This is a running list of where we’ve been and where we hope to go next. We will update the actual itinerary as we execute it. As we don’t really have any tickets, all future dates are tentative. All prices are per person (pp) unless otherwise indicated
November 11th, 2013: Bye bye ‘merica
- United flight from Denver to Tokyo
- All Nippon Airways flight from Tokyo to Manila
- Booked our flight for $18 and 32,500 frequent flier miles!
+November 12 – 28, 2013Philippines
Exchange rate during our stay: 43 Philippine Pesos (PHP) : 1 USD
- Stayed at Our Melting Pot hostel in Makati City
November 13th: League Ultimate
- Explored the Greenbelt Malls on Makati Ave.
- Picked up at local ultimate draft league night in Manila
- Went to league party after games
- People met: Lester Sualog, Ben from Bangkok, Anais, Bryan
- Stayed at Our Melting Pot hostel in Makati City
- Rode Jeepney and LRT to Intramuros and Fort Santiago
- Walked around Rizal Park and Children’s Playground
- Dined with Lester at Wingman
- Stayed at Our Melting Pot hostel in Makati City
- Lisa picked up with local women’s team on Friday
- Played with local team Sid Vicious on Saturday and Sunday
- Saturday night tournament party, costume-making at Lester’s
- People met: JC, Mitzie, Randall, Asha
- People traveled with: Amy Smith
- Stayed at Our Melting Pot hostel in Makati City
November 18th: Travel from Manila to El Nido
- AirAsia flight to Puerto Princesa, Palawan ($31)
- 9-hour mini-bus ride to El Nido (500 PHP)
- People met: Efren, Gilad (Israel)
- Stayed at Casa Avelina
- Traveled with: Efren, Jeerly, Mars and Darren (Manila), Gilad, Richard (Munich)
- Tour C: Matinloc Island, Helicopter Island, Snorkeling
November 22nd: Travel from El Nido to Manila
- 5-hour mini-bus to Puerto Princesa (400 PHP)
- 1-hour flight to Manila on AirAsia
- Hang out with ultimate friends
- Stayed at Our Melting Pot Hostel (700 PHP)
November 23rd: Travel from Manila to Banaue
- Overnight bus (10:00pm – 7:00am Ohayami Trans, 9 hours, 450 PHP)
November 24th: Banaue / Batad
- Breakfast at Las Vegas
- Leave bags at Randy’s Brookside Inn (free)
- short tricycle to Banaue Viewpoint (150 PHP for all 3 of us)
- hike from Banaue Viewpoint back to the hostel (3 hours)
- 1hr tricycle to Batad Junction (350 PHP for all 3 of us)
- 45min hike to Batad
- stay overnight in Batad at Rita’s Mount View Inn (200 PHP)
- People traveled with: Bryce (San Francisco, USA)
- People met: Shannon (Thunder Bay, Canada), Marielle (Holland), Alvin (Toronto, Canada)
November 25th: Batad / Tapiya Falls / Banaue
- hike to Tapiya Falls (1.5hr round trip)
- hike back to Batad Junction (3 hours)
- 1 hr tricycle back to Banaue (400 PHP all 3 of us)
- stayed at Randy’s Brookside Inn (200 PHP)
- People traveled with: Bryce
November 26th: Hapao Hot Springs
- 1hr tricycle to Hapao (350 round-trip for both of us)
- 1 hr hike (one-way) to hot springs
- Stayed at Randy’s Brookside Inn in Banaue (200 PHP)
- People traveled with: Shannon & Marielle
November 27th: Travel from Banaue to Manila
- Overnight bus (Ohayami Trans, 7:00pm, 450 PHP)
November 28th: Travel from Manila to Hanoi
- Cebu Pacific direct flight for $45
- Stayed at Little Hanoi Hostel 1 in Hanoi Old Quarter (126,000 VND)
- People met: Sarah and Valentine (Germany)
+November 29 – December 29, 2013Vietnam
Exchange rate during our stay: 21,102 Vietnamese Dong (VND) : 1 USD
November 29th: Hanoi Music Festival
- Stayed with Hoang, our couchsurfing host in Hanoi
- Music festival with Bonaparte (200,000 VND)
- Ate at Pho Thin
- People traveled with: Sarah and Valentine
- Pickup ultimate with Hanoi Ultimate Club at UNIS.
- Taxi to UNIS: 200,000 VND, Bus ride home: 20,000 VND
- Birthday dinner with family for Hoang’s sister
- Restaurant opening for Beirut
- People met: Dieu, Quang, and Hillary from HUC; Pilar and Jano (France)
December 1st: Chill day in Hanoi
- Hang out with Dieu
- Bus to Ba Be Lake (120,000 VND)
- Stayed at Mr. Linh’s homestay in Ba Be Lake (100,000 VND)
- People met: Celli & Clea (Australia), Paty & Marco (Switzerland), Christian (Germany), and Lukas (Switzerland)
December 3rd: Ba Be Lake
- Boat tour of Ba Be Lake (110,000 VND)
- Stayed at Mr. Linh’s homestay in Ba Be Lake (100,000 VND)
- People traveled with: Celli & Clea, Paty & Marco
December 4th: Travel from Ba Be Lake to Cao Bang
- Bus to Phu Thong (70,000 VND)
- Bus to Cao Bang (90,000 VND)
- Stayed at Hoang Sen Hotel (100,000 VND)
- People met: Nguyen Thi Soan
December 5th: Ban Gioc Waterfall
- Ban Gioc waterfall day trip (80,000 VND for 3-hour bus / passenger vehicle each way)
- Side trip to Dong Phong (cave), 30,000 VND entrance fee. 45min walk to Ban Gioc
- Entrance fee to Ban Gioc: 20,000 VND
- People met & traveled with: Hung & Phuong
- Stayed at Hoang Sen Hotel in Cao Bang (100,000 VND)
- Attempted traveling to Ha Giang but only made it to Bao Lam
- 11a bus from Cao Bang to Bao Lam (120,000 VND), arrived at 6p
- Stayed at some hotel in Bao Lam (125,000 VND)
December 7th: Ha Giang
- 6am bus from Bao Lam to Ha Giang (100,000 VND), arrived at 9:30a
- Lisa skypes into MB roast
- Stayed at Khach San Thien Thanh in Ha Giang (300,000 VND for both of us)
- Motorbiking blog posts by Matt and Lisa
- 5am bus to Dong Van (100,000 VND)
- met Tèo (VN)
- Stayed at a homestay in Dong Van (125,000 VND)
December 9th: Ha Giang with Tèo
- Hang out with couchsurfer Tèo (VN) in Ha Giang
- Overnight sleeper bus (9 hours, 200,000 VND) from Ha Giang to Hanoi
December 10th: Travel to Cat Ba
- Arrive in Hanoi (5:30a)
- Travel to Cat Ba (Hanoi -> Hai Phong, 2 buses; 3 hours, Boat to Cat Ba 30mins, Bus on Cat Ba island to Cat Ba city 1 hour, Huong Long 210,000 VND)
- Met: Cara (Vermont), Nick (Florida), Cordelia & “Meg” (UK), Sebastian (Vancouver)
- Stayed at New Star Hotel (aka Thao Minh Hotel) in Cat Ba (120,000 VND per night for both of us)
- Matt: Deepwater soloing & kayaking (785,000 VND including climbing shoes)
- Lisa: All-day kayaking tour of Lan Ha (545,000 VND)
- People traveled with: Cara, Nick
- People met: Sean (wannabe porn actor from LA), Kyle (Calgary), Marie (Sweden)
- Stayed at New Star Hotel (aka Thao Minh Hotel) in Cat Ba (120,000 VND per night for both of us)
December 12th: start of horrifyingly long travel odyssey
- Huong Long bus line from Cat Ba to Danang (640,000 VND)
- Leave Cat Ba (1:30 bus/boat/bus to Hai Phong)
- 6:30p bus from Hai Phong – Danang (overnight bus: arrived at 3p on 12/13, 21 hours on a sleeper bus! >_<)
- People met / traveled with: Jeremy (Switzerland)
December 13th: complete travel to Hoi An
- Arrive in Danang at 3p
- Public bus from Danang to Hoi An (18,000 VND)
- Stayed at Hop Yen hotel in Hoi An (210,000 VND for both of us)
- People met / traveled with: Jeremy (Switzerland), Marco & Barbara (Austria), Hoi An couchsurfers: Allister (Philippines), Kong (Malaysia/Holland), Levi (Switzerland), Sean
December 14th: Hoi An
- Moved to Hop Yen Homestay (210,000 VND for both of us)
- shopped for clothes & art
- People traveled with: Allister
December 15th: Hoi An
- Hung out with Allister, Sean (AU), Raiza & Beng (Philippines)
- Check out An Bang beach
- more shopping
- Stayed at Hop Yen Homestay (210,000 VND for both of us)
December 16th: Hoi An
- Cooking class in Hoi An (300,000 VND each, 3 hours)
- Lantern festival in Hoi An (free)
- Stayed at Hop Yen Homestay (210,000 VND for both of us)
December 17th: Hoi An
- Tooled around Hoi An on bikes
- Stayed at Hop Yen Homestay (210,000 VND for both of us)
December 18th: Hoi An
- Stayed at Hop Yen Homestay (210,000 VND for both of us)
December 19th: leave for Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City)
- 7p bus to Nha Trang (11 hours, arrive at 6am)
December 20th: Arrive in Saigon
- Bus from Nha Trang to Saigon (12 hours, via Mui Ne). Arrived in Saigon after 7p
- Stayed at Khoi Hostel
- Stayed at Khoi Hostel
- Lisa played on the Orange team (Pool B winners!). Matt played on the Medium Spring Green (MSG) team
- People met: tons of ultimate players, Angela (VN)
- 10:45p Shuttle to bus station
- 11:45p Sleeper bus to Rach Gia (arrived at 4:30a)
- People traveled with: Amy Smith (USA)
- 4:30a Arrive in Rach Gia
- 8am Ferry (Superdong IV, 2.5 hours) from Rach Gia to Phu Quoc
- Shuttle from port to Mushrooms hostel
- People met: Una (Switzerland), Sean (Canada), Lucas & Amy (UK),
- People traveled with: Jens, Enrico, and Kevin (ultimate players from Germany), Amy
- juggle, swim, toss the disc
- bonfire on the beach
- People traveled with: Jens, Enrico, and Kevin, Amy, Lucas & Amy

photo by Amy Smith
- juggle, swim, toss the disc
- People traveled with: Jens, Enrico, and Kevin, Amy, Lucas & Amy
December 26th: Move to Mekong Delta
- Ferry back to Rach Gia (2.5 hr, Superdong IV)
- 1:30p bus from Rach Gia to Can Tho (6.5 hours)
- People traveled with: Amy
- Stayed at Huynh Lac hotel in Can Tho
December 27th: Boat Tour of Mekong Delta

photo by Amy Smith
- 5:30a-12:30p: Private boat tour of Can Tho floating markets and canals with English-speaking guide (Sam): 280,000 VND per person
- 3:30p bus (buses run every hour on the half hour) from Can Tho to Saigon (4 hours, 120,000 VND)
- Stayed at Hong Kong Kaiteki capsule hotel! (129,000 VND)
- People traveled with: Amy
December 28th: Saigon
- Matt, Angela and Graham hung out late on Bùi Viện in backpacker district
- Stayed at Hong Kong Kaiteki capsule hotel! (129,000 VND)
- Ate delicious fruit smoothies by Angela’s place
December 29th: Depart Vietnam for Thailand!
- Angela motorbiked Lisa through Ho Chi Minh City
- Matt visited War Remnants Museum
- Angela shared her cheese and salami with us!
+December 29, 2013 – January 6, 2014Thailand
Exchange rate during our stay: 33 Thai Baht (THB) : 1 USD
December 29th: Arrive in Bangkok, Thailand!
- Slept in airport for a few hours
- Took 7:20am bus from southern bus terminal to Krabi (12 hours, 643 baht)
- Stayed at Good Dreams 2 Hotel (500 baht/3 people)
- Ate pad thai, pad see euil, crickets and grasshoppers at night market
- People traveled with: Cara
December 31st: New Year’s Eve on Ko Phi Phi Leh

Photo by Matt Senior
- Travel from Krabi to Ko Phi Phi Don
- Maya Bay Sleep-Aboard Experience (3,000 baht)
- Got to sleep on the beach at Maya Bay
- Midnight swim with bio-luminescent plankton
- People met: Steve and Nikki (US), Matt (UK)
2014
January 1st: Return to Ko Phi Phi Don
- Wake up on beach at Maya Bay
- Lisa and Cara got massages at Joy Massage by ladyboys
- Ate: Massaman Curry, Green Curry, Fried Noodles, Only Noodle Pad Thai
- Stayed at Flower Bungalow (1400 baht / 3 people)
January 2nd: Koh Phi Phi Don
- Hike to Viewpoints 2 and 3
- Hike to Rantee beach
- Sunset at Viewpoint 2
- People traveled with: Cara
- Stayed at an unknown hotel down an alley (1200 baht / 3 people)
January 3rd: Move on to Koh Lanta
- 3p Ferry to Koh Lanta (260 baht, 1 hour)
- Stayed at Phusala (800 baht / 3 people)
- People traveled with: Cara
January 4th: Koh Lanta
- Lay around on the beach in Koh Lanta
- Stayed at Phusala (800 baht / 3 people)
- People traveled with: Cara
January 5th: Begin journey to Malaysia
- Bus from Koh Lanta to Hat Yai (1:30p to 6:30p with a brief stop in Trang, 433 baht pp)
- Slept at creepiest hotel ever: Cathay Guest House in Hat Yai (330 baht for 4-person dorm; price was for 3-person dorm but they sold out all of those before we got there). If ever a zombie apocalypse were to start, it would be here. The place was clearly formerly a hospital or prison of some sort, and there were a lot of seemingly undead lurching about. But great rate, so 4 stars.
- People traveled with: Cara, zombies
+January 6 – 18, 2014Malaysia
Exchange rate during our stay: 3.3 Malaysian Ringgit (MR) : 1 USD
January 6th: Arrive in Malaysia
- Mini-bus from Hat Yai to George Town, Penang, Malaysia. 9am-2p(1 hour time change.) (320 baht pp)
- Overland border crossing at Sadao, no visa or fee to enter Malaysia
- Ate really good Indian Food
- Stayed at Couzi-Couji (“cozy couch”) Hostel in George Town (20 baht pp)
- People traveled with: Cara
January 7th: Explore George Town, Panang
- Walked around town for 6 hours exploring art and food
- Dinner with Alexsace (hostel-owner) at Yeap Noodles.
- Drank at the “best bar in town” (also the cheapest, “4 stars”).
- Stayed at Couzi-Couji hostel
- People traveled with: Cara
January 8th: Kayaking in Penang
- Took local bus and rented kayaks to explore tiny island Pulau Tikus off Northeast coast of Penang for a couple hours
- Walked around town for a couple hours
- BBQ at Couzi-Couji hostel
- People traveled with: Cara
January 9th: Taman Negara Pulau Pinang
- Walked through Penang’s national park
- Missed canopy walk since we didn’t buy ticket in advance
- Saw sea turtle conservation project
- Night market in Batu Ferringhi
- People traveled with: Cara
January 10th: Lazy Day in George Town
- Hung around hostel (10th)
- Dinner at Teksen restaurant with Alexsace
- Drinking at a local bar with Cara
- People traveled with: Cara
- Walked through George Town
- Soundtrack: Blue Jeans – RAC Mix (Lana Del Rey)
- People traveled with: Cara
January 12th: George Town to Cameron Highlands
- Took the 11:30am bus to Cameron Highlands
- Stayed at unopened Westwood Highland hostel run by Troji
- First hitchhike of the trip to tea plantation
- Walked around Cameron Valley Tea Plantation and drank Chai
- People traveled with: Cara
- Matt and Cara hitchhiked to Tanah Rata
- Hiked Route 9A to Robinson Falls and Boh Tea Plantation
- Six hitchhike rides, including a school bus
- Night market with Troji
- People traveled with: Cara
- Visit Troji’s house and rose garden
- Hitchhike to Ipoh, Malaysia
- Matt took train to Kampar for X-Cross Ultimate
- Lisa & Cara drink our faces off for free (free flow!) at Bricks and Barrels happy hour (4p-8p… forever for us, apparently)
- Lisa won a bottle of Skyy Vodka in free bar raffle
- Stayed in Embassy Hotel, Ipoh (not good, 45RM for room)
- People traveled with: Cara
January 15th: Ipoh to Kuala Lumpur
- Train from Ipoh to KL Sentral (35 RM)
- Stayed with Omar, our couchsurfing host
- Ate the best satay ever with Omar
- Swam in the infinity pool at his place
- Lisa works out in a gym for the first time on this trip
- People traveled with: Cara
January 16th: Exploring Kuala Lumpur
- LRT to KL City Center, saw Petronas Towers
- Lisa and Cara ate at Lot 10 Hutong Food Court for lunch (great)
- Matt went to Jalan Alor for street food at lunch (wrong time, no good)
- Dinner at MyBurgerLab with Demon from Kampar X-Cross Ultimate
- Lisa and Cara rode rollercoaster at Berjaya Times Square (5 times in a row)
- Matt replaced shoes that were stolen from hostel
- Went to SkyBar for a drink and night-time view of Petronas Towers
- People traveled with: Cara
January 17th: Thaipusam at Batu Caves
- Hindu Festival Thaipusam at Batu Caves
- Dinner at Chinese restaurant in Uptown Food Court
- Lisa and Cara explore the city center with Omar: Central Market (art project!), Old Railway Station, and the National Mosque
- Stayed with Omar in Wangsa Maju
- Another gym session for Lisa
- People traveled with: Cara
January 18th: Kuala Lumpur to Melaka
- Bus from KL to Melaka (10RM, 2.5hrs)
- Stayed at Voyage hostel in Melaka (15RM / bed, 12-bed mixed dorm, shitty)
- Explored Melaka night market and walked by the river
- People traveled with: Cara
+January 19 – 20, 2014Singapore
Exchange rate during our stay: 1.27 Singapore Dollars (S$) : 1 USD
January 19th: Melaka to Singapore
- 9am bus from Melaka to Singapore (24RM, 5hrs, land crossing into Singapore)
- Ate at Maxwell (hawker center)
- Stayed at A Beary Good Hostel in Chinatown, Singapore (S$27 pp, 12-bed dorm)
- Met up with ultimate player Bryan and his girlfriend Nadine who took us to dinner at a hawker center and then the bayfront
- People traveled with: Cara
January 20th: Pickup Ultimate in Singapore
- Matt walks all over Singapore
- Cara & Lisa explore Little India & the Gardens by the Bay
- Matt & Lisa go to pickup ultimate at Ferrer Park
- Dinner with Singapore ultimate players Maureen, Bernard, and Matt. Get bak kut teh, Milo Godzillas, and apple-cinnamon pratas!
- Stayed at A Beary Good Hostel in Chinatown, Singapore (S$27 pp, 12-bed dorm)
- People traveled with: Cara
+January 21 – February 11, 2014Thailand
Exchange rate during our stay: 33 Thai Baht (THB) : 1 USD
January 21st: Singapore to Kuala Lumpur to Bangkok
- Bus from Singapore to Kuala Lumpur (S$25, 5 hours. land crossing into Malaysia in JB)
- Lunch at Lot 10 food court in KL (Matt may have gotten his stomach bug from the laksa he had here)
- AirAsia flight from Kuala Lumpur to Bangkok (DMK airport) (94RM, 1.5hrs)
- Stay with Lisa’s friend Thiti at his parents’ house
- People traveled with: Cara
January 22nd: Bangkok with Thiti
- Explore Bangkok with Thiti: Look at Grand Palace (didn’t go in because it was 500 baht), Wat Pho (100 baht), and Wat Arun (100 baht)
- We all got massages on a road parallel to Khao San Rd, shopped for tanks on Khao San
- Stay with Lisa’s friend Thiti at his parents’ house
- People traveled with: Cara
January 23rd: Bangkok with Thiti
- Explore Ancient Siam, a park with smaller recreations of all the major sights in Thailand (free because Thiti knows people, normally 500 baht)
- Cara flies to China
- Vietnamese food with Thiti’s parents
- Stay with Lisa’s friend Thiti at his parents’ house
January 24th: Lazy day in Bangkok
- Hang around the house catching up on blog & photos
- Stay with Lisa’s friend Thiti in Bangkok
January 25th: Explore Bangkok
- Explore the Chatuchak Market
- Check out the protests (Chit Lom rally site)
- Watch American Bullshit (aka American Hustle) at SF Cinema (200 baht)
- Overnight bus to Chiang Mai on Nakhonchai Air Gold bus (657 baht, 9 hours)
January 26th: Chiang Mai!
- Arrive in Chiang Mai at 9am
- Explore the city: Wat Phra Singh (30 baht), Wat Doi Suthep (30 baht), other temples, Saturday night market
- People met: Emily (Ontario, CN), and re-united with Marco & Barbara (Austria) who have been having a horrifyingly bad two weeks
January 27th: Travel to Pai
- Public bus from Chiang Mai to Pai (78 baht, 4.5hours)
- Stay at Noon House (300 baht for one room)
- Explore Pai night market
January 28th: Pai Circus School
- Lunch at Baan Benjerong (delicious)
- Juggling (including some club feeding) and slackline
- Stay at Pai Circus School (340 for a bungalow)
- Lisa
- Local bus to Mae Hong Son (11a-2:30p, 3.5 hours, 75 baht)
- Stay at Johnnie [Guest] House (200 baht)
- Explore temples and night market of Mae Hong Son
- Matt: Start 2-day rafting trip from Pai to Mae Hong Son
January 30th: Mae Hong Son
- Lisa: Motorbike tour with Buut (1000 baht)
- Matt: Finished 2-day rafting trip from Pai to Mae Hong Son
- Walked around night market
- Stay at Johnnie [Guest] House
- Lisa: Start 6-night meditation retreat at Tam Wua Forest Monastery
- Matt
- Mini-van from Mae Hong Son to Chiang Mai
- Pre-tournament dinner at Tong Restaurant – Northern Thai cuisine
February 1st: Mae Hong Son / Chiang Mai
- Lisa: 6-night meditation retreat at Tam Wua Forest Monastery
- Matt:
- Chiang Mai Hat Tournament: Green team (Hulk, Smash!)
- Post-tournament dinner at UN Irish Pub
- Post-dinner house party at Julie and Rut’s house
February 2nd: Mae Hong Son / Chiang Mai
- Lisa: 6-night meditation retreat at Tam Wua Forest Monastery
- Matt:
- Took local songthaews to eat lunch buffet at Auf der Au German restaurant
- Walked through local supermarket drooling over cheese and pasta
- Hung out with Jared at SoHostel, then joined up with Brittany, Tim and Ed to eat at night market.
February 3rd: Mae Hong Son / Chiang Mai
- Lisa: 6-night meditation retreat at Tam Wua Forest Monastery
- Matt:
- Woke up at 5:15am to watch disappointing Super Bowl with Jared, Aaron and Ben at Chiang Mai Saloon
- Post-game hangout at Ba Ba Bo Bo Bar in Chiang Mai
- Lunch at El Diablo, local Mexican restaurant with unlimited chips and salsa and chorizo burritos!
- Pickup game with Chiang Mai Ultimate at Chiang Mai University Rugby Field (30+ players).
- Dinner at Malin Plaza with Ekk, Ozzie, Brittany, Joanne and others
February 4th: Mae Hong Son / Chiang Mai
- Lisa: 6-night meditation retreat at Tam Wua Forest Monastery
- Matt:
- Rented motorbikes and rode to Mae Sa Waterfall with Aaron, Mook, Jared, Brittany, Tim, Ben, Bridger and Annabelle.
- We all then went to dinner at enormous local buffet (Sukhontha Buffet)
- Walked around Chiang Mai night bazaar
- Lisa: End 6-night meditation retreat at Tam Wua Forest Monastery
- Matt:
- Pickup game with Chiang Mai Ultimate
February 6th: Mae Hong Son / Chiang Mai to Bangkok
- Lisa: Overnight bus from Mae Hong Son to Bangkok (905 baht, 4p-7am)
- Matt: Overnight bus from Chiang Mai to Bangkok
February 7th: Bangkok
- Stayed with Ben Collins (Anais, Bryan and Trissy also there)
February 8-9th: Bangkok Hat Tournament
- Stayed with Ben Collins (Anais, Bryan and Trissy also there)
- Tournament party at AMBar @ Four Seasons Sheraton
February 10th: Ayutthaya
- Minivan from Victory Monument in Bangkok to Ayutthaya (60 baht pp)
- Rented motorbikes and rode around Ayutthaya
- People traveled with: Anais, Bryan, Ben, Mitzie, Corinne, Trissy
- Stayed with Ben Collins (Anais, Bryan and Trissy also there)
February 11th: Chill out in Bangkok before going to Laos
- Overnight train from Bangkok to Nong Khai on the border (720 baht for 2nd class A/C sleeper, 8p-8am)
+February 12, 2014 – February 25, 2014Laos
Exchange rate during our stay: 8,023 Laotian Kip (LAK) : 1 USD
February 12th: Enter Laos!
- Walked across the Thai-Laos Friendship Bridge to cross into Lao! Apparently, this is illegal, and there were barriers on the sidewalks, but we just walked around them. Visa on arrival was $35 USD.
- Caught a ride with Kieu (random Laotian-Vietnamese guy Lisa met at customs) into downtown Vientiane
- Stayed at Douang Deuane Guesthouse 2 (room with two twin beds: 70,000 kip)
- Drinks with Stew (USA ulti player on Lisa’s Vietnam and BKK hat teams) at Sticky Fingers and dinner at a Laotian place
February 13th: Bus to Luang Prabang
- Bus from Vientiane to Luang Prabang (8am-5pm, 160,000 kip each for a seat on a VIP bus, but we ended up in a minivan)
- Stayed at Phonethavy Guesthouse (100,000 kip for a room with 2 twins)
- People traveled with: Perrine (FR, ulti player Matt met in Chiang Mai and was on Lisa’s BKK Hat team)
- People met: Hilarious Korean guys
February 14th: Kuang Si Waterfalls
- Hired a tuk-tuk (180k kip) to visit Kuang Si Waterfalls (20k kip) and the recently opened Butterfly Park (30k kip).
- Buffet street food dinner (10k kip / plate)
- Stumbled across several temples participating in Boun Khao Chi (Makhaboucha) festival.
- Traveled with: Perrine
February 15th: Relax in Luang Prabang
- Chill day in Luang Prabang
- Breakfast, coffee and wifi at Joma Cafe
- Lunch at Tamarind
- Traveled with: Perrine
February 16th: Sayabouly
- Bus from Luang Prabang to Sayabouly (100,000 kip, 3 hours)
- Homestay with Mr. Pheng’s family (30,000 kip each)
- Check out annual elephant festival
February 17th: Bike around Sayabouly
- Bike around Sayabouly with Mr. Pheng’s daughter, Kaoh (spelling unknown)
- Homestay with Mr. Pheng’s family (30,000 kip each)
February 18th: Return to Vientiane
- Watch opening ceremonies of Elephant Festival
- Song teow from southern bus station to Paklay (60,000 kip each, 3 hours)
- Minivan from Paklay to VIentiane (100,000 kip each, 4.5 hours)
- Stay at Douang Dueang guest house (70,000 for room with two twins)
February 19th: Chill day in Vientiane
- Hung out at Black Canyon Coffee (fast wifi)
- Stay at Douang Dueang guest house (70,000 for room with two twins)
- Happy Hour and Dinner at Sticky Fingers, ran into Stew Motta there
- Went bowling for Mia’s birthday (friend of Stew)
February 20th: Move to Thakek
- Bus from Vientiane to Thakek (120,000 kip each)
- Stay at the Travel Lodge in Thakek ($7.50 USD per night)
February 21st: 1st day of motorbike loop!
- Bike from Mr. Ku in Thakek (150,000 kip/day for Honda, 100,000 kip/day for Zongshen bike)
- Stop at Buddha cave (and nearby lake) and Xieng Liab cave where we were guided through by a local and his sons.
- Stay at Sabaidee Guest House in Tha Lang (40,000 for a single room, 25,000 for a dorm)
February 22nd: 2nd day of motorbike loop
- Bike from Sabaidee Guest House to Lak Sao
- Drove off on a spur and made it to Vietnam border. Very scenic river.
- Visited a very authentic market selling dead rats (going rate 18,000 kip) among other dead animals (including a weasel and green parrot).
- Dinner at Only One Restaurant with bicyclists from Germany and Hong Kong (riding from Phnom Penh to Bangkok via Laos)
- Stay at Souliya Hotel (50,000 for a single room)
February 23rd: 3rd day of motorbike loop
- Bike from Lak Sao to Konglor Cave
- Explore Konglor Cave: 2,000 kip entrance fee, boat service (100,000 kip for a pair), 10,000 kip for entrance to the cave
- Tried Lao-Lao, local homebrew whiskey costing 60 cents for a half liter.
- Walked through tobacco fields at sunset.
- Stay at Enjoy Boy Guest House in Konglor village (50,000 for a single room)
February 24th: 4th day of motorbike loop
- Bike from Konglor Cave to Thakek
- Take overnight bus from Thakek to Ban Nakasang in southern Lao (85,000 kip, 15 hours: 5:30p – 8:30am)
Cambodia
Exchange rate: 4000 Khmer Rial (KHR) to 1 USD. US Dollars are widely accepted along with the local currency.
February 25th: Enter Cambodia!
- Hellish bus from Ban Nakasang in southern Laos to Kratie (176,000 kip, 7.5 hours: 9:30a-5p). Matt and I sat in the aisle for the latter half of the journey
- Cambodian entry visa: $20, $2 stamping fee from Laos, $5 stamping fee for Cambodia
- Stay at U Hong Guest House in Kratie ($7 for room with two twins)
- People met and traveled with: 48 other pissed off foreigners who also got scammed by the bus company, dinner with Ania (Poland) and Phil (AUS)
February 26th: Travel to Sihanoukville
- 10 hour journey (4.5 by minivan to Phnom Penh, then 5.5 by big bus) from Kratie to Sihanoukville ($15)
- Stayed at Done Right hostel on Otres Beach ($20 for a geodome)
- Saw Ben Turnock and Bridger Cohan one last time
February 27th: Move to Koh Rong
- Slow boat to Koh Rong from Sihanoukville ($18 for round trip open ticket)
- Stayed at Dreamcatch Inn ($20/room)
February 28th: Chill out
- Stayed at Ponleu Pich Guest House ($13/room with one bed)
- Hiked to gorgeous Long Beach (30 minutes) to watch sunset and then took a boat back ($3 pp)
March 1st: Chill on Koh Rong
March 2nd: Chill on Koh Rong
- Rented hammocks ($3 each) and slept in them on Long Beach
- Hiked 7km to Sok San and back
- Saw pieces for Survivor: Bulgaria on Long Beach
March 4th: Camp on Long Beach
- Slept in hammocks again ($3 each)
March 5th: Leave Koh Rong and split up
- Hiked back to Koh Rong village and returned hammocks
Matt:
- Catches slow boat ferry (9am, 2.5 hours, $9) to Sihanoukville and moved on to Phnom Penh
Lisa:
- Hitched a ride with a dive boat from Monkey Island resort ($4) to Koh Rong Samloem
- Stayed at Easy Tiger hostel ($15 for private room)
- People met: Nick & Neil (UK), the owners of Easy Tiger
March 6th: Lisa chills on Koh Rong Samloem, Matt explores Phnom Penh
Lisa:
- Went for a run on the beach (???) before spending the day in papasan chairs and hammocks, chatting with people or sleeping or reading
- Stayed at Easy Tiger ($15 for private room)
- People met: a couple of ladies from UK and a girl from Holland, Ravi (Phnom Penh)
March 7th: Lisa continues the chill trend on Samloem, Matt parties on a boat
Lisa:
- Move to private guest house ($8 for a private room)
- Talk/sit/read in papasan chairs and hammocks
- People met: Sylvia (Korea), Shea (UK)
March 8th: Lisa moves to Phnom Penh, Matt plays in Phnom Penh Hat
Lisa:
- Hitched a ride with Sylvia & Shea back to Koh Rong and pirate-boarded the 9am ferry to Sihanoukville ($10)
- Bus from Sihanoukville to Phnom Penh (Rith Mony company, $7, “12:30″ (actual: 1:45p)-7p
- Stayed at Blue Dog hostel (shitty). $5 for dorm bed with springs poking me, generally very dirty, and thefts occurred throughout the weekend in my room
March 9th: Phnom Penh Hat tournament
- Lisa watches, Matt plays with El Salvador
- People traveled with: Angie (VN), Perrine (FR)
- Lisa stays at Blue Dog hostel, $5
March 10th: Move to Siem Reap
- Lisa catches “7:30″ (actual: 8:15) Paramount bus to Siem Reap. $8, 9 hours because we stopped constantly to pick up/drop off passengers
- Matt catches 1:30 bus (Sorya bus line)
- Stay at Dancing Frog hostel ($10 for a single room)
March 11th: Angkor Wat!
- Lisa hires tuk tuk for the day ($15, add’l $5 tip) and tortures her driver by making him pick her up at 5am and drive both the Big and Little Loops, and stay for sunset
- Stay at Dancing Frog hostel ($10 for a single room)
March 12th: Move to Bangkok
- Bus from Siem Reap to Bangkok ($10, 8 hours)
- Stay with Ben and Derek in BKK
March 13 – 20, 2014Philippines
March 13th: Move from Bangkok to Boracay
- flight from BKK to MNL, flight from MNL to Kalibo, bus to pier, boat to Boracay
- Stayed at Casa Pilar with the team
- Traveled with Pandas and many other Southeast Asian ultimate players
- “one drink” with Lester at Summer Place
March 14th: Day 1 of Boracay Open 2014
- 3 pool play games vs. Currier Island(L), Rhino (W), and Canadian PR (L)
- Stayed at Casa Pilar with the team
- Traveled with Pandas and many other Southeast Asian ultimate players
- Dinner and drinks at Smoke with team before terrorizing D*Mall
- Party at Area 51 where Pandas destroyed the first stage (aka sound box)
- Lisa loses her phone, ATM card, and credit card early in the morning after another teammate has all her things snatched
March 15th: Day 2 of Boracay Open 2014
- 3 games vs a local team (W), Rhino (W), semis: Canadian PR (W)
- Stayed at Casa Pilar with the team
- Traveled with Pandas and many other Southeast Asian ultimate players
- Dinner at a Chinese place where we played Rum & Gin roulette with the lazy susan
- Tournament party (theme: Graffiti) at Summer Place
March 16th: Day 3 of Boracay Open 2014
- Pool B finals against the Warriors, lost on universe point
- Pandas win the party award!
- Stayed at Casa Pilar with the team
- Traveled with Pandas and many other Southeast Asian ultimate players
March 17th: Chill out on Boracay
- Hang out at Spider House with Pandas: Lester, Julia, Alex and others: Ana, Bryan, JC, Mitzie
- Sunset cruise on a paraw (1400 pisos for max 10 people… 1900 when we were fined another 500 for an extra passenger)
- Stayed at Casa Pilar with the team
- Traveled with Pandas and many other Southeast Asian ultimate players
March 18th: Chill out on Boracay
- Moved to Treehouse Hostel (350 pisos for a dorm bed)
- Pick up ultimate on the beach
- Traveled with: Pily, Jano, Corinne, Michael, and other leftover ultimate players
March 19th: Chill out on Boracay
- Stayed at Treehouse Hostel (350 pisos for a dorm bed)
- Visited Puka Beach
- Traveled with: Pily, Jano, Corinne, Alyssa Wise (Canada),
March 20th: Move back to Bangkok
- 6am: Pickup from Treehouse hostel, ferry back to Kalibo, bus to airport (490 pisos each with Southwest Tours)
- Stayed with Ben and Derek in Bangkok
March 21st: Errands in Bangkok
- Matt gets new pages added to his passport at the US Embassy in Bangkok ($82 USD)
- Arrange same-day visas to Myanmar (1260 baht each)
- Lisa buys new iPhone to replace the one lost in Boracay with panda case
- Stayed with Ben and Derek in Bangkok
Myanmar
Exchange rate: 960 Myanma kyat to $1USD. Prices are quoted in both kyat and USD with the de facto rate of 1000 kyat to 1 USD.
March 22nd: fly to Myanmar
- Lunch with our travel angel, Ben, in Bangkok
- Took a $51 flight from Bangkok to Yangon, Myanmar (Nok Air)
- Stayed at Cherry Guest House in Yangon ($20 for a double room)
March 23rd: Explore Yangon
- Explore Sule Paya ($3 USD) and Shwedagon Paya
- Walked to Old Market area
- Stayed at Cherry Guest House ($20 for a double)
March 24th: Explore Yangon and move on to Bagan
- Lisa has her disintegrating Puma hat fixed (replaced the clasp) for 2500 kyat
- Overnight bus from Yangon to Bagan ($15, 7:30p-4:30am)
March 25th: Bagan!
- Overnight bus arrives in Bagan at 5am. Caught horse cart (1500 kyat each) to View Point Inn to drop off our bags
- Took horse cart to watch sunrise and the hot air balloons from a taller stupa
- Checked into to View Point Inn ($18 per night for a double with air con)
- Walked from Nyaung Oo to Old Bagan, explored Swesigan Paya , caught sunset at Shwe San Daw paya
March 26th: Bagan!
- Rented e-bikes ($5 for all day) and tooled around the temples from Nyaung Oo to Old Bagan
- Saw sunset from a temple near Shwe San Daw (but not overrun with tourists)
- Photographed stars from same stupa we saw sunrise from
- Stayed at View Point Inn ($18 per night for a double with air con)
March 27th: Bagan!
- Matt photographs sunrise again
- Took e-bike on lower part of loop to New Bagan. Had a key-keeper let us into a locked temple, and then he fixed the flat tire on Lisa’s e-bike
- Saw sunset at a random temple we stopped at that we could climb (Lay Myet Hnar Temple)
- Stayed at View Point Inn ($18 for a double with air con)
March 28th: Move to Mandalay
- Bus to Mandalay (4 hours, 8:30a-12:30p, 7500 kyat)
- Checked into Royal Guest House ($22 per night for a double with air con)
- Faluda and orange float at Nylon Ice Cream
- Caught a ride in a local pickup truck to U Bein Bridge for sunset (500 kyat each)
- Met: Frank and Lauren (USA) – a couple who most recently taught for a year in Siem Reap and are about to go teach in Manila for 2 years
- Took motorbike taxis back to guest house, 2500 kyat each
March 29th: Explore Mandalay
- Lisa hires her motorbike taxi from the night before for an all-day “non-touristy” tour of Mandalay ($12) including stops at the jade market, a gold leaf factory, Mahamuni Image where we saw many ordination ceremonies, and lunch at a Buddhist monastery with all the monks and nuns
March 30th: Move to Pyin Oo Lwin
- Caught a ride in a pickup truck (2000 kyat for front seat, 1500 for sitting in the bed) from Mandalay to Pyin Oo Lwin (4 hours crammed in the cab with two other people)
- Stayed at Grace Hotel II ($17 for a double)
- Wandered around Pyin Oo Lwin and splurged at the mini marts
March 31st: Anisakan Waterfall
- Caught a taxi ($13) round-trip to Anisakan Waterfall
- Got lost on the hike back and came across a new resort (“The View Restaurant”) that has been under construction since 2007 but is targeted for opening in a month
- Met MG (Singapore) and Brooke (AUS)
- Stayed at Grace Hotel II ($17)
April 1st: Train to Hsipaw
- Train from Pyin Oo Lwin to Hsipaw (3000 kyat each, 7 hours, 8:30a-3p).
- The price used to be $6 or 6000 kyat for foreigners but they started new prices on April 1st to encourage train travel.
- There were four guys selling the foreigner tickets. And one goat.
- One minute into the train ride, our car (full of tourists) gets splashed by kids with buckets from the outside and we all got soaked. A little preview of the water festival on April 12-16.
- Stayed at Yee Shin Guest House ($10 for a double room, $5 for a single, all shared bathrooms, breakfast included)
- Traveled with Zoe (UK) and MG. Also met: Alesha and Jazza (AUS)
- Signed up for overnight trek to Pan Kaw Village II ($18 each)
April 2nd: Trek to Pan Kaw Village II
- Hike to Pan Kaw Village II (Palau tribe) from 8:30a-1p and had lunch and dinner at our homestay (included in trekking fee)
- Traveled with Zoe, MG, Alesha, Jazza, and Laura (Baltimore) and our guide Sai Now (“little brother”)
- Watched two drunk guys steam the tea leaves and fool around (singing Ole Ole Ole Ole!) before the woman in charge came out and scolded them
- Stayed at homestay (included in trekking fee)
April 3rd: Hike back to Hsipaw
- Breakfast at the homestay
- Hiked back to Hsipaw from 8-11:30a.
- Stayed at Yee Shin Guest House ($10 double)
- Traveled with Zoe, MG, Alesha, Jazza, and Laura (Baltimore) and our guide Sai Now. Also met: Ele (UK)
April 4th: Putz around Hsipaw before traveling onward
April 5th: Arrange trekking to Inle Lake
- Arrived from overnight bus at 3:30p and walked to Eastern Paradise ($15 for a double, discounted because we arrived so late. Massive delicious breakfast included)
- Unable to arrange any trekking after 10am so we ended up staying a second night ($20 for a double)
- Met Ashley (UK), Laura (Romania via Belgium), Chris and Charlotte (UK/France) and combine forces to sign up for a trek
- Arrange trek with Ever Smile, $33 per person for a 3-day, 2-night trek including seven meals, guide, and luggage transport to Nuang Shwe (Inle Lake)
April 6th: Begin trekking to Inle Lake
- Delicious breakfast at Eastern Paradise Guest House
- Set out on trek at 8am with guide Aki (16-year-old Burmese girl) and her friend Aquos. Arrived at homestay around 6p
- Got caught in the rain and took shelter in a random lady’s house by her fire, and she gave us tea while we waited out the storm with a zen cat that was just staring at the fire, oblivious to all the humans around it.
- The rain flooded a riverbed that was normally dry, so we had to ford it.
- Ate and stayed at a homestay
- Traveled with: Ashley, Laura, Chris and Charlotte, and guides Aki and Aquos
April 7th: Day two of trek to Inle
- Breakfast at 6:30, start hiking at 7
- Hiked all day
- A local dog joins us for the day. We name him “Khway,” Burmese for “dog”
- Tea break with kittens
- Lunch and nap from 12:15-1:30
- Done trekking at 5:15
- Dinner and beers with the group, in bed by 7:30p
- Stayed at another homestay
- Traveled with: Ashley, Laura, Chris and Charlotte, and guides Aki and Aquos
April 8th: Arrive at Inle Lake
- Breakfast at 6:30, depart at 7:30
- Hike from 7:30-11:30a, arrive at Tone La part of Inle Lake
- Boat tour of Inle. Stopped at a silversmith, saw Longneck women, and went to a monastery that used to be famous for jumping cats (no longer true)
- Stayed in Naung Shwe at Golden Lotus Inle Hotel ($30 for a double room)
- Dinner with Ashley and Laura at Lucky Restaurant. They opened the restaurant just for us that night!
April 9th: Hang around Inle before heading back to Yangon
- Wandered around Naung Shwe
- Overnight bus with Chris and Charlotte to Yangon (20,000 kyat, 6p – 4am, actual: 6:30p-7am with a flat tire in the middle of the night)
April 10th: Sweat in Yangon before going to the beach
- Arrive in Yangon at 7am and attempt to find a bus to Chaung Tha beach that will allow us to return during the Water Festival. Failed for a few hours before finding an overnight bus at 9p that will bring us back to Yangon on the 13th (15,000 kyat round-trip).
- Traveled with Chris and Charlotte
April 11th – Explore Chaung Tha beach
- Arrived on overnight bus to Shwe Ya Minn guest house in Chaung Tha beach (not charged for the night of the 10th)
- Walk down Chaung Tha beach and watch all the locals on vacation
- Stay at Shwe Ya Minn GH ($25 for a double with fan, AC is an extra $10, includes breakfast)
April 12th – Chill day in Chaung Tha
- Hang out in the shade at guest house, reading and internetting
- Stay at Shwe Ya Minn GH ($25 for a double with fan, AC is an extra $10, includes breakfast)
April 13th – Water festival and head back to Yangon!
- Water Festival begins!
- Bus from Chaung Tha to Yangon (7500 Ks, part of round-trip ticket on the 10th)
- Stay at Royal Star GH ($35 for air-con double with breakfast)
April 14th – Water festival in Yangon!
- Stay at Royal Star GH ($35 for air-con double with breakfast)
April 15 – May 26, 2014Nepal
April 19-29th: Kathmandu Monastery Stay