lauren_s_kahn

One last blog post on my 2014 trip to SE Asia--a summing up:

http://altecockertravels.weebly.com/...east-asia.html

BillT

Interesting take on things.

lauren_s_kahn

That you for reading and responding., BillT.

Kathie

Interesting to read your reflections on your trip.

LancasterLad

I've thoroughly enjoyed reading everything you've written, and at times almost fallen off my perch in laughter. Reminds me of old Ma Clampett...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fGdv10AMj6Q

I'd have loved to have been a fly-on-the-wall when you were money changing in your hotel in Yangon!

lauren_s_kahn

Glad I provided some entertainment. Travel is a series of misadventures.

Someone at the hotel in Yangon swapped some of my $100 rejected bills for newer ones. He was flying home the next day or so and didn't need ironed bills anymore.

Next big trip will be Spain in August on a home exchange (south of Tarragona on the Mediterranean coast. I am trying to get a second exchange in July but nothing yet. It might be difficult this year as incoming tourism from Europe is bound to go down as the euro has decreased in value. We'll see.

HappyTrvlr

Thanks Lauren for sharing your insights for SE Asia, both entertaining and helpful at the same time.

lauren_s_kahn

I will be returning to Chiang Mai next winter so that my girlfriend and I can have a good visit with no broken bones. Last year she broke her leg and that prevented us from doing too much together.

So, there will be another blog.

rhkkmk

do visit other places in Thailand too.. the islands... the golden triangle, bkk bkk bkk...

if you often travel to Europe I do not understand your confusion about prices: items in Germany are cheaper than England or france... Italy is very expensive, etc... all one currency???

I do not find SEA that over run with plastic bag trash, although there is some... I also find conversing with locals to be no more difficult than any other place in the world... menus usually are not a problem for us, and if they are someone is always there to assist you.

bathrooms are becoming less of a problem as time passes.

get out of chiang mai, there are far nicer places and far less western-centric and over touristed.

looking forward to your 2016 report.

lauren_s_kahn

If you followed my blogs last year, you would know I got out of Chiang Mai plenty. I went on a kayak trip in the Andaman Sea; Yangon, Burma; and Siem Reap (Angkor Wat) in Cambodia. There are lots of photos up on my blog now but some have not been labelled yet. When I label them all, I will put all the direct links on fodors. I am currently on a 5 week home exchange and didn't finish all my photos up before leaving so I am a trip behind on photos.

And I did a lot of day trips out of Chiang Mai (Chiang Rai, elephants, whitewater rafting, ziplining, shopping for crafts, etc.).

I spent a few days in Bangkok at the end.

Next year's itinerary is still being planned but I might be going to Taiwan before hitting Thailand. I lined up an apartment in Chiang Mai for this year before leaving last.