Artistic World~

If you are used with noisy cities and vast skyscrapers, Indochina should be removed in your list.
However, if you are seeking simplicity, diversity, history and quietness, this is the region where you should go!

We seizde Indochina starting off in Hanoi, Vietnam – Vientiane, Laos – Bangkok, Thailand in a five day country crawl.Here's a travel video to sum up all what we had:

Day 05

0009: China town/Breakfast/Golden Buddha

It’s our last day of the tour and it’s really good to have Filipino friends to tour us around the city.

I like how the streets of Thailand look like, it was a hot and traffic-congested Saturday morning. But what fascinated me the most is the scenic Asian scene like Philippines and Thailand but there you can still see their differences.

We started our day with the intention to see the Golden Buddha. But as DIY and budgetarian people we are, we opted not to see it because we have to pay it and also there are other Buddha available in the complex.

Sorry to disappoint but this is not the Gloden Buddha, this is another temple that can be found inside the same complex.

This is the outside view of the Golden Buddha temple in Bangkok

1200: Lunch

We miss rice during the trip so we decided to eat in a Chinese restaurant as it gives us the option to have rice for the day.

0200: Chatuchak

The most famous and biggest tiangge in Asia is Chatuchak! Undeniably the scenery was festive and the items being sold are undeniably cheap. So next time you come to Thailand or you plan to visit, bring an extra cash to shop as your pasalubong (gift item) when you go back home.

Street foods are always a thing in Asia. It's a must in Asia travels!

0500: Going home

Our flight was on the same day but we had enough time to pack and still enjoy our way back home

It was a beautiful tour and we truly learned a lot seeing the similarities of Asians and their culture. We cannot tell the differences of texts of Laos and Thais but definitely you would see that they are truly connected in this region. Travelling is beautiful and educational, and Indochina is a taste of the now and of the were!

Decided to have Mcdonald's in Bangkok because we have different menus right? this is a thing too!

These big statues at the airport are really awesome, a majestic reminder of thai culture

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Travel Video: Youtube

IndoChina: Hanoi, Vietnam
IndoChina: Vientiane, Laos
IndoChina: Bangkok | Part 1

Indochina: Bangkok | Part 2

We found ourselves in the train seats by a beautiful sunset of Bangkok! It’s another country and adventure. I was personally thinking about the last two days of this country crawl and new adjustments in new state.

If you haven't followed this series, this is a 5-day country crawl from Vietnam to Laos and the last stop is Bangkok.

Crossing the border from Tha Na Leng, Laos to the first province we arrived in Thailand, NongKhai.

Day 04

0600 - 0900: Bangkok Railway Station – Hua Lamphong // Breakfast

Upon arriving in Bangkok, we encountered confusion on where to head next and how to go to our pre-booked hostel. There’s this one lady who approached us and told us where to go. She said, she’s not a scammer and just wants to help, this reminds me of that one friend who told us the nice-attitude of Thais to everyone.

Outside the National Railway Station of Bangkok

A sign that suggestively saying the name of the City -- that you have finally arrived safely and succesfully!

This sign that though i cannot understand but i know that this is about the King's Funeral on that day.

In front of the station, just on the other side of the road, there are restaurants lined up for upcoming visitors and tourists. So we decide to stay there, connect to WiFi and had a talk before we head for the day, got an UBER and check-in to our hostel.

Tips:

1. An UBER is always a helpful way of transportation to your hostel.

2. Always, have a planned booking before arrival in your destination. Not only this is helpful in your immigration questions but an ease to your travelling because you know already where to go.

3. Most hostels help you with navigation around the city, offer free wifis, luggage storage and shower services before you even check – in. Make use of this advantage.
4. Use Google Map, as this has never failed me in my previous travels. Try saving your destination in case you have no data on the go and you only use wifi in the moment.

1000 – 0100: Road closed, hospitable Thais and hostel

When we arrived at our hostel we decided to stay more and have a rest. I know that my peers were also tired for travelling so I personally decided to cut the stroll until 1PM on that day.

The Royal Palace is unsurprisingly closed because of the national holiday -- King's funeral.

1400 - 1600: Temple of Dawn, Wat Arun Ratchawararam

It's a Thursday and i bet a holiday, but people are still on the Temple. The upper side of the stairs of the temple are closed for tourists, we had no choice anyway so we just seized the whole compound and amazed seeing the Chao Phraya River and it's water taxis (boat) fetching people from the other side of the river to the temple.

First ever TukTuk Ride! Going to Wat Arun

Feels at Chao Phraya River

1700: Dinner - Night Market

It was kinda tiring to roam around the temple so we decided to call the day with dinner in auth Thai cuisine. Along the way, we found Filipinos who eventually became our tour guides and friends! Helped us out even going to the Night Marker and experienced eating exotic delicacies and Thai Night life!

Upon arriving Bangkok, I instantly felt the welcoming attitude of Thais towards their visitors and of how they are loose, outgoing, fun and open! So if you happen to be in Bangkok, Thais might not be all english-speaking but you can see from their faces that they are warm!

~~kop khun kap!~~

Click here for Free downloadable Itinerary

More Photos on Facebook

Travel Video: Youtube

IndoChina: Hanoi, Vietnam
IndoChina: Vientiane, Laos

Indochina: Bangkok | Part 1

“folks we need to wake up early to see the sunrise in Mekong”

Good thing we did!

Day 04

0600: Biking around Vientiane

We are fascinated by the structure of the city and the Mekong itself. So yeah, we went back to the same spot, park and biked all the way up north of the city to see how everyone starts their day in Laos. They’re so laid back still! I think their day starts at 08:00 am! I love this country, you don’t need to stress yourself over to your day jobs!

Goofing out, we were trying to imitate South Korea's Winter Sonata

Tip: Rent a bike in the famous biking rental in town – PVO Hostel!. Which is just beside our Hotel, Mali Namphu (click for another review)? You just have to leave your passport, or any valuable items. Rental fee is only Php 80.00 the whole day!

0900: Pha That Luang Complex

As a normal tourist, we checked everything out. I personally thought that this temple is only one, but this is actually composed of collective temples in the complex! So much culture and tourist stuffs are happening in the complex, it is well placed yet not crowded at all. I don’t know maybe because we came here in the middle of the week and maybe tourists fluctuate on weekends.

Reunited with Rens and Claire once again! Along passing the border, we never got the chance to talk again, so we’re glad that we saw them one last time before we left the country. Claire’s so jealous about our biking around tour! Haha.

1200: That rich schoolmate (lol)

One of our college school mates are in the country too! I’m so surprised that my schoolmates before are now around the world. So this is her 2nd time (?) in Laos and she’s pretty accustomed about the culture – so she had to take us on a treat too. Thanks ayien!

1300: Morning Market

You can never miss a cheap souvenir in their local market. So we had to take a look in their market and see what’s up for us that we can take home as a remembrance. Ayien made us the tour because she know Laotian!

An item that's being sold in Vientiane in their local market

Tips:

1. So in our street of residence, after PVO Hostel where you can rent a bicycle, there’s a tour company that helps us travel to train station from Nong Khai, Thailand to Bangkok. So we had it booked.

2. However, most of the hostels are equipped with tours. You better ask your hotel/hostel about it and it’s your call if you’re gonna take your hotel’s booking or third party. I’d say, it’ll boil down to price.

1500 - 1700: Tha Na Leng

So we had to leave for the last leg of our tour in Indochina. Just like what we had in Vietnam, we had to ride a mini van to Tha Na Leng and a mini train to Nong Khai, Thailand. The amazing part is, they are just 5 minutes away. I like that, you can be in 2 nations in just minutes and they are just separated by river and grass fields! The sunset at that time was also awesome!


So we played UNO cards anywhere, While waiting for the border to arrive, we killed our time by playing UNO cards.

1800: Nong Khai

Oh the excitement of the people of Thailand and the immigration office. I decided not to open my camera and take shots though I really wanted too because of the scenery and the documentation of the trip. The immigration officers were way too different in this border because they are smiling and taking mobile phone pictures of us --- the incoming tourists.

Tips:

1. Check and clarify your ticket. We felt that we were scammed in our ticket, we booked for a class B train to Bangkok but we got the ordinary and fanned train. So we had to talk to train administration and ask to have us transferred to what we paid. We were transferred but have to pay THB 100. (fair enough I think. They were also sympathetic and helpful)

2. Have friends. We met a South African traveler and a Thai too! This Thai was very helpful to us in explaining our route, the Thai culture and politics. He was also very interested in the Filipino culture.

Wrapping up this year of my travel with Vientiane, Laos. I love its simplicity and beauty and all about its developing country vibe. There are truly many things to see that the world misses. At the same time, if this country is brought to attention, people might abuse it and it will become another story of misbehaving humans and it's bad tourist abusive attitude.

View more:

Photos: Vientiane, Laos

Photos: Lens Project, Vientiane

Indochina Traveling Recap

Download Itinerary
Travel Video: Youtube

Artistic World~

Indochina: Bangkok | Part 2

Indochina: Bangkok | Part 1

Indochina: Vientiane, Laos

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