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Top Ten Tips for travelling Southeast Asia

Posted by Andrea on  |  4 Comments

Here are some Journeys Within tips to making the most of your Southeast Asian holiday…

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Top Ten Tips to make the most of your holiday

Orient yourself  — When you leave your hotel pick up a hotel card to give to a taxi or tuk-tuk driver for your return trip. It usually has the name of your hotel and directions to get there in the local language as well as in English.

Haggle with a smile — Remember to bargain, it is a way of life throughout Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam and Myanmar and can be fun! Smile and give haggling your best shot, keeping in that 25 cents may not be much to to you, but to a local it can cover the cost of a meal.

Trust your gut — Don’t believe everything you hear. Tuk-tuk and taxi drivers have been know to tell visitors that where they want to go is ‘closed’, has a bug infestation or bad reputation; they might be planning to take you to an outlet where they get commission. Tourist hot-spots are susceptible to scam, so a little skepticism (and maybe a quick Google search) can be a healthy thing.

Kindness of strangers — That being said, don’t assume everyone is trying to rip you off; most locals are honest and want you to enjoy their country. The Golden Rule applies everywhere — treat others the way you want to be treated.

Keep cool — Asian isn’t always as organized or logical as we would sometimes like — try hard no to lose your temper, or even raise your voice, it is counterproductive. Believe us, Andrea has tried! Hot tempers will embarrass the locals while calmer heads will always prevail.

Keep your eyes peeled — The most photographic moments are often the ones you don’t see coming. Have your camera with you and ready at all times. You never know when you will catch the elusive 5 guys or family of 7 on a single motorbike.

Be prepared … with wet wipes — Hand-sanitizer, bug-spray, toilet paper, feminine products (if applicable) – don’t leave the hotel without them. The more remote the location the less likely you will be able to find the essentials. Wet wipes are the key to handling dusty roads and long days touring.

Stay hydrated — Only drink bottled water and drink lots of it. You don’t want to wait until you are dying of thirst or suffering from headaches before replenishing the liquid lost during the hot tropical days.  Dry the bottle if it has been kept cool in a tub of water; who knows where that water came from!

Befriend a local — Don’t hesitate to ask questions, directions or for help. Locals are generally eager to lend a helping hand, much the same way you would be if you came across someone lost in your neighborhood. Plus, it is surprising how much can be communicated with body language!

Accepting Asia — Everyday life, sight and smells will be very different in Southeast Asia compared to home. Go with the flow – the unexpected makes the best stories when you get home!

And one important extra…

Walk slowly and nap often, the locals do!… Read more »

Guiding Light: Meet Ounkham

Posted by Andrea on (Updated: )  |  1 Comment

 Introducing another of Journeys Within’s Guiding Lights, here is Ounkham from Luang Prabang. Proud of his country, culture and heritage, Ounkham relishes the opportunity to show guests the best that Laos has to offer.

Ounkham (3)

Name: Ounkham Phanthaseng

Age: 29

Married for a little over a year to his wife who is a Bangkok Airway employee. Ounkham lives with his wife’s mother, sister and brother.

When did you begin working for Journeys Within Tour Company?

I started working for JW in Dec 2012 when a mutual guide colleague had to cancel last minute and sent JW my number. Since then I have been working with the company.

How did you become a guide?

In 2006 I got a job with a local tour company but was not freelance. Then I got my national license in 2009.

What do you like about being a guide?

I like to talk with different people from around the world and show them Lao culture, which I believe is unique and unexploited like many others in the region.

What is your favorite part about being a guide?

Traveling is the best part of being a guide. I have gotten to travel all over the country and before the only places I had been to was Vientiane and Luang Prabang.

What is the most challenging part about being a guide?

Touring with a big group of different ages and interests.  It can be hard to keep everyone happy and if someone has difficulty climbing then you spend a lot of time helping them and not with the other guests. This is especially hard in Luang Prabang because there are steps everywhere!

What is your favorite thing to show guests?

I love to show people the local temples and explain traditions and the religion of Buddhism because I find so many travelers don’t know much about it. I love to see how the travelers begin to understand the practices and become happy knowing they have learned something new.

What kind of things do guests ask you/ want to talk about?

They ask a lot about Buddhism, history and politics. I find many guests are very surprised to learn about the Secret War in Laos and don’t usually believe it until they see pictures from the time period.

What food / restaurants should guests try?

Local food at a nice restaurant like Tamarind or Tamnak Lao.

What should guests coming to Luang Prabang know?

I think everyone should do a little research before they choose the tours they decide on because guests can be disappointed when go somewhere that isn’t what they thought it would be. For example, Pak Ou Caves is more of a spiritual and holy site as opposed to a great cave. Most travelers love the boat ride the most out of the experiences and not necessarily the cave but this is because they think they will go cave exploring but in fact it is a shallow cave with many Buddha statues. I think that it is a good idea to read up on sites on their itinerary so they are more prepared to what it is and its significance.

Most memorable JW guest?

My first group with JW was Lan Nguyen and her husband Marc. They were really excited to come to Laos and were extremely easy-going, relaxed and happy. They loved going out to the villages on our Village and Temples on the Mekong Tour.  We all really enjoyed our time together – they felt like old friends.

Love another of Journeys Within’s guides? Let us know in the comments below and we will profile them for the public. Or nominate them for Wanderlust World Guide Awards 2014.

 … Read more »

Laos gets festive with dragon boat races

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Earlier this month our Laos Director Phaeng caught a glimpse of dragon boats on the water — not surprising since the sleepy Southeast Asian country is preparing for one of its largest festivals taking place on the Mekong.

Boat Racing LPQ 100

The upcoming Boun Song Hua, or Boat Festival, is celebrated at the end of Buddhist Lent and marks the end of the monks’ three-month-fast and retreat during the rainy season. Tradition dictates that the older generation will make donations and offerings at their local temples. Prayers will be chanted by the monks, and at dusk candlelight processions wind their way around the temples.

For the younger generation this two-day festival means dragon boat races,  social gatherings and colourful floats decorated with flowers, incense and candles set adrift down the Mekong river in thanksgiving to the river spirit.

Boat Racing LPQ 079

Traditionally racing boats are carved using one single tree. Holding approximately 50 paddlers, the boats belong to a village and are usually kept in a shelter on the temple grounds and come out only once a year for the race. Several days before the race the boats are cleaned and presented with offerings because the boats are considered sacred items.

The Boat Festival itself is an homage to water divinities and the Nagas, who are protector of the country, in addition to being a spectacle worth taking in.

Boat Racing LPQ 033

This year the festival will run October 19 & 20, with the largest celebration happening on the Mekong in Vientiane and Luang Prabang.

For those who have yet to take in a race on the Mekong, this festival presents the perfect opportunity to enjoy one of the oldest traditions in Southeast Asia.

 … Read more »

My Return to Laos

Posted by Andrea on (Updated: )  |  1 Comment

By: Sarah Greer- Journeys Within Guest 2012

I lived in the Kingdom of Laos in 1968 as a foreign exchange student (AFS), spending most of my time with my Lao family in the capital, Vientiane.  I was privileged to drive on the then-new gravel road to beautiful Vang Vieng, at that time a very sleepy country crossroads, where I marveled at the karst mountains and rice paddies.  My most unusual experience was going to the king’s palace in Luang Prabang, where I attended a royal wedding.  Journeys Within organized a trip that allowed my husband and me to re-visit these fascinating places. Many of the sights and sounds have changed dramaticallysince the country became Lao People’s Democratic Republic. For example, the morning market is no longer an open field, but a tall modern building.  There are signs of foreign investment and building of new infrastructure in many places throughout the country. But most patterns of living have hardly changed at all, especially in the countryside.  Many Lao still wear traditional clothing, they farm and gather local food, and their Buddhist traditions and animist spirit beliefs remain strong. The monks still walk at dawn, collecting alms. Our Journeys Within guides were phenomenal and eager to show us Laos past and present. I was especially grateful for help in connecting with my Lao family. The family was part of the Lao diaspora when the country changed hands in 1975.  It was encouraging to learn that many Lao expatriates have now returned to live and work in their homeland. I was able to visit with my “sister” and “brother” and an old friend, and our guide took me to Wat Sisaket during the full moon festival to pay my respects with offerings of candles, incense and flowers at the stupa of the parents who had hosted me. This trip allowed me to rediscover a wonderfully friendly and constantly intriguing county.

My Lao Family and I in 1968
My Lao Family and I in 2012
… Read more »

Guide training 2011- Laos!

Posted by Andrea on (Updated: )  |  2 Comments

By: Nicole Long – Laos country director

As you may already know, Journeys Within’s 2011 Guide Training is currently underway all over SE Asia.  Andrea made her way over to Laos after her first stop in Thailand and we conducted guide training in Luang Prabang and Vientiane over 5 days. We were even able to fit in some hotel, restaurant, and supplier inspections into the busy schedule.

It was a fast few days that were jam packed from morning until the evening. Andrea will be continuing on a similar schedule for the next couple of weeks and I have to commend her for her enduring spirit and energy. It takes a lot to do these training and inspections every day for three weeks. This year the theme is that our guides are our stars, but I have to say that Andrea is one as well!  She is the JW rock star!

Our amazing JW team in Luang Prabang!

In order to celebrate the success of training in Laos, I have listed the top 10 ways in which the JW team and guide training ROCKED this year!

  1. Guide Training Video – It was so cool to see the finished guide training video on the big screen! In both Luang Prabang and Vientiane we were able to see the film via projector. It was really fun to see the reactions of the guides who were watching it, especially the ones that were in it! You could see how excited the guides were when they saw guides they knew being interviewed and the footage of their country. The end shot of Ek, Laos guide, is PRICELESS!
  2. Spending a full day with the Luang Prabang guides at the Elephant Village’s Shangri Lao Explorer Expedition. All of our guides were treated with this full day excursion which included a 1.5 hour elephant ride, breathtaking views on top of  mountains, luxurious lunch in a bungalow overlooking a private waterfall in the secluded forest, a jungle trek, horseback riding (for a few) and a bamboo raft ride down the Nam Khan River.  It was great for all of the guides to join together and experience something they rarely get to do, go on a tour!
  3. Our guides are amazing support.  Phaeng told me that he thought flip flops would be fine for the trek portion of tour. They were fine for him, but not so much for me! I learned that flip flops and the rainy season do to go well together. Mud, mud, mud and some more mud. I know, I know. I have lived in Luang Prabang for 3 years and I should know better. I believe I thought I was as agile as Phaeng. I learned I was not. I was very thankful that my guides were so helpful to me on my ascent down the mountain. They literally held me up by my arms and slid me down the mountain barefoot. I was happy to provide a good laugh for everyone.
  4. In Vientiane it was raining so heavily that we had to adjust our plans for the day’s activities and the day with the guides worked out even better!  We went on a river boat cruise outside of town and had lunch.  The boat also came equipped with karaoke!  While enjoying the boat ride we all took turns signing some of our favorite tunes.  We even got Andrea to sing Hotel California (if you don’t know, Andrea claims herself to be the worst singer on the planet)!
  5. Team Building- It was encouraging to see that guide training was fulfilling its purpose.  Guide Training is an opportunity for Andrea to meet the old and new guides, engage in open discussions about JW tours and share idea with one another.  The time spent with them really helped to strengthen the JW team.
  6. Dalah Spa Inspection in Vientiane!  Who wouldn’t think that spa inspections rocked??  This inspection particularly rocked because it was much needed after elephant riding and trekking on a stormy evening in Vientiane.  It was also great because it happens to be one of the nicer spas I have seen outside of a 5 star hotel spa in Laos. All guests planning on making a stop in Vientaine must try out Dalah!  You can get anything from a four hand massage to a three hour spa package including sauna, scrub and massage. Only thing we don’t recommend is eye brow waxing, just ask Andrea!
  7. Guide Training rocked for me because I got the chance to spend time with Andrea. It has been almost 2 years since I have seen her and I was excited for her to come back to Laos.  She even brought me Goldfish and Reese’s Peanut butter cups! Best boss ever.
  8. New tours are coming!!!  From spending time with the guides and each other, Andrea and I came up with some new and exciting Laos tours.  Look out for more information on our Adventure, Anthropology and Festival Tours.  Coming soon!
  9. I know most of my guides pretty well from working with them the last few years. This guide training allowed me to get to know even more about their character. I think when you travel or go on a tour with someone you are able to see how they react to the experience. It was such a blast to see them let go of their usual roles as the guide and being in control. Whether they were jumping into freezing water, riding a miniature horse, emphasizing the importance of community based tourism or attempting to sing a classic rock anthem in English, they were being themselves. The experience allowed them to relax and have fun.
  10. The guide training demonstrates one of the core values of this company. Journeys Within talks about how important it is to be connected to the communities where we work and work as a team. Andrea and Brandon truly believe in this and prove that with their annual guide training.  They appreciate and respect the guides who are providing the experiences for guests.  They take the time and money to come out to locations where Journeys Within has offices and personally express their gratitude to them. They are not your typical owners of an international tour company.  While taking time to inspect 4 – 5 star hotels and gourmet restaurants throughout SE Asia is necessary for the business, it’s not the most important to them. They believe the guides to be one of the most important aspects of a travel experience. The guides are the true stars of Journeys Within, without their knowledge and shining personalities we would all be in the dark!

I want to send a big thank you out to the whole Journeys Within team who has made the 2011 guide training such a success. You all rock!  I can’t wait for next year!

Check out this video for many more pictures of our amazing week!

 … Read more »