We take a day trip to beautiful Kanchanaburi Province, in the jungle a few hours west of Bangkok. Kanchanaburi is infamous as the site of the Bridge on the River Kwai, but there’s a lot to see outside of town too.
Koh Rong Island, Cambodia (Travel Guide)
While Thailand is world-famous for its beautiful islands and beaches, Cambodia, it’s neighbor to the east, is often overlooked. Cambodia may be known for its ancient temples in Siem Reap, but the “Kingdom of Wonder” has its own slice of still mostly untouched paradise: Koh Rong Island.
arriving at Koh Rong
It takes all day from Siem Reap to Sihanoukville, with a stop and change of bus in Phnom Penh around lunchtime. The bus service is relatively clean and comfortable, as long as you don’t mind loud Hong Kong kung-fu movies dubbed over in Khmer. Any guesthouse or hotel can arrange tickets. The quality and safety record of the various bus companies varies widely, as does the price. Make sure you know what you are paying for before you buy.
Siem Reap – Sihanoukville: $15-$25 / about 12 hours
Phnom Penh – Sihanoukville $10-$15 / about 6 hours
You will probably have to spend the night in Sihanoukeville. The next morning, take the ferry to the island. Speed Ferry Cambodia (
) is a reputable company. You can book online or through your guesthouse.
9.00am, 11.30am, 3.00pm
Return:
10.00am, 12.30pm, 4.00pm
Sihanoukeville – Koh Rong – $10 / 45 minutes -1 hour
http://speedferrycambodia.com/
Arriving on Koh Rong
Arriving on Koh Rong, you will be greeted by a surprising number of foreigners, mostly European or Australia, trying to get you to stay at their guesthouses. They aren’t pushy, and are in fact very helpful and friendly! The island seems to be popular with the hippy type, and you immediately feel relaxed and laid back as island life takes hold of you.
I was actually surprised at how helpful everyone was! Stepping off the boat, we were greeted with “do you need a guesthouse?” When I answered in the negative, I was given a warm greeting and directions to the bungalow I had already booked!
<img src="https://lbconvert.travel.blog/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/760de-img.jpg beer and a walk along the white sand.
Koh Rong Island
3. Sunset Cruise and Bio-Luminescent Plankton
For an unforgettable evening, you can sign up for a sunset cruise around the island and the chance to see bio-luminescent plankton just off the shore. Koh Rong is famous for the microscopic plankton that glow blue in the dark. A night cruise will cost around $10.
Where to Stay on Koh Rong
Unless you are prepared to go all out for one of the luxury resorts on Koh Rong’s private beaches, your best bet is either a dorm in the village or a bungalow just off the beach.
Depending on the resort, a bungalow should run between $20-$50 per night, although can be a lot more expensive than that depending on the amenities provided.
We stayed at Paradise Bungalow for $21/night, and were quite happy with our stay, although it might be a little “rustic” for some.
https://paradise-bungalows.com/
Paradise Bungalow
Paradise Bungalows has a restaurant lounge with comfortable pillows, fans, 24-hour electricity, wifi, and good drinks. We spent our evenings relaxing to soft jazz music and watching the sunset over the water.
Interested in Cambodia? Check out some photos from my first book, “The Long Road From Pub Street: A Cambodia Travelogue”!
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Video: Yaowarat – Eating in Bangkok’s Chinatown
ถนนเยาวราช / 耀華力路
Yaowarat Road, Bangkok’s Chinatown, is a colorful, noisy, and exotic neighborhood, even within Bangkok! We go around to find some of the food that makes Yaowarat famous.
Cold bird’s nest, stewed fish stomach, flower soup, and more!
NOTE: Please excuse the poor sound quality. This is an older video, from before we got our audio sorted out.
Comic #16 – Pants
Comic #16 – Pants – 30 November 2016
We speak the same language, but we don’t always understand each other…
My boss is an older Englishman who’s lived here in Thailand for over 25 years, and he doesn’t really “do” any kind of messaging, s
o one of my responsibilities as office manager is relaying important messages between the school administration and the English Department.
One day a message came from the headmistress that we had a special dress code for the next day’s assembly. This isn’t unusual; colors are really important in Thai culture, and we are often asked to wear certain colors to work on special days. In fact, every day of the week in Thailand has a corresponding color. My school is rather traditional, so we usually wear the appropriate color each day out of respect to Thai culture.
Monday – yellow
Tuesday – pink
Wednesday – green
Thursday – orange
Friday – blue
Saturday – purple
Sunday – red
On this particular day several months back, we were paying respect to His Majesty, the late King of Thailand, who was born on a Monday, and thus his official color is yellow. For the special morning assembly we were asked to wear yellow, but no black pants, since black is the color of mourning in Thai culture.
When I relayed the message to my boss, he looked horrified! After a few confusing minutes, we both came to understand each other.
“Pants”, as it turns out, means “underpants” in British English and “trousers” means “pants” in American English.
This just goes to show that even we native speakers get confused sometimes. It also really makes me appreciate what our students go through when learning English. In Thailand, we mostly teach British English, so I’ve gotten a lot better at it, but I still slip up every now and then.
It’s funny how fast British syntax begin to sneak into your language when you have to use it every day. I already almost exclusively use British school words like “term” instead of “semester”, “holiday” instead of “vacation”, “exams” instead of “tests”, “liquid” instead of “white-out”, and many of more, often without even meaning to.
My family and friends back home in America make fun of me sometimes.
English is fun.
Video: Nine Temples in Bangkok
Have a free day in Bangkok? Try a “Wai Pra Gao Wat”, or merit-making pilgrimage to nine of Bangkok’s most important and famous temples in one day.
Nine is a lucky number in Thailand. The Thai word for nine, “gao”, sounds like the verb for “to take a step forward”. It is also the regnal number of the beloved late King.
If you can visit and pray at nine temples in one day, it is said that your wish will come true!
And if not, you will still have explored some of Bangkok’s most fascinating and beautiful holy places.
Video: Beer and Ice Cream – Japan (Travelogue)
Travelogue #4
Pinky and Michael take on Japan’s Kansai and Kanto Regions in a whirlwind week in five famous cities: Osaka, Kyoto, Himeji, Tokyo, and Nikko.
We visit castles, temples, and museums as we try to see as much of the Land of the Rising Sun as we can in just a week. Grab your JR Railpass and join us on our adventure of samurai, sakura, sake, and sushi!
0:00
– Osaka – Kuromon Market and Osaka Castle
2:21 – Kyoto – Kiyomizu-dera,
Fushimi-inari, Kinkaku-ji, Ginkaku-ji
9:01
– Himeji – Himeji Castle and sake!
10:40
– Kyoto – Nishiki Market and weird foods
13:00
– Tokyo – National Museum, Cherry Blossom Party, and Harajuku
15:22
– Nikko – Unesco World Heritage sites
18:17 – Tokyo – Ueno Park, temples, and a quiet part of the big city
This is our fourth full-length “Travelogue” video, and our
.
Video: A Day in Nikko, Japan
We take the train to Nikko, a small mountainous town in the north of Japan’s Kanto Region. Nikko is a UNESCO World Heritage City, and full of historical temples and beautiful nature. We visit a famous bridge, eat a sweet potato cake, run out of money, and see some unexpected work by famous Chicago architect, Frank Lloyd Wright. Nikko is great!
If you have a full day in Japan, it’s worth the two-hour train ride to the north to visit Nikko.
Apologies for the low volume in the first two clips. It will be fixed in the final Travelogue version of our Japan Adventure!
Video: What is Purikura? プリクラ
Another Saturday bonus video this week!
In Harajuku, Tokyo, we go to a basement purikura (プリクラ) shop and enter a whole new world… Purikura is a Japanese photobooth, and its something of a craze! We had honestly no idea what was going on the whole time…
Laos: A Weekend in Vientiane: 7 Things to do in Laos’ Capital
Not a lot of people visit Laos, the sleepy, landlocked Southeast Asian country just north of Thailand. The Lao People’s Democratic Republic is one of the world’s five remaining communist countries, and has a reputation of being the friendliest and most laid back; a joke amongst travelers is that “PDR” in its name doesn’t stand for “People’s Democratic Republic”, but instead “Please Don’t Rush”.
When you live in Thailand long enough, eventually you’ll have to do a “visa run” to the border. Instead of the usual weekend in Siem Reap or Penang, why not head north to Vientiane, one of the smallest (pop. 200,000) and friendliest capital cities in the world for a weekend of exploration, sightseeing, and halfway decent beer?
How to Get to Laos:
The easiest way to get to Vientiane is to fly direct from Bangkok’s Don Muang Airport to Wattay International in Vientiane. The flight usually takes a little less than one hour. Tickets from Air Asia 1000-2000 THB (approx $30-60).
If you live in the north, or have a bit of extra time, you can also take the train directly to the Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge between Nong Khai and Vientiane.
Visa:
A 28-day visa-on-arrival is available at the airport and at the Friendship Bridge for most nationalities (including US and UK) for $30. You will need to bring one passport-size photo with you and exact change in USD to make the process go quicker. Arriving at Wattay International Airport in Vientiane, getting a visa takes only a few minutes. It goes even quicker if you have already filled out the paperwork provided during the flight. You must have two blank pages in your passport. The visa itself takes up one page. It is surprisingly fast and efficient.
Currency:
Laos uses the Lao Kip, which has an exchange rate of approximately 8000k to $1. US Dollar and Thai Baht are also generally accepted in Vientiane., although it is always a good idea to have some local currency with you. You can exchange at Wattay Airport and at most banks and hotels.
Language:
The official language of Laos is Lao, which is quite similar to an eastern dialect of Thai. You will have no trouble communicating using Thai. Most people in Vientiane, especially in the tourist industry are able to speak English very well, and some older people will be able to communicate in French (Laos was a French colony until 1953).
Getting Around:
Vientiane is relatively small, and it’s easy to get around. You can pick up a tuk-tuk pretty much anywhere. To get further out of town to the Beer Lao Factory or Buddha Park, you can take a very nice, clean, comfortable Japanese-made bus for just a few thousand kip from the city center.
So, how can you spend a visa-run weekend in Vientiane? What are the top things to see and do in this interesting town?
1. Beer Lao Factory
Cost: FREE (you have to pay for the beer, obviously…) Open on weekdays.
Beer Lao has gained a reputation over the years as the best beer in Southeast Asia. It’s just a solid beer; really pretty good! You can find it all over Asia, but what better place to have an ice cold bottle of Beer Lao than at its home?
Just out of town on the main road, you can pay a visit to the Beer Lao Factory. Unfortunately, they’ve stopped giving tours (they might restart when renovations are complete), but you can visit the on-site museum for free. Also, visit the gift shop for some merchandise (like an awesome yellow hat!) and the “minibar” (ie the tasting room) where you can order a couple of bottles to try the three different flavors; original, dark lager, and gold.
Beer Lao Website
2. Buddha Park
Cost: 5000k
Open 8am-6pm daily
Bus Ticket: 6,000k each way (take bus #14 from the city center)
Buddha Park is 25km outside of town, just past the Friendship Bridge, and it is an… interesting place, to say the least.
A field on the banks of the Mekhong River is covered in dozens of odd concrete statues of scenes from Hindu-Buddhist mythology. Though it looks ancient, its all the work of an artist from the past half-century.
Is it a holy site? An art instillation? It’s all just very random. If you have time, Buddha Park is definitely worth visiting, just to see the wacky eccentricity of it all. It’s a fun morning out of town.
It’s interesting, but don’t expect ancient ruins like some of the guide brochures might lead you to believe. Buy an ice cream bar and have fun wandering around the wacky statues. It’s so odd that you won’t be disappointed.
3. Patuxai
Cost: 3000k to climb to the top
Back in town, pay a visit to Vientiane’s most iconic landmark, the Patuxai, the “Gate of Victory”. The Laotian Arc de Triomphe is an impressive monument at the opposite end of Lang Xang Boulevard from the Presidential Palace, mirroring Paris’ Champs Elysées.
For a very small fee, you can climb the seven flights of stairs to the top of the monument for a view of the surrounding Patuxai Park. Inside, a number of vendors have set up shops and stalls selling everything from lucky amulets to t-shirts ans postcards.
Patuxai is the national symbol of Laos, and is one of the top sights that you really shouldn’t miss in Vientiane.
4. Pha That Luang
Cost: 5000k
Hire a tuk-tuk for the short ride. You would really rather not walk. It’s further than it looks.
Pha That Luang is the most important Buddhist holy site in Vientiane. A temple has stood on this site since at least the third century, and the great stupa is said to house a breastbone of the Buddha himself.
The impressive golden structure is a magnificent symbol of Lao Buddhism
6. Haw Phra Kaew
Cost: 5000k
Haw Phra Kaew is the original home of the legendary Emerald Buddha, which now resides at Wat Phra Kaew at the Grand Palace in Bangkok.
The Emerald Buddha, a symbol of Thai strength, faith, and unity, has changed hands between Laos and Thailand many times in its history, and is said to give those who protect it great power.
But, like always, these are just our experiences. We would love to hear from anyone who has visited Vientiane, or anywhere else in Laos. What did you enjoy? How do you rank the different flavors of Beer Lao? Let us know!
You can watch our Weekend in Vientiane travelogue video HERE!
Comic #15 – Thanksgiving
Comic #15 – Thanksgiving – 23 November 2016
Yes, it’s the holiday season! Just a week after Loy Krathong comes Thanksgiving, one of my very favorite holidays! One year, my Thai students gave me a very special Thanksgiving that I will never forget.
I always get a little homesick during the holidays, starting with Halloween (which was always really big in my family), and going through New Year. After that, it’s not long until I’m back home visiting my family for the term break, but I do miss Texas and my family a lot during the holiday season.
Of course, Thanksgiving is an American holiday, so we don’t get time off of work here in Thailand. During my first year teaching, I has a lesson about Thanksgiving, and I must have mentioned to my students how much I was going to miss the traditional Thanksgiving meal.
Then, on Thanksgiving morning, a group of 10th grade students came to the English office to surprise their three American teachers with our very own feast!
It was like something out of Charlie Brown’s Thanksgiving. You know, from the old holiday special where Snoopy serve’s a feast of toast, jelly beans, and popcorn? Our students brought us potato chips, pizza, cookies, candy, and all sorts of other snacks.
One girl brought us a big bucket of KFC. “It’s the closest thing I could find to turkey”, she told us.
That’s the thing, though. Thanksgiving isn’t about the turkey (although I do miss pecan pie the most of all), but instead about remembering the things for which you are thankful.
I am so thankful for my kind students who went out of their way to make this holiday special for their American teachers. It was as unconventional a Thanksgiving feast as anyone could imagine, but it warmed my heart and became one of my most cherished memories of my time in Thailand.
Happy Thanksgiving!
LB convert 
