2012 Thailand & Laos

Hi!  I'm up and running as an official blogger! Bear with me, as I have no idea what I'm doing (which, I'm sure, is already apparent).  As you can see by the title of the blog, we're headed to Thailand and Laos over the holidays.  I hope you check in every once in a while to see what we're up to!

The Back Story: Andrew and I became addicted to SE Asia after our 2009 trip to Vietnam and Cambodia.  Singapore and Malaysia were the focus of 2010 and we celebrated our honeymoon in 2011 in Tokyo and Palau (not quite SE Asia, but AMAZING).  Now we're off to Thailand and Laos.  The original trip was supposed to be Thailand and Myanmar, but Myanmar proved to be a more difficult trip to book than I thought.  Visa timing issues and the lack of flight reservations forced us to veer East.  But even with the change in plans, we are super excited!  Myanmar 2013, anyone??

Maryann & Andrew in Vietnam

The Party:  Sharing our love of SE Asia are Andrew's parents, Sylvie and Henry.  Getting them on the 18 hour flight can be a little tough, but with promises of the best street food in the world - noodles covered in chili oil and garlic sauce, juicy chicken wings, mangosteens and durian (that only works on Henry) - we always seem to convince them to join us for one more trip.  We're excited to share our new journey with everyone who's reading.  You're part of this, too. 

Sylvie & Henry (aka Slow Loris) in Cambodia

Also, mangosteens.  Nom nom nom.

The Full Itinerary:

Dec. 20^th

Leave SFO at 11:35 a.m. on Korean Air

Dec. 21^st

Arrive Bangkok at 10:55 p.m.

Dec. 21^st – Dec. 23^rd

Bangkok (2 nights, 1 full day)

Staying at the Shangri-La: http://www.shangri-la.com/bangkok/shangrila

Dec. 23^rd

Leave Bangkok at 10:00 a.m. on Bangkok Airways

Arrive Chiang Mai at 11:15 a.m.

Dec. 23^rd – Dec. 26^th

Chiang Mai (3 nights, 2 full days)

Staying at Aruntara: http://www.aruntarahotel.com/

Dec. 26^th

Leave Chiang Mai at 3:00 p.m. on Lao Airlines

Arrive Luang Prabang at 4:00 p.m.

Dec. 26^th – Dec. 30^th

Luang Prabang (4 nights, 3 full days)

Staying at Villa Maly: http://www.villa-maly.com/

Dec. 30^th

Leave Luang Prabang at 7:40 a.m. on Lao Airlines

Layover in Vientiane

Arrive Bangkok at 11:25 a.m. 

Leave Bangkok at 4:55 p.m. on Air Asia

Arrive Phuket at 6:10 p.m.

Stay one night in Phuket at Piraya: http://pirayaresort.com/

Dec. 31^st

Land and Boat transfer to Ko Phra Thong

Golden Buddah transfer picking us up at Piraya at 1:00 p.m.

Dec. 31^st – Jan. 4^th

Ko Phra Thong (Surin Islands) (4 nights, 3 full days)

Staying at Golden Buddha Resort: http://www.goldenbuddharesort.com/

Snorkeling booked on Jan. 2nd through Blue Guru: http://www.blue-guru.org/thailand_scuba_diving/day_trip_surin.html

Jan. 4^th

Leave Ko Phra Thong (via Phuket) at 9:55 p.m. on Bangkok Airways

Arrive Bangkok at 11:20 p.m.

Jan. 4^th – 6^th

Bangkok (2 nights, 1 full day)

Staying at Shangri-La: http://www.shangri-la.com/bangkok/shangrila

Jan. 6^th

Leave Bangkok at 2:40 a.m.

Arrive SFO at 9:20 a.m.

The Packing: Because of all the flights we're taking, the four of us made a pact to travel light - carry-ons only!  We can only hope to make all those connections on Dec. 30th.  Henry is smitten over a new brand of travel clothing, called Kuhl.  Apparently they make the best pants ever.  EVER.

10 days and counting!