Ruth: 2016 goes down as one of my very best years ever, but now I am looking forward to heading home. Our bikes are packed [...]

Gordon: Our second organized foray into the park was as enjoyable as the first.  We went for a swim in a clear natural stream, visited [...]

The blue gaiters are leech socksGordon:  Yesterday, on a whim, we took the unusual step of joining an organized tour.  I don't generally enjoy being [...]

Ruth: This morning we said goodbye to Laos and cycled across the Friendship Bridge into Thailand. The transition from right side driving to left happened [...]

Ruth: Vientiane is a world away from rural Laos.  On our approach to town we stopped at a shopping mall that was more like a [...]

Gordon:  Now that we are only 22 kms from crossing the border into Thailand, I think it is time to discuss road safety in Laos. [...]

Picturesque, but the dugout in the foreground is probably a bomb craterRuth: Today's ride made up for all the climbing we did on the way [...]

Ruth: Happy New Year! We are enjoying the first rainy day of our trip by sitting around the fire at our guest house. The fire [...]

Gordon:  The regional capital of Phonsavan, where we are spending three nights, is well-known for two things: the Plain of Jars, and unexploded ordinance (UXO).The [...]

Ruth: Overnight the Hmong villages in the mountains between Phoukoun and Nong Tiang were transformed into a colourful display. It was the first day of [...]