008 and then in southeast Asia in 2010. We threw out ideas for a future trip (maybe in 2012… see a pattern?) but mostly reminisced about ridiculous times and favorite places. I think for both of us, southeast Asia is a place we would love to return to at some point. So, what’s to love about southeast Asia?…..

The Food

Lauren and I largely stuck to street eats and local food joints. We could purchase pad thai on the streets of Bangkok for as little as $1, have a meal with meat for about $2, or dine in a restaurant on nicer food for less than $5. One of our favorite restaurants we ate at was in Dalat, Vietnam. Our guesthouse recommended it, and the place was packed full of locals.

One of the best meals we had in Dalat, Vietnam

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Sapa: My Favorite Place in Vietnam

// October 27th, 2010 // 32 Comments » // Vietnam

Vietnam was a tough country for me to travel through. There were a few towns I really liked, (Dalat and Hoi An) but excluding hotel workers, I didn’t find the people to be overly friendly, and it was mass tourism everywhere. Our last stop was in northern Vietnam in the mountainous town of Sapa- and what a way to conclude our trip in the country. It was gorgeous! Many people come here for trekking, village tours, and village homestays. The dramatic landscape has to be one of the most scenic places I’ve ever been to, and if it weren’t for the fact that we were short on time, I would have stayed much longer. (more…)

Visiting Uncle Ho’s Mausoleum in Hanoi

// October 22nd, 2010 // 3 Comments » // Vietnam

We had no choice. We were going to have to spend a night in Hanoi even though we had hoped to avoid it. Our Ha Long Bay tour got back in the late afternoon, and we needed to deal with money exchange and the post office before setting out on an overnight train to Sapa. Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam, is your typical large city with not much to do in the way of interesting attractions. However, our interest was peaked when we read about the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum Complex. I never knew that viewing a dead body could be such a popular activity, and I had to go check it out for myself. (more…)

Hoards of Tourists in Ha Long Bay

// October 17th, 2010 // 4 Comments » // Vietnam

Ha Long Bay

Oh Ha Long Bay, so flooded with tourists that you can’t remember what country you’re in, and you suspect that you’re in a huge, floating, raucous college bar. The most popular way to see Ha Long Bay is on a junk boat tour booked from Hanoi. I had read terrible things about it, and if I had had more time, I would’ve done it on my own. But, with only a few days to spare the tour was the best option. (more…)

Dalat: The Paris of Vietnam

// October 1st, 2010 // 15 Comments » // Vietnam

Dalat is commonly referred to as the ‘Paris of Vietnam’. It’s not your typical Vietnamese town with its wedding shops, bakeries, and even its own version of the Eiffel Tower. Although it draws some foreign tourists, it is a hot tourist spot for the Vietnamese. Located in the mountains, it has a cooler climate, a dramatic landscape, and some interesting attractions. If you can handle the kitsch, here are just a few reasons why I think you should visit Dalat on your trip to Vietnam. (more…)

Bus Adventures in Laos

// September 18th, 2010 // 12 Comments » // Laos, Vietnam

Muddy ride into Laos

To be straightforward, transport in Laos requires a durable bum and loads of patience. I made it in and out of Laos in one piece, with no scratches and only minor bruises, and I consider myself lucky. I also had cheap travel insurance on my side, which was comforting during the frenzied journey. The bus into Laos from Vietnam was by far the most ‘adventurous,’ if you can call it that. Please keep your hands and feet inside the bus at all times, and enjoy the ride. (more…)

RTW Travel: Six Months In

// September 8th, 2010 // 16 Comments » // Laos, Travel Review, Vietnam

Trying on a traditional Red Dzao tribe hat in the market in Sapa

That’s right folks. It’s been six months since I left the Louisville Airport heading to Venice. Although I still have another 2-1/2 months of adventures ahead of me, I know it’s going to go by fast, perhaps too fast. I recently booked six flights in six weeks. I have a flight home now (in time for Thanksgiving!), but before that I will be visiting Thailand, Bali (and possibly Jakarta), Malaysia, Berlin, and Barcelona. I’m excited for the remainder of Southeast Asia. My stops in Europe were a bit unexpected but it was the same price for me to fly directly home as it was to stop in these two cities, and Barcelona has been on the bucket list for a while now. I will be meeting up with a friend in Berlin who I actually met on this trip while I was in Kenya; I’m really looking forward to seeing her again. So, now that I’ve blabbed my upcoming travel plans here’s a look at what I got into this month. (more…)

Montage Monday: Crowded Transport (Laos)

// September 6th, 2010 // 7 Comments » // Laos, Photo of the Week, Vietnam

This was my crammed minibus from the town of Dien Bien Phu in Vietnam to Muang Khua in Laos- that is before the 32 people piled on it. No joke. There are two seats to the right that are clipped off and then the front driver and passenger seat that are not pictured. And we all somehow fit. I had a guy squashing my shoulder so much that it was sore the next day and a woman hugging my leg and sleeping on it at one point. I’ve had some rough bus rides in Africa but this one takes the cake for being the most uncomfortable. Oh yes, and this is less than half the luggage. The rest is piled ridiculously high on the roof, causing us to nearly tip over at one point when we hit a muddy pothole. Just another bus adventure! (By the way, please check out the back row. Yes, someone is transporting a giant teddy bear.)