Laos - Vang Vieng (28.12.2013)

I didn't go to Vientiane because a lot of people told me they didn't like this place.
So I decided to go directly to Vang Vieng to spend Christmas.

It's a small town between Vientiane and Luang Prabang surrounded by karst hills along the Nam Song river.

You can do a lot activities like kayaking, climbing, tubing, ... .
This place is well known for partying, drinking and drugging.

For christmas, I rented a bicycle to explore the countryside and to go to the blue lagoon. Late in the afternoon, I did a hot air balloon ride to admire Vang Vieng from above during the sunset.

I also enjoyed the good sandwichs and pancakes.

Laos - Don Det / 4000 Islands (27.12.2013)

After my 6 days trekking in the Virachey National Park, I needed some rest :)

I went to the south of Laos on Don Det island.
It's a small island in the archipelago of 4000 islands ("Si Phan Don") located in the Mekong River (Champasak Province).

I rented a bungalow and I stayed there 5 days and 4 nights.

There's really nothing to do except enjoying the sun in a hammock, eating banana pancakes and drinking fruit shakes :)

I did a one-day kayak tour on the Mekong river.
We went close to the Cambodian border to see the famous Irrawaddy dolphins.
It was difficult to see them!
At the end of the day, we went to the biggest waterfall in south east Asia called "Khone Phapheng".

Cambodia - Punch Line (22.12.2013)

HERE IS THE SUMMARY OF MY SPENDING IN CAMBODIA

HERE IS THE SUMMARY OF MY BUS TRAVEL IN CAMBODIA

From Phnom Penh to Don Det (Laos).

FEW KHMER WORDS

- Hello: sous-dey
- Hello, how are you: naek sok sabai teh?
- Goodbye: leah seun hai
- Fine, thank you: sok sabai
- Thank you: Aw khun
- Please: soum
- Excuse me: soum toh
- I'm sorry: soum dtoh
- Good morning: arun sous-dey
- Good afternoon: tiveah sous-dey
- Good night: reatrey sous-dey

I LIKED

- Food & drinks (Amok, Cambodian coffee, Fruit Shakes, Lok Lak, ...)
- Kep & Kampot, just perfect to relax
- Angkor Archaeological Park
- 6 days Jungle Trek in Banlung
- Philippe, the Swiss

I DIDN'T LIKE

- Phnom Penh
- Bus transportations

Cambodia - Banlung / Virachey National Park (22.12.2013)

After Siem Reap, I went to Banlung by bus (14h).

Banlung is the capital of Ratanakiri province in the northeastern of Cambodia between the Vietnam and Laos borders.
It's the starting point of the treks in the Virachey National Park.

In the bus, I met a guy from Zurich in Switzerland (Phillippe).

The first day, we rented bicycles to go to the Yeak Laom lake (a crater with water).
The second day we booked a 6 days treking in the Virachey National Park with a ranger and a local guide.

The trek wasn't difficult. But, it rained a lot and it was really humid. There was a lot of leeches.

Anyway, it was nice. We met Khmer minority people and we survived in the jungle.

Thanks again to Phillippe.