World Tour
2009
- Trip 5: Jan 18 — from Vientiane, Laos day-trip (by bus) to Udon Thani, Thailand and back
- Feb 23 — by night-train to Bangkok, Thailand
...a short trip to Bangkok for a much-needed visit to the dentist; I had tried a dentist at the French clinic in Vientiane, but he was so much like a bull in a china shop that even a simple cleaning was a very unpleasant experience; I wasn't about to go to him for anything more serious than that.
- Mar 01 — by night-train to Vientiane, Laos
- Apr 12 — by van to Vang Vieng
...a nice little holday to Luang Prabang, with a stop-over in Vang Vieng on the way to and from.
- Apr 13 — by van to Luang Prabang
...we timed this trip to Luang Prabang to coincide with Pi Mai Lao (Lao New Year) because it is just SOOOOO much fun there; we met up with Tou, one of Pao's friends who had recently moved there, and some other farang (foreigners) we met on the way; a great time was had by all.
- Apr 17 — by van to Vang Vieng
- Apr 18 — by van to Vientiane
- Jun 16 — by night-train to Bangkok, Thailand
...a pit-stop in Bangkok for more dental work on my way to the Philippines to do some web development work with an American man living on the island of Palawan.
- Jun 20 — by plane (overnight) to Manila, Philippines; by plane to Cebu City
- Jun 25 — by plane to Puerto Princesa
...found a great guesthouse, with a very laid-back atmosphere and a great bunch of people who ran the place.
- Jun 26 — by van to Binduyan
...this is where I stayed and worked for a few weeks, until I decided that the living/working arrangements just weren't right for me.
- Jul 08 — by van to Puerto Princesa
- Jul 09 — by plane to Cebu City
...took a break from Binduyan (and all the nasty little critters that were biting my legs morning, noon, and night) and escaped to Cebu (with a side trip to Malapascua with Pia).
- Jul 10 — by bus to Daanbantayan; by ferry to Malapascua
- Jul 12 — by ferry to Daanbantayan; by bus to Cebu City
- Jul 19 — by plane to Puerto Princesa
- Jul 20 — by van to Binduyan
- Jul 28 — by bus to Puerto Princesa
- Jul 29 — by plane to Manila; by plane to Bangkok, Thailand
...with my travel funds nearly exhausted, I decided I needed to return to the U.S. to "regroup"; wanted to go see Pao in Vientiane once more before leaving Asia for an unknown period of time.
- Aug 01 — by night-train to Vientiane, Laos
- Aug 08 — by van to Vang Vieng
...we made a weekend excursion to Vang Vieng for one last nice trip together before I left for the States.
- Aug 09 — by van to Vientiane
- Aug 17 — by night-train to Bangkok, Thailand
...back to Bangkok for the flight "home". :(
- Aug 19 — by plane (overnight) to Austin, Texas