Jaspertl Loved your reports. Hope to do the same when I return, but not going till Oct/Nov. Question or a rationale. I'm finding it difficult to get busn class or even 1st class flights most of out domestic flights. Is this because they don't sell them or they sell out quick. Jaspertl did you have this problem?

Jaspert, loved your report. You really covered all the bases. I have to add that the Beer Lao was superb, wish I could have brought a case back.

I'm not a beer drinker, but my daughter also loved the Beer Lao.
Jaspert - great report. I loved the way you organized it into short snippets (except for Hong Kong). I think you got a pretty good deal on the trip to the waterfall and boat ride to the caves. We paid less, as I remember, but there were only two of us. We booked the boat ride from the taxi driver who took us from the airport to our hotel - he said his brother had a boat. I love reading details as others remember them. It makes it fun to reminisce and also to compare notes. Thanks for posting!
(I think Croatia would be great - it's on my list - but not at the top. Not sure where you went in South America, but if not Peru, I'd highly recommend that! Also, just returned from Egypt, which likewise was wonderful and very different from either SE Asia or S. America.)

Thanks jaspertl for taking the time to write the report.

I 'll be going to S.E.Asia this fall. Have not been to Laos so the info esp on bathroom is particularly helpful.

Hk has loads of inexpensive restaurants with great food but some of them are much too noisy for my taste. The noise level in some of these family-style restaurants is insane if you ask me.

As far as tipping goes, you don't automatically add on a percentage. If you like the service, you would leave a bigger tip. Some people leave change. It's OK. That's what people do there.

Lots of people I know luv croatia. One even bought a house in Dubronik. It's on my list. Not the top because lots of places are changing too fast. I have to see those first.

Have fun.