Canberra happenings in April

Rather slack at taking photos around home but a few memories from the month include evening picnics with friends at Sky Fire

and trying Kashmir out for a neck warmer with Winter approaching.

Relaxing with the girls in Than Sadet

A brilliant end to the end of the adventure. My friend Katie invited me to join her at a beach bungalow in Than Sadet, of the coast from Koh Samui. A relaxing week with good views, food and chats.

All I had to do was raise my head slightly from my pillow to take in the morning sunrise

Our little beach

Posers - Katie & Sandy

Always a laugh in good company!

Preparation of the lantern for Katie's naming ceremony

And a new name and all that comes with it is released to be

Such a tough life I have!

Chilling out in the evening

Laos - north with the Gibbons

I made my way further north-east towards my friend Katie's 'home town' of Luang Nam Tha. Rice patties, kind people and a bus ride not too far to a protected area with a project called the Gibbon Experience. Flying over valleys, living in the trees and seeing the elusive black gibbon. What delight!

The prefered mode of transport in Luang Nam Tha

Tree house relaxing

The quickest (and most fun) way to cross a valley

The black gibbons which would wake us up with their singing - I was lucky enough to see them from a distance both mornings

Morning view from the tree house

Pushing off the Laos shore to Thailand with fond memories in tow

Laos - Up the Nam Ou

From Luang Prabang I headed in a slow boat up the Nam Ou with Erin and John. The faulty motor on the boat ended up being a blessing as we stopped along the way. John pulled out a hacky sack like toy. Without much of a word in Laos there was a lot of communication to be had through a simple game.

Laos - Luang Prabang

Luang Prabang is definately an easy place to chill out in. I easily slipped into a comfortable daily routine of coffee, noodles, banana pancakes, massages and explorations on push bike and foot.

Early morning alms

Colourful veges

Protein

Waterfalls I thought could only be in heaven

Quaint accommodation with a view

My favourites - new friends I just clicked with, Erin and John, and banana pancakes with pandan custard

Seeing how some of the beautiful scarves we bought were made

Cycling to a temple on a hilltop

I was faithful every morning to this one noodle lady in the market. Mmm you couldn't go past fresh noodles wrapped in banana leaves and Laos coffee with sweetened condensed milk to start the day

Laos

After having our 'must do' while in India of going to see a Bollywood film on our way to the Delhi airport, Richard and I headed for Thailand. Unfortunate for Richard, the responsible one, he continued to Sydney to go back to work. Lucky me had planned to disembark in Bangkok and head for Laos. I had heard it was a lovely country so why not? Indeed, it was charming. The friendly people, the picturesque scenery, the relaxed way of life drew me in. I'd go back there in a flash!

I made a border crossing into Vientiane and after a few nights headed up to Vang Vieng. Avoiding the crowds of young tourists that had taken over part of the river front - travelling to Laos to get pissed and high and watch reruns of Friends wasn't really my thing - I hired a bike and headed down a bumpy dirt road to explore various limestone caves and waterholes.

Agra

Richard's expression at first sight of the Taj Mahal says it all...

Approaching the Red Fort