With travellers often making a beeline for either the gorgeous beaches on Thailand’s many islands or heading north to try jungle trekking, Bangkok often becomes a whistestop tour.  I could happily stay for weeks in this wonderful city but over the years there have been occassions where all I’ve had is one day. Believe me, you can get a lot done in this city in a day.  Absolutely stay longer if you can but if time is pressed, here are my top things to do in a day.

Morning Meditation

You’re never far from a temple in Bangkok and with a city that boasts such magnificent religious buildings, get your splash of culture in and join in a morning meditation.  I was brought up in a very hippy family.  We regularly spent summers in communes, held meditation evenings at my house and my Dad, who is the happiest old fella on earth, has shown that meditation brings a lot of joy.  Considering that Bangkok can be a rather high octane city, I love nothing more than starting my day admiring the amazing temples and pausing to take it all in.

Thailand Travel – Wat Phra Kaew Flickr photo credit – tiseb

My favorites have to be the famous temple of the Emerald Buddha (Wat Phra Kaew) or The Temple of Dawn (Wat Arun).  If you’re up early enough you will witness the monks collecting alms and you can follow them into a temple and start your day with a real sense of Thai calm.

Thailand Travel – Wat Arun Flickr Photo credit – Yoshi

Bangkok Shopping

Bangkok is a shopping mecca and with literally thousands of bargains to be had.  Take a ride on the superb metro system and head to MBK.

Thailand Travel – Bangkok Metro System

With sprawling floors filled with goodies, it’s easy to get lost in this massive shopping centre.  Preparing a list of things you actually need is probably a good idea otherwise you’ll most certainly get carried away!  Things like electronic gadgets and camera equipment are really great value here so spend a couple of hours scoping out the best deals.

The Bangkok MBK

Bangkok Street food

Thailand is food heaven to me and always will be.  Wherever I am in the world I pine for proper Thai food.

After a late morning of shopping you’ll have worked up an healthy appetite.  The food court in MBK is absolutely brilliant and nothing like the terrible food courts, littered with fast food joints, that you find in most malls around the world.

MBK manages to have a truly gigantic selection of fresh food on offer. You buy tokens on entry and fill your belly with as much as you can.  You could easly find whatever your appetite desires here and it actually has a street food feel with most of the dishes being freshly prepared in front of you.  With only a day in the city try and grab some streetfood if you can though

Bangkok has vendors on virtually every corner selling meals that will blow your mind.  Healthy soups with rice noodles, moorish spring rolls, the delicious pad thai, the list is endless.  Bangkok makes you fall in love with Thai cuisine. It’s the cheapest food imaginable with the best ingredients. Vibrant, spicy and healthy. What’s not to love?

My favorite roadside dish is steamed chicken with rice cooked in the chicken broth.  It’s served with the best dipping sauce on earth made with lots of chilli, ginger, fish sauce and soy.  You can find this dish all over South East Asia and it makes my mouth water every time I think about it.

Bangkok Street Food

Ride in a Tuk Tuk

After lunch, take spin in a tuk tuk. Some hate this form of transport and opt for air-conditioned cabs but I love the madness of a tuk tuk.

Most drivers are friendly and drive safely but it’s true, you do get the occasional nut-job that drives like a bat out of hell. I’ve experience it all and it hasn’t put me off yet.

One tip that you might find handy is to always wear/carry a light shawl whilst in the city.    You should respect the wishes of the temples and wear appropriate clothing when visiting and the rules are to cover ones legs and shoulders.

A light shirt and a shawl to wrap around your shoulders or legs is essential.  It’s often so hot in the city that you don’t want to wear trousers and long sleeve shirt, so if you take a shawl you can remove it when you’ve left the temple.  It has another use too – a way to protect yourself from the fumes of the city.

Like any capital city, Bangkok has a lot of traffic and particularly when you’re stopped at a traffic light, being open to the elements means you’ll inhale more fumes than is good for you.  Use your shawl to cover your mouth and T look after those lungs.

Driving around the city is a great way to take it all in. Make sure you haggle for a good price. Haggling is commonplace throughout South East Asia so make sure you’re not taken for an overpriced ride!

Thailand Travel – Bangkok Tuk Tuk

Chinatown in Bangkok

Yes I love Chinatown. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. No matter what country I’m in, you’ll be sure I want to see its Chinatown.  Bangkok’s Chinatown is probably my favourite to date.  I love strolling along the sidewalk and watching as the street vendors go about their day.  The shops sell bizarre fruits and dried goods that I am completely clueless as to what they are and I just love it.

Bangkok Chinatown Street-side Seafood

My food hero, Rick Stein, introduced me to the seafood restaurants of Chinatown on one of his shows and no day in Bangkok is complete without pulling up a stool and digging in.  Clams and mussels steeped in black beans and chilli, black pepper prawns and crab, razor clams, oh my goodness – it’s all too good.  I could eat there every day for the rest of my life and never be bored.

T&K Seafood in Bangkok’s Chinatown

Khao San Road

My favourite place in the city for fun and atmosphere, this travellers mecca will always be famous.  After dinner, head here for a road that comes to life and will stick with you forever.

Thailand Travel – Khao San Road in Bangkok

Khao San is packed to rafters with bars, market stalls, drunken revellers, hippy dreadlocked travellers and yes a ladyboy or two.  The energy is addictive and it’s absolutely the best place in the world for people watching.  You’ll pick up bargain clothes, souvenirs and probably a hangover on this road.

Thailand Travel – Buckets on Khao San Road

2 Backpackers Travel Community - Thailand Travel – One Day in Bangkok 2 Backpackers Travel Community - Couples traveling to Latin America for a backpacking adventure

I’m marking Halong Bay as the most scenic place I have ever visited in Vietnam. Although, I only toured the bay for 2 days and 1 night, every moment spent there was truly majestic and breathtaking.

Vietnam Travel -Scene of Halong Bay I took from a Viewpoint

Vietnam Travel -Boats and Jetski on Halong Bay

Halong BayVietnam

Indeed Halong Bay deserves to belong to the 7 Wonders of the World for having 3,000 or more limestone karsts and isles in various sizes and shapes.

Halong Bay Vietnam

Awarded by Unesco as one of the World’s Heritage Site, Halong Bay will definitely bring you closer to nature as you feast your eyes to these islands that nature molded itself.

I won't let the moment pass without having a photo in this surreal site

Hang Sung Sot Cave

Aside from the rock formations and thousands of islands in Halong Bay, the caves in the bay are also worth visiting. I ended up going inside this cave called Hang Sung Sot.  This itinerary is part of the package we purchased from ODC travel.

Hang Sung Sot Cave in Halong Bay

Hang Sung Sot Cave in Halong Bay

Inside the Hang Sung Sot Cave of Halong Bay

Scene That welcomes you as you exit Hang Sung Sot Cave of Halong Bay

Vietnam Travel - Get Surrounded by Islands of Beauty in Halong Bay

Halong Bay Sunset

Another amazing moment you can have in Halong Bay is a magnificent view of the sunset. It was my first time to see such a sunset, the color varies as the sun disappears, it’s like a wave of colors changing from hue to hue… indeed one of the most magical events I ever experienced while travelling.

Sunset at Halong Bay

Vietnam Travel - Sunset at Halong Bay

Vietnam Travel - Sunset at Halong Bay

Halong Bay is definitely worth visiting! Be sure to include this premier site during your Vietnam travels!

*meandmychucks photos were taken using Canon Powershot S95

Katrina Manalo, born and bread in the Philippines is a self-confessed travel addict and wanderer-by-nature is currently having a love affair with the world. She always knew that only the world can own her heart and only to it she will give her soul. Learn more of her world-romance at

2 Backpackers Travel Community - Vietnam Travel – Halong Bay 2 Backpackers Travel Community - Couples traveling to Latin America for a backpacking adventure

Penang is a city that deserves far more time than one day, I know.  When I spent six months living in Thailand, Penang was the most common visa run stop over.  For my friends and I, it was only ever a whistle stop tour.  Seeing as that one day was so memorable, I now have every hope of going back and spending a little longer. Malaysia travel is still sitting high up on my list. A few days here and there have helped me fall for this country in a big way and I can’t wait to go back.

Malaysia Travel - Pagoda of Ten Thousand Buddhas

Malaysia Travel – Kek Lok Si Temple

With only one day to burn, you’ll want to get a bit of culture in and Kek Lok Si Temple is absolutely worth a visit.  This Chinese Temple is on the outskirts of town, another reason why I chose to visit. Why? Because I love nothing more than using the public transport of Malaysia. It’s so cheap and economical.  I grab myself a window seat and watch this new world go by.

Malaysia Travel - Super clean buses of Penang

Arriving at the last bus stop, you spill out onto a road laid with market stalls.  It’s very tempting to duck into one of the shops and tinker about but if you glance up, you remember why you’re there!  Kek Lok Si Temple’s golden stupa gleams and entices you in.  It’s no mean feat getting to the top, with endless stairs and determined locals selling their wears on route.

Malaysia Travel - Kek Lok Si Temple

Now who doesn’t love a happy turtle? Literally hundreds (or possibly thousands – I didn’t count!) live alongside the monks of Kek Lok Si.  Ever the peaceful creatures, this turtle community are adored by all the visitors and they’re a wonderful sight as you step  into the grounds.

Malaysia Travel - Turtles of Kek Lok Si

This temple is famous for it’s Ten Thousand Buddhas which are lovingly placed throughout the grounds.  The temple has a great feel and is absolutely huge.  We stopped to light a candle and add our wish ribbon to the wishing tree.

Malaysia Travel - Prayer candles at Kek Lok Si

Malaysia Travel - Wishing ribbon at Kek Lok Si

Kek Lok Si is set high up over the city and the view from the top is incredible.  Buddha has a very happy home here.

For the rest of the day, we managed to fit in a spot of shopping at one of the many complexs around the centre city.  The shopping here has nothing on the decadence of Kuala Lumpur but it’s still worth a wander around. We spent enough time shopping to build up an appetite for our evening meal!

Malaysia Travel - Shopping in Penang

Now I might be biased with my Indian roots, but Penang (and Malaysia on the whole) has the most sensational Indian food.  We were staying very near Little India and I was literally bursting at the seams after our phenomenal traditional meal. Authentic Tandoor ovens, steaming hot masala chai and mouth watering rich curries finished off our one day in Penang perfectly.

Malaysia Travel - Little India meal in Penang

2 Backpackers Travel Community - Malaysia Travel – One day in Penang 2 Backpackers Travel Community - Couples traveling to Latin America for a backpacking adventure

Thailand travel isn’t all beaches, beer and fiery food – this fascinating country has the most beautiful jungle just waiting to be explored.  I am no trekking professional, I am a novice to say the least.  However, I look back and remember my trek in Chiang Mai as one of the best and most exhilarating things I did on this trip.

Thailand Travel - Trekking in Chiang Mai

Unless you are a seasoned pro and have battled many climbs in stifling humidity, most of you will be like me, excited by exploring the natural landscape, but not knowing what to expect.  Here are a few suggestions to make your trek inifinately more enjoyable.

Tips for Trekking

Proper Footwear

Roscoe and I trekked with a group of ten people and out of ten only six of us had proper footwear. Thankfully I was one of the prepared ones with sturdy waterproof hiking boots.  A few had trainers that were too low on the heel and unsupportive, offering little protection from the rain that came down in buckets regularly throughout the weekend.  One poor soul only had a pair of flip flops and I honestly don’t know how many times she feel over and slipped.  Whether you’ve planned for a trek in advance or do it on a whim, buy some proper footwear.

Thailand Travel - Good footwear

Water Supply

Bring the biggest bottle of water you can carry. You will need it. Dehyrdation is the biggest risk and we sweated buckets the entire time.  Even though it is heavy it’s the one real essential.

Thailand Travel - Amazing view in Chiang Mai

Waterproof Camera

Bringing a camera is essential but without proper waterproofing you’re in trouble.  Humidity, rain and dirt are all part of the deal with trekking in Thailand so make sure you not only bring a waterproof camera and/or case but extra carrier bags to further protect.

Thailand Travel - Taking photos at the top

Dry Clothes

Believe me, after a day of serious exercise and sweat you’ll be dying to get clean and washed. Our trek lasted all day on a steep incline until we reached our tiny village where we were to sleep on the first night.  A cold shower was the only option but it was just what we needed! Utterly freezing but cleansing and refreshing.  I only brought one set of dry clothes and though they were useful to change into on the first day, I really could have used something else to wear on the second day as my clothes hadn’t dried out.

Thailand Travel - Kiri trekking

Carry as lightweight clothes as you can, but ensure you have more than one set. Depending on what trek you do, there is almost always a waterfall or stream to take a dip in so swimwear is essential too. We were lucky enough to find a natural slide during our trek!

Thailand Travel - Natural slide in Chiang Mai

While trekking always make sure you look after the environment, take all rubbish away with you, have respect for the wildlife taking care not to damage beautiful plants and trees.  Visiting an elephant sanctuary is often part of Thai treks.  We stayed at a wonderful sanctuary where we could ride them and bathe them.  Just ensure that the company you choose to trek with is responsible and treating these magnificent creatures with the respect they deserve.

Thailand Travel - Feeding the elephants

There is so much to love about Thailand travel and trekking is absolutely one of the best things you will ever do.

Thailand Travel - A well deserved drink after the trek

All Images Copyright © Roscoe Duncan 2012

2 Backpackers Travel Community - Thailand Travel – Top Tips for Trekking 2 Backpackers Travel Community - Couples traveling to Latin America for a backpacking adventure

Singapore travel is a feast for the eyes with some of the most innovative and photogenic buildings imaginable.  I’ve been fortunate enough to of visited Singapore twice now and both times I’ve been blown away by it’s magnificent architecture.

Singapore Travel - Architecture of the city

Singapore is a truly cosmopolitan city awash with wealth and prosperity.  Thankfully the insurgence of modern metropolises hasn’t taken away from it’s ancient architecture and you can see both the very old and very new in one day.   The city is a mix of cultures, cuisines and the variety of the people are reflected in the archictecture of the city.

Singapore Travel - Chinatown

Chinatown, Singapore

I almost always make a beeline for Chinatown in any big city. I’ve been brought up as a huge fan of Chinatown in London and I love how vibrant the Singaporean Chinatown is.

Singapore Travel - Restaurants of Chinatown

Colourful and always busy, you could easily spend from lunch to dinner here admiring the markets and filling your belly.

Singapore Travel - Chinatown district

Marina Bay, Singapore

You can’t help but marvel at the skyscrapers that litter the skyline around Singapore’s prosperous Marina Bay.  From the minute you walk out of the MRT subway station your neck has to crane to see the glittering glass fronted buildings.

Singapore Travel - Marina Bay Skyscrapers

This area has obviously had many Singaporean dollars thrown at it and the result is a pristine waterfront bay.

Singapore Travel - Kiri at Marina Bay

Roscoe and I strolled around in the heat of the day and took huge relief in dropping into the decadent Shoppes at Marina Bay.  As budget backpackers, almost everything bar a cup of coffee was out of our league but we indulged in the free air-conditioning! If you’re on a far bigger budget than ours then this striking shopping complex with incredible lines and modernism is a shoppers paradise.

Singapore Travel - The Shoppes at Marina Bay

We couldn’t resist taking a peek at the Marina Bay Sands resort too.  This was only built a few years ago and wasn’t there on my first visit so I was quite excited to see it in all its glory.  There are few buildings in the world that look anything like it.

Singapore Travel - Marina Bay Sands Resort

We had a wander around the gigantic foyer and somehow ended up in a lift and sneaking our way to the Skypark.  Only guests with a key card are allowed but we got a sneak peak of how the other half live!  The infinity pool seems to go on for miles and the view over the city is phenomenal. I’ll be honest though, the entire place was jam packed and it didn’t look like there were any spare sun loungers.  The noise from the kids in the pool was defeaning! Despite how wealthy you’d have to be to stay here, chilling out would be next to impossible. But hey, the view would be worth it…

Singapore Travel - Marina Bay Sands Resort Skypark

Later, we wandered around the Marina and noticed how the Singapore Flyer reminded us of home and our much loved London Eye.

Singapore Travel - Singapore Flyer

Roscoe and I are both big Formula One fans and around Marina Bay you can spot the street tracks that have made the night race here so famous.

Singapore Travel - Formula One Street Racetrack

Singapore Travel Top Tips

• Subway and Skytrain travel is super cheap in Singapore. The services are always on time, run regularly, are spotlessly clean and even have televisions and radios in the carriages. Grab yourself a day pass and whizz around the city at your leisure
• The waterfront at Marina Bay is a must.  The views around the city here are unmissable
• Though you can spend all day entertained by the multi-faceted shopping complexes and smart bars and restaurants, make sure you view some of the city’s old architecture around Chinatown and Little India.

With only a few days in this city, the best thing you can do is grab a Subway or Skytrain map and explore.

All images Copyright © Roscoe Duncan 2012

2 Backpackers Travel Community - Singapore Travel – Architecture of the City 2 Backpackers Travel Community - Couples traveling to Latin America for a backpacking adventure

Thailand travel has become synonymous with Koh Phangan’s Full Moon Party. No matter what age you are, or type of backpacker, this party has to be experienced at least once in your lifetime.  I have seven Full Moon parties under my belt. Some were spent writhing around in the crowds growing massive calves from attempting the hard feat of dancing on sand. Others were spent ‘working’ behind a bar, where the booze was free flowing and I spent more time laughing at all the heathens rather than being one myself. Either way, this party is so memorable and one of the many reasons why I love Thailand.

Thailand Travel - Full Moon Party

Full Moon Party Origins

Thailand Travel - Lighting display for the Full Moon Party

Full Moon Party folklore tells us that when I was only a whisper of a thing at two years old in 1985, a large leaving party, for a group of super cool travellers on Haad Rin Beach, went down so well that some clever soul thought, “Why don’t we do this every month?” From there spawned that glorious heard-it-on-the-grapevine thing and every month since, the party has gotten bigger and bigger with around 30,000 revelers turning up each month. The Full Moon party totally deserves it’s reputation for a unique experience in paradise.

How to get to the Full Moon Party

The island of Koh Phangan is a couple of hours off Thailand’s mainland.  Most travelers take a sleeper train down from Bangkok to Surat Thani or Chumpon and then a catamaran ferry to the island for around 1,200 baht.  Increasingly, cheap flights are being offered which whisk you down from the capital city to the neighbouring island of Koh Samui.  Costs for flights vary greatly, particularly during peak seasons or New Years Eve, so booking in advance is essential.  The ferry from Koh Samui is only 45 minutes so this isn’t a bad option if you don’t have a lot of time.

Haad Rin Beach

Thailand Travel - Full Moon Party

The party happens on Haad Rin beach, a cove setting where the only road access goes over some steep and often treacherous hills that make for a white knuckled moped ride or a shaky open taxi.  Staying in Haad Rin can be convienient as this party goes on until the sun comes up and beyond, so stumbling back to your hotel makes life easy.  Most people who are on the island for more than a few days often choose to stay on quieter parts of the island. I’ve done both and it totally depends on how long your staying and how much you can afford.

I have stayed just off the beach in Haad Rin in a private fan room for as little as 400 baht.  I found this place the night before the party which was very lucky by Koh Phangan standards.  When I had friends come and visit, they stayed in a 4-star resort on the neighbouring beach, about five minutes away from Haad Rin for around 1,500 a night – and they booked a month or so ahead.  Be sensible and try to arrive a few days before with either an advance booking or time to find somewhere perfect for you.

Thailand Travel - Beach Bar at the Full Moon Party

What to bring to a Full Moon Party

Not a lot.  Firstly, who wants to be partying with a bag to lumber around? Not me.  Security is definitely something that should be adhered to during this party.  Common sense goes a long way here.

Tips for a Fun and Safe Full Moon Party:

• Only bring enough money to last you the night, under 2,000 baht should be fine. (Although I often went with less than 1,000 and had an incredible time)
• Don’t bring any valuables as they’ll likely end up waterlogged or coated in sand.
• Don’t wear your best outfit.  Neon body paint is all the rave here and it doesn’t come out of clothes, so be warned.
• Of course you’ll want to bring your camera but be careful if you do.  Don’t leave it on the bar while you order a drink, and if it’s waterproof and shock proof, even better.
• Shoes! I know it’s a beach and being barefoot makes sense but broken bottles and naked feet are not a happy combination.  The clean up effort that happens the day after the party is brilliant but you’d be amazed at how many flip flops are left behind…

Thailand Travel - Kiri getting neon painted on her at the Full Moon Party

What to see at the Full Moon Party

Look up at the moon! It lights up the beach and casts a beautiful silvery glow over the crowds.

Make sure you check out the the Thai professional fire poi dancers. They are the best in the world.  Gorgeous sun kissed Thai men, usually adorned in some pretty impressive traditional Thai tattoos, marvel the crowds with perfectly timed fire routines.  They know how to get the crowds going and  it’s easy to spend hours dancing around them.

Watch out for the fire skipping though. I am still baffled by the amount of people that think skipping rope whilst its aflame is a good idea. It’s not. If you start thinking it’s a good idea, check yourself, you may have had one too many buckets and need to have a quiet word with yourself.

Thailand Travel - Dangerous Fire Skipping at the Full Moon Party

Thailand Travel - Kiri at the end of the Full Moon Party

Burns are the most common form of injury during the party, followed by all the mad people that ride a motorbike whilst inebriated. Never a good idea, especially on the Haad Rin hills.

Lastly, if huge thronging crowds seem a bit much for you, there are many calmer, nicer bars that overlook the beach.  Here you can dance to Resident DJ’s and still enjoy the atmosphere of the party whilst staying away from the mayhem.

2 Backpackers Travel Community - Thailand Travel – Full Moon Party 2 Backpackers Travel Community - Couples traveling to Latin America for a backpacking adventure

Laos travel is not only beautiful, but also jam packed with adventure activities.  I’m a selective adrenaline junkie, and sports such as rock climbing and tubing in Laos get me going.  However, suggest jumping out of an plane, and expect me to run for the hills.  Southeast Asia travel continues to be incredibly rewarding.

Laos Travel - Sailing Away by Dave_B_, on Flickr

Laos Travel

Laos surprised me for how active we could be and just how fun it was. My partner is Mr. Sport Extroadinaire and finding the right balance between the two of us, as backpacking partners, was sometimes challenging.  Pushing your limits is often what backpacking is about though and I’m glad I pushed mine.

You’ll be pleased to hear that Laos is one of the cheapest places in the world for adventure.  The country is easily affordable on a backpacking budget.  We could keep ourselves busy without breaking the bank.

Things to do in Laos

Rock Climbing in Vang Vieng

Whether you are a novice or a pro, Vang Vieng has a rock for you to climb.  I had only tried this once before, tucked up safely in an indoor arena. This was completely different and infinitely better. Laos has some stunning landscapes and in Vang Vieng, limestone cliffs border the town and make for perfect climbs.

With a friendly guide who spoke just enough English for him to answer my burning questions: “Yes, the harness was safe” and “No, you will not fall”, I boldly had a go and heaved myself up the rockface.  There were no markers indicating where you go like an indoor arena, this was free for all, grab on and go.  I tried three climbs (5A-C) with the difficulty intensifying each time and though failing to make it to the very top, I loved every second.

Needless to say my sporty boyfriend whizzed up every wall and even surprised the instructor by trying one of the more advanced 6A ones.  What made this challenging day all the more special was the feeling of satisfaction at pushing my body to limits I didn’t know I had and doing it all with the phenomenal Laos landscape as a backdrop.

Laos Travel - Rock climbing in Vang Vieng

Tubing in Laos

Now it’s arguable whether this is an adventure sport or just a big drinking binge, but either way it deserves a place on this list.  Tubing is unique to Laos. For a small fee, a tube can be hired out and you basically chuck yourself in the water and whizz down the Mekong.  Some genius (or madman) thought to turn it into a bar crawl and now at the start of the tubing experience and all the way along, bars scatter and haul you in to partake in drinking of quite mad proportions.

Down the river you can fly off huge slides, bounce off giant inflatables and swings and generally get your heart racing. It’s often a recipe for disaster however, especially in the dry season when the river is low. Make sure you plan your trip in the wet season, when the water is high and you can drink (or not of course) and cruise down the Mekong safely in a tube. Completely random but utterly brilliant.

Laos Travel - Vang Vieng Tubing - Flickr photo credit Kressie42

Mountain Biking in Laos

Hiring a bike in Laos is so cheap it’s almost unreal. For around a dollar for a day you can venture around and explore on your own.  We chose a day where the weather didn’t look so promising and lo and behold about half an hour in the heavens opened.  Though completely off putting for me at first and one or two harsh words thrown at my man, I almost turned back. Thank goodness I didn’t as the weather cleared and I had a completely exhilarating day discovering caves and lagoons and breathing in the fragrant air from the Laotian rice fields.

Laos Travel - Vang Vieng Landscape

Caving in Laos

Laos has many caving opportunities. Some with a guide and others with as little as “here’s a head torch and off you go”. We chose the latter and got to witness the awesome Phu Kam Cave and the Golden Buddha in Vang Vieng.  Beyond the Buddha, the cave goes on for miles and I’ll be honest, it’s pretty terrifying. But those of you that aren’t terrified of the dark and death inducing sink holes will surely love it.

Laos Travel - Phu Kam Cave, Vang Vieng

The Gibbon Experience in Laos

What could be more heart racing than zip lining through rainforest hundreds of feet up in the air?  The Gibbon Experience was firmly on our bucket list.  I’m sad to say it still hasn’t been ticked off, however, as unfortunately we timed our trip during a particularly heavy wet season and much of the experience was closed down. We made the choice to keep it on the list and have something to look forward to when we inevitably return.

The Gibbon isn’t just a day trip either. You can live in the tree canopy and spend your days zip wiring around, trekking and visiting waterfalls. I can’t wait to move into my little treehouse and experience life as the mystical gibbon.

Laos Travel - The Gibbon Experience - Flickr photo credit Dave

So there you have it, strap yourself in and get your blood pumping with all sorts of adventure things to do during your Laos travel.

2 Backpackers Travel Community - Laos Travel – Top 5 Adventure Things To Do in Laos 2 Backpackers Travel Community - Couples traveling to Latin America for a backpacking adventure

When you think of Asia travel, you think Angkor Wat. There are very few people that visit Cambodia without paying a visit to this World Heritage Site.

Cambodia Travel - Angkor Wat

Asia Travel

I had often been transfixed by stunning images of these temples and was determined to explore them myself. Like many things, however, when a dream  is realised, sometimes it isn’t always exactly as you imagined…

Just like when I travelled to India and was saddened by the state of the Taj’s surrounding city, Agra, the Cambodian temples brought some disappointment in that the restoration work somehow spoiled the experience.  This is not to say that you shouldn’t visit. In fact, it’s the opposite, you most definitely should, as by time you go, the works will likely be finished.

Visiting Angkor Wat

For my partner and I, we did as we were duly told and woke at 4.30am, scuttling bleary eyed in a tuk tuk to the ticket office, hoping to catch the sun rise over these majestic temples when the site opens at 5am.  As we blinked through the dark and our eyes accustomed to the light we were sure the temples looked as though there was something covering parts of them.

As sunrise bore on and the temples shimmered into view our hearts sank at the unsightly green tarpaulin that obstructed the most iconic view of Angkor Wat.

Cambodia Travel - Angkor Wat

I couldn’t help feeling slightly miffed that when we paid our $20 fee, none of the staff thought to pre-warn us that the temples would look decidedly different to what you would expect.

In saying this though, even if I had been warned, we would have gone in anyway. We had travelled all the way from Phnom Penh and were not going to miss it for anything.

A hot cup of strong Cambodian coffee sorted us out and prepared us for our wanderings around the huge expanse of the Wat.

Cambodia Travel - Angkor Wat

The temples feature both Hindu and Buddhist sculpture but fall prominently under traditional Khmer Architecture. Built in the 12th Century, the temples were originally the capital city of Cambodia prior to Phnom Penh as it is now.  The structures are deeply weathered, crumbling under the strain of the sheer weight of the stone.

Cambodia Travel - Angkor Wat

The passage of time is most clearly shown as you walk around and see how trees have sprouted and taken root in between the walls and doorways. These iconic sights are what makes the temples so world renowned.

Cambodia Travel - Angkor Wat

An example of where the restoration work seemed to deflect from the unique history of the Wat can be seen here where a carving has been rather too obviously reworked.

Cambodia Travel - Angkor Wat

Of course, I appreciate that without some necessary restoration, ancient structures such as these may be lost forever.  It was just unfortunate that when we visited a lot of the work was so fresh, it looked somewhat fake and took away from of the original ancient beauty.

We spent the whole day, however, captivated by this beautiful place.  We got to sample some traditional Cambodian cuisine for lunch too. Well needed as the day was pretty exhausting walking around.

In summary, Angkor Wat was like nothing we had experienced before.  Nasty tarpaulin excluding, it was a fascinating day.

Travel Tips

• In my opinion, you don’t need to purchase a 3 day pass ($60) unless you are a photographer and are keen to get as many shots as possible during optimum light times around sunrise and sunset. Many of our shots were taken when the light was very bright so looked better in black and white. We were able to see all the main temples in one day.
• Take a big bottle of water with you.  A lot of the grounds are so large, it can be over an hour until you get to a cart selling drinks. We visited on a stifling hot and humid day and had failed to bring water with us. I might be being dramatic but it felt like I was trekking through the sahara at one point.
• Your guide book will tell you that sunrise is best to see the temples but remember every other traveller has been told the same thing so don’t expect to have the place to yourselves and lots of space to get a good view point. It’s SO busy at 5am!

Cambodia Travel - Angkor Wat

2 Backpackers Travel Community - Asia Travel – Angkor Wat in Cambodia 2 Backpackers Travel Community - Couples traveling to Latin America for a backpacking adventure

Laos is a country firmly set on the Southeast Asia backpacker trail.  Vientiane, the capital city, is fully deserving of this status for its beauty and its diverse range of things to see and do during Laos travel.

Laos Travel - Buddha Park, Vientiane

Laos Travel

My partner and I had heard about Buddha Park on the outskirts of town (about 25km away) and saw it is an opportunity to hire a motorbike and go exploring.  We hadn’t anticipated just how unfinished many of the roads were, however, so it’s safe to say that this was one very bumpy ride!  By the time we arrived the heavens were looking rather menacing and we just managed an hour or so to wander around before a serious monsoon storm broke.

Laos Travel - Vientiane

Buddha Park, Vientiane

From first glance, you would be right to think that this park was ancient. The sculptures all look very weathered and authentic, almost as though each piece had been removed from an ancient temple somewhere else in Laos and moved to this giant outdoor arena.

Laos Travel - Buddha Park, Vientiane

In fact, the park is relatively new. Built in 1958 the collection of sculptures pay homage to both Hinduism and Buddhism.

Laos Travel - Buddha Park, Vientiane

The scale of some of the sculptures make this place truly magnificent.  Surrounded by lush landscaped gardens, Buddha crowns and mystical figures tower above you, reaching up for the sky.

Laos Travel - Buddha Park, Vientiane

There was something stirring about the sky becoming so moody as we slowly made our way between the outstretched arms of deities and mythical figures.  I couldn’t help but imagine as I heard thunder rumble that these epic behemoths might suddenly spark into life.

Laos Travel - Buddha Park, Vientiane

One of the most striking and somewhat odd sculpture is the large pumpkin shaped one that you can climb into and out of its gaping mouth.

Laos Travel - Buddha Park, Vientiane

At the beginning of my current Round the World trip, when I arrived in India, I was very excited by all the fascinating temples that I would see both there and in Southeast Asia. By the end of five months I must say that I had a bit of temple weariness. You can only see so much statues of Buddha himself or Shiva and her many arms.

Laos Travel - Buddha Park, Vientiane

At Buddha Park, however, I couldn’t help but be newly inspired by the craftwork that goes into the sculptures that make up temples and religious sites.  This place was magnificent.

And to make the day even more memorable, our little pop pop motorbike decided not to start when we tried to leave.  We had to wait in the pouring rain for over an hour whilst the hire company came out and fixed it for us.  This would have been annoying, but in fact it just gave us more time to admire these great structures.

Laos Travel - Buddha Park, Vientiane

2 Backpackers Travel Community - Laos Travel – Buddha Park, Vientiane 2 Backpackers Travel Community - Couples traveling to Latin America for a backpacking adventure

Jade Johnston of OurOyster.com, shares her tips on travelling to the Perhentian Islands in Malaysia in this travel guest post for 2Backpackers.com.

Despite over five years of travel, and over thirty countries visited in that time, the Perhentian Islands marked two of my travel firsts. My first time travelling solo properly, and my first proper beach holiday. I know, shocking.

And like anyone, taking their first shaky steps onto new territory, I fell hard. I made a couple huge mistakes which can be easily avoided, but I also did a few things right.

Perhentian Islands. Malaysia by willposh, on Flickr

Perhentian Island Paradise

The Perhentian islands, although only taking up a page in Lonely Planet’s Malaysia book, are well known on the backpacker route. They are your typical island paradise, with long sunny days, beach parties at night, and great snorkeling and scuba diving activities. Which island you chose to stay on will depend on your budget and your travel lifestyle. Perhentian Besil, the big island, is popular with families and the typical accommodation includes resorts and hotels. Perhentian Kecil, the small island, is backpacker haven. Cheap guesthouses and dorm rooms abound, and a dorm can be obtained for as cheap as 12 ringgit a night. Thats 4 dollars!

The two islands are easily reachable from Kuala Besut by speedboat for 70 ringgit return. Kuala Besut is easily reachable from most main towns in Malaysia by bus, and I reached the town by overnight bus from Kuala Lumpur.

So below are my top 5 tips to make your visit to the Perhentian islands a memorable one. And do take these tips into consideration – as I learned several of them the hard way!

Perhentian Island by karma-police, on Flickr

Top 5 Tips for Travelling to Perhentian

1.  Arrive early to ensure you get a good room

Many of the hostels on Kecil are not available to book online, so most people search out a guest house when they arrive. This is definitely an “early bird gets the worm sort of situation,” and the decent budget rooms disappear quickly. So unless you want to sacrifice your wallet, or sacrifice the luxery of a semi decent toilet facility, try to get there early! I took the 7:30 am boat to Kecil and was lucky to therefore be the first in line for a dorm room in the cheap and very clean Tropicana Inn. Many others were waiting for a dorm room after me, but several ended up being turned away.

Top tip: take the overnight bus to Kuala Besut – that way it will be impossible for you to oversleep and miss the first ferry.

Perhentian Beach by karma-police, on Flickr

2.  Slip, Slop, Slap!

Now I know this is supposed to be common sense, but if you like me (no sense) and don’t want to end up looking like a lobster, then heed this advice. Slip on long sleeves, slop on some sunscreen, and slap on a hat. The sun on the Perhentian islands is extremely strong – and the atmosphere is extremely relaxing. A dangerous combination. Now I don’t ever need to wear sunscreen! I’m half Asian and never burn! Wrong! I ended up burnt to a crisp and having to spend the rest of my time on the Perhentian islands hiding from the sun with a book. The worst part of it – it peeled … making me paler when I got home than when I left.

Top tip – Try not to fall asleep in full sunlight in the mid afternoon!

3.  Snorkel or dive

The Perhentian islands are located in a marine reserve and the water is crystal clear and teeming with marine life. Just from standing on the pier, I was able to see several species of fish. I didn’t go snorkeling due to my having not followed tip #2, but others I spoke to raved about it. Apparently it is rather easy to see small sharks, sea turtles, sting rays, and dozens of brightly coloured fish.

Top tip – Every man, woman, and child seems to run their own diving and snorkelling excursions here, so make sure you spend some time shopping around to get the best deal.

Perhentian - Underwater by Anan Amri, on Flickr

4.  Coral bay

The main beach on Perhentian Kecil is long beach, and it is therefore lined with guest houses, shops, and restaurants. However, for a slightly less crowded beach and for cheaper eats, take the walking trail across the island (only about 500 meters) to Coral Bay. Also, be aware that the restaurants stop serving food around 7pm or 8pm, so make sure you get your dinner in before it’s too late. (Another mistake I made!)

Top tip – The restaurants in coral bay are almost half the price as those on the main beach.

5.  Bring bug spray

Since I spent most of my time in Malaysia in larger cities, I didn’t really encounter many mosquitoes or insects at all. (note: I wrote this before my last night in Malaysia – the night I got feasted upon by bed bugs!) However, in the Perhentian’s the mosquitoes are about the size of house cats – seriously! When one came at me, I had the same panic reaction as if a pigeon was swooping at my head.

Top tip – it’s better to stock up on your bug spray (and sunscreen as well) on the mainland, as prices are a bit inflated on the island.

Amazing Sunset on our last night on Besar by The Shifted Librarian, on Flickr

Well, those are my top 5 tips for travelling to the Perhentian Islands – most of them learned the hard way! It’s somewhere I definitely want to revisit – but next time with my sunscreen!

Have you been to the Perhentian islands? What are your greatest tips?

2 Backpackers Travel Community - How to Travel the Perhentian Islands 2 Backpackers Travel Community - Couples traveling to Latin America for a backpacking adventure

Children of Angkor, Cambodia

Joe Owens of A Couple Vagabonds shares photos of children he and his girlfriend met when traveling to Angkor, Cambodia.

Travel Cambodia

The Angkor region of Cambodia, near Siem Reap, is home to the incredible Angkor Wat temple. The area is best known for Angkor Wat, but there are literally hundreds of other temples and magnificent sites to see in the area. One thing that all of these sites have in common is the dozens of children working and playing in their shadows.

Cambodia Children

Most of these kids are working trying to help feed their families by selling jewelry, books about the temples, postcards and other souvenirs. Some of them were just playing in these ancient temples because it was in their backyard. All of these incredibly cute kids had an interesting story to tell, sometimes about their large families, how their employer is really some man, how they need to pay off the cops if they are caught selling in certain areas, or how sometimes they had no families at all. These kids are also very smart, they can speak many different languages so they can communicate with many of the tourists. They also know many facts about countries, like their capitals, populations, presidents, and even state capitals in the U.S.

These are some of my favorite pictures of these children in Angkor, Cambodia

Peace - Children of Angkor, Cambodia

Trying to beat the competition to the new customers

Sitting down on the job - Children of Angkor, Cambodia

Waiting for a new target - Children of Angkor, Cambodia

Taking a break to play a game - Children of Angkor, Cambodia

Selling postcards - Children of Angkor, Cambodia

No board or pieces required - Children of Angkor, Cambodia

More postcards - Children of Angkor, Cambodia

Relaxing - Children of Angkor, Cambodia

Friends - Children of Angkor, Cambodia

Looking cute - Children of Angkor, Cambodia

Sisters - Children of Angkor, Cambodia

Taking a break to play tic-tac-toe against the foreigner - “You lose! Now you buy something!”

2 Backpackers Travel Community - The Children of Angkor, Cambodia 2 Backpackers Travel Community - Couples traveling to Latin America for a backpacking adventure

Josh Aggars of flipflopscity.com shares his experience trying to surf the big waves of the Fiji Islands.

Flying into Fiji was a step into the unknown. After two months of surfing my way around New Zealand with my crew I was now heading out alone to confront waters that I had heard little about beyond the books. Usually I know of at least one friend who has surfed a given spot but on this occasion I was fresh out and feeling a little unnerved but excited at the prospect.

Arriving to Fiji to Surf

Peering out the window of the plane I would catch glimpses of small island chains beneath the occasional breaking cloud as we rocked and jolted our way through a heavy seasonal storm. Would the local lineups be welcoming? Would I manage to communicate my way to the best breaks? And would this bucket of rust make it through the next lightening flash? I gripped my seat belt ever tighter and waited to find out.

Am I in India?

After arriving into Nadi on the main island of Viti Levu I did the usually unthinkable for a semi-reserved Englishman and kissed the ground. Swiping the gravel and dust off my lips and chin I forsook to never fly again and made my way through passport control and out into Fiji real.

No sooner was I out on the curbside hailing a taxi than a rather unusual thought struck me, “Am I in India?” This wasn’t some kind of racial slur but an observation that I had yet to see what rugby World Cup coverage had always taught me Fijians would look like.

I’d been in India only months before and I was pretty much certain that I was in fact back via some strange Bermuda triangle like feedback loop. My poshest Queen and country inner monologue voice told me this was, “Odd, most odd indeed.”

Having hailed a cab and began my journey into town I dug out my dog eared copy of lonely planet to find an answer to my question. As it turns out a large number of Indians travelled over to Fiji during colonial times to work the sugar cane fields. At the end of direct rule from England all the workers were given the option to repatriate but the majority chose to stay. As I was to soon find out that choice was made fairly easy by this most beautiful of island states.

Where to Surf in Fiji

Having spent a night getting acclimatized in Nadi I was keen to get back in the water and so headed for Tavarua, home to two of the best known breaks in the country, Restaurants and Cloudbreak. Getting there was no easy matter. I had to pay an over the odds $65 for passage on a charter boat to gain access to the waves for the island itself is a private resort for which I didn’t have the means. In fact, the waves here had only just opened up to non-residents of the island after a government decree, so myself and the couple of Ozzies on my boat were feeling pretty good until we got there.

Surfing at Restaurants, Fiji

Upon arrival at Restaurants we were greeted by what I like to term, “a ruddy nightmare.” There was no swell, nada, zip. It was like the Gods had spotted where I was on the map, had a quick chat with the swell captain and laid the sea flat. “He had enough surf in New Zealand and he never thanked us for it so forget him,” they all muttered.

This was not good. A hamster couldn’t surf these waves in any contentment. We only had a few hours before the boat would head back so we turned our attentions to the epic Cloudbreak.

Surfing at Cloudbreak, Fiji

This reef break, whilst better, was not serving up the sets of lore I had been expecting. I can’t tell you how disappointing this was. To see pictures and read stories of the epic 30 foot waves in the book in my hands and then gaze tearfully at the half empty specter that greeted us was enough to make us question whether to throw el Capitan over the side given his sales pitch about today’s good swell back at the quay.

We got in the water and did the best we could pulling off some sweet snaps and floaters and enjoying what we had. The reef was pretty shallow so I was glad not to be trying this in waves of any real power, but still I couldn’t help but feel a bit cheated having travelled so far and being so meager of budget.

Nadi, Fiji

I returned to my backpacker’s hostel in downtown Nadi somewhat downbeat after my less than life changing experience and decided to go find some fun for the night. I met some fellow surfers over from the States on the porch of the hostel and we started compare stories. They had been out for the past few days and had a similar experience which lifted my spirits a little and we decided the only right thing to do would be to get some beers and sit on the beach.

Over a campfire, drinks and songs with some locals the surf was quickly forgotten and all attention turned to what an incredibly beautiful people and place this was. The harmonies the Fijian lads produced were hypnotic as were some of the guitar melodies. One of them, George, explained to me how he had left the family island a while back to work in the resorts and had to send money back to his brother who was compelled to stay by tradition on the family island being the eldest son.

To the Mamanuca Islands… Fast!

I decided to use the majority of my remaining budget to visit the Mamanuca Islands rather than risk more on the charter boat and so took the ferry out the next morning. Upon arrival I ventured into the local village with a couple of other backpackers and were welcomed with a Cava drinking ceremony and dance. That’s my kind of welcome!

Everyone was incredibly friendly and fun leaving me in no doubt I’d spent my money wisely with this expedition. We were shown around the village by the minister of the church who explained the subsistence lifestyle of the people. Most of the men were off fishing which seemed to be a pretty great way to spend a day in this environment.

Before leaving we were given a parting dance and more Cava. It was all so relaxing I almost felt like debunking and staying. Alas I had plans 1,000 miles away and a date I had to keep so made my excuses, more to myself than any of the locals (what did they care afterall?) and headed back to Nadi.

Two days later I was flying out and leaving behind two of the best waves I have yet to surf properly, a stunning island chain and incredibly warm and hospitable people. I can’t help but feel I’m meant to go back before long. Now, if only I could find more change down the back of this couch.

2 Backpackers Travel Community - Surf Fiji Islands 2 Backpackers Travel Community - Couples traveling to Latin America for a backpacking adventure