Living Lightly in Laos - for a while: Uprooting ourselves

8th December

So we said a fond farewell to our lovely Luang Prabang and set out in search of adventure (and visas) - a month in Thailand.

A last sunset drink on the Mekong. Of course we've been enjoying the World Cup - but catching just the early games. The big ones tend to be at 2 in the morning here - and we're not that dedicated!

Although it was Laos National Day on the Friday, Toui kindly gave us a lift to the airport to catch the afternoon AirAsia flight to Bangkok. It's only an hour and a half and we had booked a hotel room within walking distance of the airport so it was all quite easy.

Our Thai language skills are non-existent and most of the eateries around our "hotel" were street food vendors but eventually we found a nice-looking wanton bar and ordered something from the picture menu. It was good!

The next morning it was taxi across the city to the bus station and then a bus trip down the coast to Prachuap Khiri Khan.

It should've taken about 4 hours. In fact it was more like 6 hours! Patience was needed - but we got there eventually.

Our guest house is quite amazing. You know those Californian beach houses you see in the movies? It's as if one of those has been transported to the shore of a fairly scruffy little Thai fishing village. Our hosts Jack (American) and Bua (Thai) spent 5 years, a lot of money and massive amounts of stress building the house (it's a typical "Grand Designs" tale of corrupt builders, incompetent subcontractors and bewildered locals). But the result is (as Kevin McCloud would say) an awesome blend of light and space - with views from every angle. I love it.

Our room is on the third floor with terrace and balconies overlooking the fishing harbour, the mountain and the sea.

As I say, the village of KlongWan is nothing special but the locals are friendly and there are noodle shops, an amazing fish restaurant and nice little bars near by.

The high street

The temple is much bigger and grander than the Lao equivalents!

So we had just about settled in and then the storm came! It absolutely hammered down, off and on for 2 days with dramatic displays of thunder and lightning. Quite unusual at this time of year apparently.

It was a relief when the skies finally cleared and we were able to get out and about. It's a half hour walk round the headland to get to Ao Manao beach, which is good for swimming apparently.