501 Places

As our month in SE Asia nears its all too rapid conclusion, our thoughts are turning to life on our return home. While it’s true every time we travel that getting back to normal seems to take no time at all, there are a few elements of travelling in Laos and Cambodia that have become [...]

I heard much about Vientiane being a very laid back capital where there is little to do for the visitor. After spending over a week in Laos it was hard to imagine anything other than a chilled city as the centre of this smiling, easy-going nation. Happily, Vientiane lived up to its billing, with one [...]

In the West we are familiar with the Vietnam War, where millions of American soldiers went to fight the communist forces of the north during the 1960s and early 1970s. Few are aware however that the bulk of the carnage inflicted by both sides in that war in fact fell on Laos, desperately unfortunate in [...]

If you visit Laos you will almost certainly spend at least some of your time in Luang Prabang. While Vientiane is the adminstrative capital there is little doubt that Luang Prabang is the cultural, historic and tourism centre of Laos. If you travel here by boat as we did, approaching the city along the Mekong [...]

There are several ways to travel between the Thai-Lao border and the ancient city of Luang Prabang. The bus journey takes around 10 hours on roads that leave a lot to be desired. Most people choose to travel along the Mekong River as it meanders south through lush Lao countryside and passes simple villages that [...]

Dec 5th is a very important day in Thailand. It is the day on which this nation celebrates the birthday of its beloved king. As well as being a public holiday, it is a time of national celebration. We flew on the morning of the 5th from Bangkok to Chiang Rai. Travelling to the airport [...]

It might be the noise and smells on the streets. It might be the signs written in an unfamiliar script. A part of it is almost certainly the change in heat and humidity. Whatever it is, there is something exhilarating about arriving in a new city, in a new country, at the start of another [...]

I grew up in Nottingham and spent my adult life moving around many of England’s provinces, but until recently never lived near to London. I often saw the lights of the London at Christmas on the TV and wondered what I was missing. So earlier this week we took the chance to see the lights [...]

If you decided on the spur of the moment that you fancied a pint at the George and Dragon, forget it. This is one pub where you have to plan ahead with military precision. Although it may appear like an ordinary village pub, worn down over time but retaining the charm of years long passed, [...]

In a couple of days we will head off to SE Asia and spend the rest of the month away from home. It will be the first time in the life of 501 Places that I will be away for such an extended period, and I can’t wait to get going. I will take a [...]