Butterflies and Flat Tyres

Other than the fact that Yangon is as hot and humid as Malaysia this place could not be more different. Myanmar is a very poor country and that is sadly reflected in the capital. The first sign being the rundown buildings, one can see that once these buildings were amazingly…

I have not quite decided why the government has a border post between Thai and Malaysia as it is decidedly the easiest border to cross outside of Europe. It is the easiest country to take a bike into with no customs controls what so ever. I went to the customs…

After leaving the dramatic spectacular scenery in the north of Thailand and along the Thai Myanmar boarder I started heading south and spent the night in Kanchanaburi on the river Kwai. I was in this, then sleepy little, town about 8 years ago and my goodness what a change. I…

My second favourite tar road on my trip (the first being in Laos) is in Thailand from Mae Sariang to Mai Sot along the Thai Myanmar border.  Not only is the scenery spectacular as expected but it’s the little things that I just loved. I ride a combination of twisties…

Heading out of Luang Prabang for Muang Nguen the border to Thailand, I decide to take the slightly longer route as I had been told by some locals that it’s been raining and the road is washed away in parts on the other route. Well it turns out that his…

Passing the tiny villages dotted along my route, they are made up of a few tiny grass / reed huts set right on the road on shorts stilts, and seeing the children doing their chores reminded me of the story Tom in Vang Vieng told me. I had commented about…

The road closer to Vang Vieng starts to get decidedly more exacting meandering through lush fields and over small rivers WOW now I am just beginning to understand the beauty of this country. I arrive in Vien Viang and ask a couple of backpackers if they could recommend a good…

I have been told that unlike Thailand and Cambodia Laos has no sex tourism as the government won’t stand for it. I hope this is true and if so stays this way as this country is truly one of the most beautiful places with the most beautiful people. I wish…

Now I’m back on the road and really happy. Today I headed out of Bangkok and left with completely mixed feelings of excitement and trepidation. The worst part of the bike mishaps has been how much it’s shattered my confidence for riding alone.  I am so worried about the bike…

Monday 1st October Now I’m also as peeved with the shipping agent as Richard. The agent asked when I want my bike delivered to Bangkok and I said Monday (thinking I could then get it out of customs on Tuesday, Originally I told him I wanted to fetch it on…