Sanctuary
What can US$50 get you in the Green Season in Laos? Both, much more than you’d expect, and exactly what you’d expect.
Asia
Birthday Weekend on the Nam Ngum
It’s my birthday [again], so we’re heading up to the lake! Our usual place is closed for renovations — a perfect excuse to try some place new.
Dazed & Confused
Back in Laos, Noe and I are up at sunrise following a harrowing night chasing elusive z’s — merely the first of several, it turns out.
A New Beginning
Noe tries out a new daycare after a three-month hiatus, and we inadvertently crash a fashion fundraising event at one of Lao’s finest restaurants.
Seoul Stopover
Three zombies roam the streets of Seoul on a 12-hour layover with three objectives: Stay awake, meet an old friend, and make it out before nuclear Armageddon.
In-Between Days
Keeping things fun at the height of monsoon, enjoying Noe’s summer milestones and preparing for the year’s biggest adventure!
Koh Samet: In Search of the Perfect Beach
We venture to the far south of the island to Wai Bay. Could this prove to be the perfect beach we’ve searched for all these years? We’ll find out!
Koh Samet Cove Hopping
On some islands, you beach hop. On Koh Samet, you cove hop. Today, we visit five distinct coves without setting foot on a lick of blacktop.
Island Life on Koh Samet
Awake early in the small Thai fishing village of Ban Phe with a couple of unhappy stomachs. Nothing that some tropical beach time won’t cure!
Island Escape: Bangkok to Ban Phe
With work obligations finished, we’re off on our long overdue first beach holiday since moving to Southeast Asia!
Bangkok: Adventures Along the Sukhumvit Line
Noe and I explore Bangkok on our own while Lori attends a physical therapy conference … until we decide to sneak our way into the conference, posing as Dr. Singha and his esteemed colleague, Professor Peepoo.
Bangkok, Old & New
Starting the week on old Rattanakosin Island, before relocating into the exploding high-rise jungle of Eastern Bangkok.
Trip Report: Ancient Siamese Capital of Ayutthaya
Ayutthaya. For over four centuries, the magnificent center of the Siamese kingdom. Say it three times fast and you just may give yourself TMJ.
Bangkok: Khaosan Road and the Temple of Dawn
Continuing on our Saturday out in Bangkok, we catch a ferry to the Temple of Dawn (Wat Arun) and cool down with some drinks along Bangkok’s infamous Khaosan Road.
Bangkok, Baby
After nine months of living in Laos, we finally make it down to the Big City, a mere 400 miles south of Vientiane (but a world apart).
Noe’s First Birthday
Noe had a pensive air about him on his first birthday. Mommy hasn’t been coming home at lunchtime as much lately, but for some reason, he must have sensed today was different.
One Year Old!
Not quite walking yet, Noe seems to think he’s much older than his 12 months may suggest, and has the hutzpah to prove it.
Due Date & Daddy Day
My very first Father’s Day Weekend as a full-fledged dad, and incidentally Noe’s first Daddy Day as a son. Guess that’s how this dad thing works.
Laos Life: Phontan House
We’ve been living in our lovely Lao home for eight months, but haven’t gotten an opportunity to really talk about it — until now!
Laos Life: 1-11 June 2017
A therapy-inducing mall experience, Noe’s Houdini-inspired antics, a date night, and the long-anticipated reveal of what Noe eats and where we get it from!
Vang Vieng: Nadao Village (aka Elephant Adventure Village)
Following our failed attempt at climbing to a lookout point, we were in need of some mulberry pancakes and an easy stroll around a traditional village. Luckily, we knew just the place.
Vang Vieng: An Ill-Fated Attempt at Climbing Pha Ngeun
We were told that it was a 500-meter, 30-minute climb to a stunning view at the top of a karst peak. Back at the parking lot two hours later, it was clear our sources must have been smoking some very strong wacky-tobacky.
Vang Vieng: Thavonsouk Resort
We were content with our previous stay’s lodging in Vang Vieng, but decided to take a chance on Thavonsouk and can’t imagine staying anywhere else in the future!
Vang Vieng Weekend
We’re definitely overdue for some Vang Vieng time. Following a couple of failed attempts we’re finally back in this amazingly beautiful and seductive place.
Return of the Monsoon
When the rains came, they came with a fury. It rained intermittently throughout the weekend, and then for three straight days with literally no break. Our dry, dusty neighborhood turned to mush, and our freshly weeded and trimmed yard quickly […]
Eleven Months Old
Noe just turned eleven months old this past May 21st, which means he’s mere weeks away from being A ONE-YEAR-OLD! And consequently, mere weeks away from officially becoming a toddler.
Laos Life: 1-8 May 2017
The first week of May was about the most fun and relaxing we’ve had in a while here in Vientiane. The weather’s been brutally hot over the past week, but we know that the wet season is just around the […]
Nathe Village & Casino Roy-Lao
We spent the May Day holiday weekend here in Laos, only about 15 miles (as the crow flies) from our house, but a whole other world from central Vientiane. This is what we missed about Laos when we were trying […]
River Time
Lori and I decided it was time to get back to Rivertime Ecolodge and Resort to expel the bad juju of our last visit and have ourselves a relaxing weekend on the river — and there are few places we […]
Laos Life: 20-28 April 2017
We had about ten days between the end of the Pi Mai holiday and the May Day/ Worker’s Day/ Labor Day holiday weekend to relax at home and spend some time in Vientiane. Well, relax, I suppose is a relative term […]
Noe’s 10th Month
Well, it’s official. The Mister is quickly becoming a little boy right before our very eyes. No longer content to be catered to, he wants to do everything himself […]
Thakhek: Cave Hopping and Hiding from the Heat
We hit the road for a short day trip east of Thakhek to explore the caves along Road 12 — and grab some lunch at Green Climbers Home — before returning to the city and rejoining the Pi Mai festivities.
Thakhek: Bathing the Buddhas, Strolling the Strip
Noe was nursing a hangover, so we decided to stay close today. The plan is to walk around the French colonial section of Thakhek, then do the cave circuit just outside of town heading east along Road 12. We’ll see […]
Retracing “The Loop” with Two More Wheels and a Baby
Today, we’re attempting to retrace our 2012 “Laos Loop” motorbiking adventure. This time, we’re doing it in reverse with a baby! Oh, and did I mention we’re doing it in a 4×4 pickup this time? Tiny details…
Konglor: Farewell 2559!
Yep, it’s the last day of 2559! Hard to believe it’s almost 2560 — Time sure flies. We’re spending the day in and around Konglor Village.
Konglor: Rave at the Cave
Racing through 7 km-long Konglor Cave on a longtail boat was one of the highlights of our motorbiking adventure around Central Laos in 2012, so we were very excited to have the chance to relive the experience in 2017. But what about Noe, you ask? He’s coming too, of course!
Lao New Year in Konglor Village
Sabaidee Pi Mai! It’s Pi Mai time in Laos! That festive time of year when the temps and crime soars, beer and water flow unrestrained, social mores are cast aside, and expats attempt to flee Vientiane in droves […]
Laos Life: 1-9 April 2017
It’s Pi Mai season in Laos! Pi Mai is Lao New Year — the biggest and most widely-celebrated festival in all of Laos! It also coincides with the hottest time of year here in Laos, […]
Night at the Museum
The National Museum is moving out of its downtown home of forty years. So, how do Laotians mark such an occasion? With a little Michael Jackson, of course.
Imojev and Breastfeeding: Another (Minor?) Crisis
Is it safe for a breastfeeding mother to get the Japanese Encephalitis IMOJEV vaccine? How we suddenly found ourselves asking this question, after-the-fact, and what we learned from the experience.
Date Night
Date night in Vientiane! Three bars, two puzzling toilets, and one quirky French restaurant. About as exciting as it gets for a date night around here, and that’s just fine with us. In a previous post, I mentioned that we […]
Hiking Phou Phanang
This day hike in a National Bio-Diversity Conservation Area might be as close as it gets to a true Vientiane-area hike.
9 Months with Noe
Nine Months!!! Another eventful month with the Mister in Laos. He’s [scarily] becoming more and more human every day, which is both exciting and challenging […]
Hospital Days in Thailand
After bribing Thai nurses in miniskirts with his cuddles, Noe gets moved from the ICU to the ward, and I lose my creepy (yet kind of awesome) bachelor pad.
Uncle Lee & Aunt Jamie Visit Laos
In early January, we were very excited to get word that our close friends Lee and Jamie were going to come out from the Bay Area to visit us in Laos […]
Laos Life: 7-12 March 2017
Noe’s back on his feet after feeling a bit under the weather the past few days. Seems that everyone’s kids are sick these days. Cold season, I guess. Well, not cold as in cool, of course. We’ve been having something […]
Naga View
Noe seems to have strange fixation on the sunrise, as he wakes Lori up right about then every morning to feed. Can’t say I blame him. It’s been too long since we visited our beloved “Baby Lady” restaurant and […]