With the flurry of holiday festivities in full swing, my husband Steve and I were challenged with making plans for our LONG AWAITED vacation together. It’s been 4 years since we have had the chance to get away as hubby and wife on one of our overseas adventures Planning needed to start ASAP to coordinate with Steve 2015 work schedule, frequent flyer and dog sitter availability and the upcoming birth of a new grandbaby in January. There is so much going on here my head is spinning and I LOVE EVERY MINUTE OF IT. Planning a trip is almost as much for me as the actual journey!!
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ABOVE YOU CAN SEE THE GENERAL LAYOUT OF SOUTHEAST ASIA WITH THAILAND BEING THE DARK GREEN SECTION TO THE LEFT OF LAOS
As many of you know we love the off the beaten path experiences on our vacations and as much as we both love to “wing it”, having a stellar itinerary is really important . So many of the best of the best things to see aren’t in the tour books and have to be researched ahead of time. Local foods, customs, photography etiquette, proper dress, currency, safety etc are all things that are really important when wandering off the tourist trail. A few of the highlights I’ve started to research and book in Laos include:
THE LAOTIAN FOOD COOKING SCHOOL IS GOING TO BE A BLAST! WE GET TO SHOP FIRST THEN COOK OVER OPEN FIRES
We have only just now decided where we are going, so in the past few days I have managed to book the LAST ROOM at an incredible top rated guesthouse on the riverfront in Laos (about 50.00 USD a nite!!!) and reservations in a local cooking school. A real value for an entire day of fun , entertainment , education and an experience of a lifetime. We did the cooking school in Chiang Mai Thailand on our last vacation and talk about it often.
THIS IS THE GUESTHOUSE IN LAOS THAT I BOOKED . LOCATED ON THE RIVER WITH A PRIVATE DECK
AWESOME BATHROOM!!! SO MANY IN SE ASIA HAVE OPEN CEILINGS. THE GECKOS JOIN THE PARTY!!
THE WATERFALLS IN LAOS AND PLENTIFUL AND GORGEOUS. MY CAMERA IS EXCITED TO GET THERE!
AS ALWAYS….WE MUST SEE THE COUNTRYSIDE VIA WATER . IN LAOS THE “LONGBOAT” IS A POPULAR MODE OF TRAVEL
There is also a Sunbear and Moonbear sanctuary in Laos I am arranging a visit to that is nearby one of the waterfalls as well as a butterfly sanctuary for rare species!! And this is just the tip of the iceburg in my research. I haven’t even gotten to looking at what we want to do in Vietnam as we will be both in the north and south. We have always wanted to return after our short trip to Hanoi a number of years ago. There is so much to do….we need to prioritize which is hard!!
Well that’s the gist of what is upcoming in early 2015. I will be updating on the planning of our trip since I’ know that has always been popular with Graffiti Gossip readers. You will be virtual tourists traveling along with us every step of the way!!
Hi auntie Sandra… keep your trip plan on hand and send it to us ( PM ) after your return to the USA as mommy like’s to do the same trip after you and uncle Steve will be back home — !!! Don’t forget all details… meanwhile will keep on reading of it….. love you,Shirin..
I asked Tom if he would like to “go back.” His reply: “Yeah, I think I would. I’ve never been on the ground in any of those places.” LOL
Shirin and Helene you I will keep the entire itinerary and contacts on Tripit and share with you after the trip . I really love doing the research and it would be nice if others can use it too.
Jan, I was wondering where Tom had been in Vietnam. Obviously in the air looking down..LOL! We sure loved Vietnam last time and are really looking forward to seeing more of the country and Laos has been on our list for a long time. The best part is I finally get some chill time with Steve. 4 years is too long. I thought he was never going to find a break to get away from work
Tom was stationed at Korat Royal Thai Air Force Base for both his tours in SEA. He saw Vietnam and Laos (a place a USAF pilot NEVER wanted to be) from the air. We would love to go to Cambodia, too.
So glad you and Steve are getting some time to spend together. Retirement has relieved that problem for us, the only problem now being that sometimes there is TOO MUCH time to spend together. LOL
We are heading to San Diego…reservations at the Navy’s rec area on Coronado Island. (We go the the Hotel Del Coronado and turn left.) Then north to Seal Beach…we hope to catch up with Valerie while we are there. I’ve got her bear ready to go home.
Wishing you and Steve and very Merry Christmas and a wonderful new year!!! We love you!
Did I say that I’m jealous??? Traveling…food…butterflys and moonbears???? Sighhhh
Diana, as I’m making plans I keep having flashbacks of our amazing trip to Thailand and China. I was so surprised to find there was a moonbear rescue where we are going and they have a lot of sunbears too. I’ll take a ton of pix for you girlfriend!!!!!!