Two stops at a time – Kuala Lumpur

Kuala Lumpur - photo Eva von Pepel

June 2016 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia It took quite a bit of scouting and decisions making to leave Penang for Kuala Lumpur. Train, bus, the location of stations in both places, stairs, uphill, downhill and so on, and on. Every single question had to be researched and answered. No surprises, thank you very much. This time…

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Chilling in Penang

Penang , photo Eva von Pepel

May – June 2016 in Penang, Malaysia Penang was on my must-visit-list for some three, four years now. Not only that, I was also seriously considering following the footsteps of my friends and moving to the island. Apparently, Penang is (or at least was) THE place for expats, or so…

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Flowers of Vientiane

May 2016 in Vientiane, Laos Three times lucky? The best for last? What are the odds? Next to zero, still, it could happen. But it didn’t. There are not many places in the world that can top Luang Prabang / Vang Vieng duo and Vientiane is not one of them.…

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The Party River – Vang Vieng

Party river in Vieng Vang, photo Eva von Pepel

May 2016 in Vang Vien, Laos There are places and there are places. And then there are … places. I will never know how come I’d never heard of Vang Vieng but I hadn’t. Perhaps I don’t quite fit the age group that typically visits this place or perhaps a…

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The pearl of Southeast Asia, Luang Prabang

May 2016 in Luang Prabang, Laos In the junction of two rivers, the Mekong and Nam Khan, against a scenic mountain backdrop, right beneath mount Phou si (150 meters high steep hill) lies one of the most charming places in the world – Luang Prabang. Never, in a million years,…

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Overland border crossing to Laos, part 2. Bridge crossing & Mekong downstream

May 1-2, 2016 No matter how accurate someone’s travel account is it is still up to a reader to determine how ‘accurate’ it really is. Just like reading a book. Give the same book to 100 readers and you’ll have 100 different interpretations. The power of the written word –…

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Overland border crossing to Laos, part 1 – Chiang Mai and Chiang Khong

last days of April 2016 One highlight in traveler’s everyday life is meeting other travelers and exchange information, experiences, stories, gossip and above all socialize with kindred souls. On one such occasion, I met an Australian couple – world travelers who have been ‘everywhere‘ and have seen ‘everything‘. Their best travel…

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The magic of unforgettable Inle Lake

People of Inle Lake by Eva von Pepel

April 206 in Inle Lake, Myanmar If there is only one place, you can visit in Myanmar this is it. Inle Lake is one of the most magical places in the world and a must-see site. The magical scenery, magical light, fascinating inhabitants, mesmerising sunsets, delightful freedom of cruising enjoyed from…

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Bagan

Temples of Bagan, Myanmar

April 2016 in Bagan, Myanmar Getting a ticket on the first bus out of Mandalay proved to be much easier than getting the last ticket out of Naypyidaw. The first bus to leave was destined for Bagan so this is where I went.   To enter the town all foreign…

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Thingyan 2016 – water craze in Mandalay

U Bein Bridge

April 2016 in Mandalay, Myanmar Thingyan is the biggest holiday of the year in Myanmar – the Burmese New Year combined with water festival. This was my fourth new year celebration this year and, if the truth is to be told, I do hope it’d be the last one. Enough…

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