We could sum Chiang Rai up in one word: creative. There’s a creative streak evident in much of the city. It’s in the ornate street lights, the unique crafts on sale and, most famously, in three buildings which have to be seen to be believed.
Temple hopping in Chiang Mai
We flew into Chiang Mai excited to get to know Thailand. Its’ food, culture and temples were at the forefront of our thoughts when planning this trip, and as it turned out Chiang Mai was a great place to start.
Something like a Phnomenon: Phnom Penh
We arrived in Phnom Penh with very little preconceptions. It wasn’t a city we’d known a lot about before heading out, and previous experience with big cities had shown them to be varying combinations of traditional and more recent developments. So we came here with an open mind, and left with mixed feelings.
Battambang: a one tour town
We wanted to break up the journey to Phnom Penh, and read some good things about Battambang. Unfortunately most of them we disagreed with, but there were some positives which came from one insightful tour.
Raiding the tombs of Siem Reap
From Vietnam we flew down to Cambodia, starting in Siem Reap. Here we ticked off another of our must-see sites: the incredible ruins of Angkor Wat.
Five reflections on Vietnam
Now that we’ve wrapped up our individual posts on Vietnam, it’s time to think back and share any tips, recommendations and general reflections of the country as a whole.
Back and forth: our staggered time in Hanoi
Either side of our cruise we spent a few days in Hanoi. Part staying with a friend, the rest in a hotel near Hoan Kiem Lake. It was a mixed experience, and unfortunately the place we enjoyed least in Vietnam.
Granny McNally
Today, I write from a small Thai island, 5000 miles away as my family say goodbye to the woman who led us. My gran, Rosa McNally, reigned at the epicentre of our family, raising seven children and caring for countless grand and great grandchildren throughout her 97 years. We were travelling when she became unwell,…
Cat Ba Island: our cruise continues
Last time we experienced the ups and downs of Halong Bay, but our cruise didn’t end there. We continued to Cat Ba Island which offered stunning views and an insight into what could lie ahead for this part of the world.
Halong can we sing this song? Cruising Halong Bay
This was a big one: Halong Bay has been on our travel hitlist for years, so we approached Hanoi with the objective of making our way out there as soon as possible. It was incredible, although not without some negatives. Booking our cruise: a wealth of options There are a bewildering number of tour operators…
Bonnie Voyage 