as you've probably noticed, we fell behind in keeping up with our blog for the past while, but we do intend to finish our stories and post the remainder of our photos one day soon. so, just to get you up to speed as to our whereabouts since the beginning of 2009, here is a list of the places we've been since our last post, after we left luang prabang in laos. photos and stories to follow later.
--
vang vieng. laos.
january 10th - 17th. 2009
anticipation met by disappointment. a very sweet family run guesthouse. our first ever bike ride together... yes, after 23 years! lingering around way too long waiting for something to happen, but nothing really did.
--
vientiane. laos.
january 17th - 21st. 2009
a mad scramble to find somewhere to stay. walking. walking and more walking. stumbling across the phenomenal ho phra keo museum. what a find! gourmet food.
--
pakse. laos.
january 22nd - 26th. 2009
another visit to the hospital. pink eye!! yikes! but i survive. the bolavean plateau. swimming. coffee plantations. many new friends from germany.
--
champasak. laos.
january 26th - 28th. 2009
a beautiful 2 hour slow morning boat ride along the mekong to get to here. a long and sweaty bike ride to ancient wat phu.
--
don khong. si phan don. laos.
january 28th - 31st. 2009
big island. big chill. a chance to relax and get sick. just a little though. watched the vibrant life along the mekong.
--
don khon. si phan don. laos.
january 31st - february 1st. 2009
early morning boat ride from don khong to don khon. followed by a full day on the bikes, then a beautiful late afternoon spent on small island rocks watching the irrawaddy dolphins play in the mekong.
--
stung treng. cambodia.
february 1st - 3rd. 2009
stranded at the border crossing for a few hours in the morning heat. some confusion adjusting to a new country.
--
kratie. cambodia.
february 3rd - 5th. 2009
the home of krolan (snack of sticky rice packed in bamboo). a bike ride to nearby kampi to see the irrawaddy dolphins again.
--
phnom pehn. cambodia.
february 5th - 10th. 2009
meeting new friends. our hosts monika, yeng and meow. back in the hustle of a big city.
--
siem reap. cambodia.
february 10th - 14th. 2009
the magnificent angkor. overwhelming, unbelievable, inspiring. the sweltering afternoon heat.
--
phnom pehn. cambodia.
february 14th - 16th. 2009
movies. home cooked meals and banagrams!
--
ban lung. ratakaniri. cambodia.
february 16th - 22nd. 2009
yeak loam arts group. a volunteer opportunity to creatively help out a local arts group. for now, an ongoing project.
--
phnom pehn. cambodia.
february 22nd - 25th. 2009
pp round three. preparing to depart for vietnam. a sad goodbye to our new friends. we'll be in touch.
--
chau doc. vietnam.
february 25th - 27th. 2009
a crazy high speed boat (not our intention), two border checkpoints. our way into vietnam. a surprisingly interesting city with much to offer, even a vegetarian restaurant!
--
can tho. vietnam.
february 27th - 28th. 2009
fabulous floating markets in the mekong delta. our sad farewell to the mekong river.
--
saigon (ho chi minh city). vietnam.
february 28th - march 4th. 2009
moto culture is a alive and well here. try crossing the street. a vibrant bustling city, a blending of old and new ways.
--
hue. vietnam.
march 5th - 9th. 2009
cooler temperatures prevail! paths cross with some old friends.
--
hanoi. vietnam.
march 10th - 16th. 2009
a time to chill. random wanderings in search of food.
--
halong bay. vietnam.
march 16th - 17th. 2009
staying afloat. a night on a boat in the bay. starry night? calm. serene. beautiful.
--
hanoi. vietnam.
march 17th - 19th. 2009
paths cross with an even older friend! getting ready to leave south east asia and back to familiar territory.
--
hong kong.
march 19th - 27th. 2009
everything is so expensive! meeting up with old friends and new friends. applying for a new chinese visa.
--
shanghai. china.
march 27th - april2. 2009
futuristic modern china. sore necks from looking up too much. "hai", my chinese namesake... is there a special connection for me here?
--
xiamen. fujian. china.
april 2nd - 4th. 2009
a stepping stone to the tulou earth houses in yongding, but we both really liked it here... a lot.
--
yongding. hakka earth houses. fujian. china.
april 4th - 6th. 2009
the long standing and impressive hakka earth houses. round. square. communal. spectacular.
--
xiamen. fujian. china.
april 6th - 9th. 2009
making new friends. relaxing and watching heroes season 2 again. planning our next moves which proves to be a little tough.
--
chengdu. sichuan. china.
april 9th - 23th. 2009
back in the doo to visit my sister again. many yummy home cooked meals. relax. catch up with family.
--
jiuzhaigou valley. sichuan. china.
april 23rd - 26th. 2009
blue. blue. beautiful blue. words cannot describe the incredible nature here.
--
chengdu. sichuan. china.
april 26th - 29th. 2009
preparing to leave. lingering in our new home :) a sad goodbye to my sister. hopefully it won't be too long before we see you again.
--
dunhuang. gansu. china.
may 01st - 6th. 2009
in the middle of absolutely nowhere. the desert. sand dunes... big sand dunes. unreal landforms. a glimpse of the western great wall.
--
urumqi. xinjiang. china.
may 07th - 11. 2009
the most inland city in the world. farthest from any ocean. new friends and a lively night market. making a tough decision to come home early.
--
beijing. china.
may 11 - 12th. 2009
on our way home. no time to visit beijing this time.
...until we meet again
