Waterfall Overload in Pakse ( Paxse), Laos

From the Moon Bar in Pakse, I met Noi who volunteered to take me around town the following day. I have told him of what places i've come for in Pakse, and being a local, and with a motorbike, he has gone to these places before.

In the morning, before I could even decide on whether I'd ask for his help or not, he asked me ahead on what time I will be ready. I told him the time, and showed up in the door earlier than asked.

I was starving, and so before leaving town proper, I asked that we look for some place to eat. All of the local restaurants we passed by didn't have rice ready yet. There was one roadside vendor who sold food on takeway, and I thought we can eat right there anyway.

They were all surprised a foreigner was keen about eatingg right in the roadside.

After the meal, we headed to the first waterfall... Tad Fane. It was a 38kilometer distance, that took us about 45mins to drive. We had to be extra careful on the unpaved road.

The weather was a little hazy, so, unfortunately, even after waiting for about an hour in the resort, we couldn't see the waterfall. Soundwise, the waterfall is really strong, but the fog was just too thick.

Seemingly hopeless, we decided to move to the next waterfall, Tad Gneaung, (Tat Yuang) which is just a few kilometers away.

Noi confirmed it's not the same situation at the Tad Gneaung Waterfall, and there were other travellers I met, and asked about the other waterfalls they've visited, and confirmed to me that the next waterfall is in fact visible.

This next waterfall is just about 8 kilometers away, so we got in very quickly. The current was quite strong, so even if there is a staircase going down the drop, we didn't bother. Besides, with the pressure of the tall drop, the mist will make you totally wet.

From there, we headed to the next waterfall.. Pha Suam Waterfall. This one is a bit off our direction, and we had to turn X kilometers from the highway.

We were feeling a little hungry, so stopped by some fruit stalls along the road.

One thing good about the waterfalls in Pakse is that they were maintained and converted into a resort, with pathways to the viewpoints, for the not so athletic eager beavers.

On the contrary, this may not be so appealing those like me who'd like to see nature at its pristine.

Meantime, after a tiring road trip to the waterfalls, there's always the line up of bistros and bars alongside the mekong river

This post is part of the #limbonisASIA trip. See link for more stories, detailed expenses and itinerary

For more detailed info about Laos, visit
Laos Guide 999 : or Laos Tourism for information about public transpo, destinations, etc

From the Moon Bar in Pakse, I met Noi who volunteered to take me around town the following day. I have told him of what places i've come for in Pakse, and being a local, and with a motorbike, he has gone to these places before.

In the morning, before I could even decide on whether I'd ask for his help or not, he asked me ahead on what time I will be ready. I told him the time, and showed up in the door earlier than asked.

I was starving, and so before leaving town proper, I asked that we look for some place to eat. All of the local restaurants we passed by didn't have rice ready yet. There was one roadside vendor who sold food on takeway, and I thought we can eat right there anyway.

They were all surprised a foreigner was keen about eatingg right in the roadside.

After the meal, we headed to the first waterfall... Tad Fane. It was a 38kilometer distance, that took us about 45mins to drive. We had to be extra careful on the unpaved road.

The weather was a little hazy, so, unfortunately, even after waiting for about an hour in the resort, we couldn't see the waterfall. Soundwise, the waterfall is really strong, but the fog was just too thick.

Seemingly hopeless, we decided to move to the next waterfall, Tad Gneaung, (Tat Yuang) which is just a few kilometers away.

Noi confirmed it's not the same situation at the Tad Gneaung Waterfall, and there were other travellers I met, and asked about the other waterfalls they've visited, and confirmed to me that the next waterfall is in fact visible.

This next waterfall is just about 8 kilometers away, so we got in very quickly. The current was quite strong, so even if there is a staircase going down the drop, we didn't bother. Besides, with the pressure of the tall drop, the mist will make you totally wet.

From there, we headed to the next waterfall.. Pha Suam Waterfall. This one is a bit off our direction, and we had to turn X kilometers from the highway.

We were feeling a little hungry, so stopped by some fruit stalls along the road.

One thing good about the waterfalls in Pakse is that they were maintained and converted into a resort, with pathways to the viewpoints, for the not so athletic eager beavers.

On the contrary, this may not be so appealing those like me who'd like to see nature at its pristine.

Meantime, after a tiring road trip to the waterfalls, there's always the line up of bistros and bars alongside the mekong river

This post is part of the #limbonisASIA trip. See link for more stories, detailed expenses and itinerary

For more detailed info about Laos, visit
Laos Guide 999 : or Laos Tourism for information about public transpo, destinations, etc

Read More »

Budget (and healthy) eats: That vegetarian restaurant in Dalat, Vietnam

I am travelling with a vegetarian, and lucky enough, there was a vegetarian restaurant just right next to our booked acccomodation.

I have been meeting a lot of travellers who had turned into vegetarian diet, and I have been considering it as well; Yet, I did not know how to deal with my meat cravings, plus, I am not too open with having only a few choices when dining.

Nonetheless, this vegetarian restaurant was more than about chewing greens and pitifully munching on steamed mushy carrots or potatoes. Apart from those dishes that clearly look like all vegetablles, they have some dishes that looks quite like beef, pork, and chicken. They confirmed that it is actually vegetables, though you say pork/beef/chicken when you order it.

At this restaurant, you can choose 4 different dishes on top of rice, plus 1 of 4-6 kinds of soup; All these for just 25,000.

On each table, you'd also find a really nice unflavored (though not as sour, butt a litttle sweet) yoghurt for just 6,000 dong. 

It seems the yoghurt is made by the restaurant beside it (and the same eexact yoghurt is sold on that restaurant for 10,000 dong; In fact, this restaurant allows diners from the vegetarian restaurant, but if you eat and order your drinks there, they'd charge you 10,000 for the yoghurt; So, just keep dining from the Vegetarian Restaurant).



This post is part of the #limbonisASIA trip. See link for more stories, detailed expenses and itinerary

I am travelling with a vegetarian, and lucky enough, there was a vegetarian restaurant just right next to our booked acccomodation.

I have been meeting a lot of travellers who had turned into vegetarian diet, and I have been considering it as well; Yet, I did not know how to deal with my meat cravings, plus, I am not too open with having only a few choices when dining.

Nonetheless, this vegetarian restaurant was more than about chewing greens and pitifully munching on steamed mushy carrots or potatoes. Apart from those dishes that clearly look like all vegetablles, they have some dishes that looks quite like beef, pork, and chicken. They confirmed that it is actually vegetables, though you say pork/beef/chicken when you order it.

At this restaurant, you can choose 4 different dishes on top of rice, plus 1 of 4-6 kinds of soup; All these for just 25,000.

On each table, you'd also find a really nice unflavored (though not as sour, butt a litttle sweet) yoghurt for just 6,000 dong. 

It seems the yoghurt is made by the restaurant beside it (and the same eexact yoghurt is sold on that restaurant for 10,000 dong; In fact, this restaurant allows diners from the vegetarian restaurant, but if you eat and order your drinks there, they'd charge you 10,000 for the yoghurt; So, just keep dining from the Vegetarian Restaurant).



This post is part of the #limbonisASIA trip. See link for more stories, detailed expenses and itinerary

Read More »

That underrated Dalat, Vietnam

I never really planned on going to Dalat, except only that one of the waterfalls I found through Google Maps was very close to it. At the same time, it does not really seem to be a top destination for Vietnam from the travel guides and reviews.

I arrived in Dalat from a night bus from Ho Chi Minh city, and it was around 6am when we arrived in town. The check in time is at 12noon, so we had the morning to explore the nearby places. 

We first walked around the lake, and my travel bud recalls reading about a flower garden around the lake. We walked further and spotted a number of tourist buses parked at some entrance very early in that morning. It was a flower garden indeed, and the place seems to be a favorite destination for local
tourists.

After the flower garden, we felt a little tired, and so walked back to the guesthouse to take a nap.

As we were so tired, we didn't wake up until it was evening. We settled on dinner at the nearby vegetarian restaurant, and a beer around the night market.

The following morning, we set to go to pongour waterfalls. It was a heck because of the bike tires to get to the waterfall, but its abundance was just too much too bother about its distance from city center and what it took to get there.

On the way back to city, thought about checking out the silk factory but was too late in the afternooon that the factory is closing, so decided to get back the following day.

Then, before heading back to town, we thought of checking out the cable cart. Unfortunately, it was too late as well to get a ride; So, instead of riding the carts, we drove to the other end, where we are looking to see the monastery.

Then again, the monastery was also closed. We drove around the hill, and at the back was a tranquil lake. We saw a restaurant with stilt setup, so we had some coffee and beer for a while.

The following day, we hit back the same dirt road to see the silk factory.

Then, there was a coffee shop that had a lake view, and asked my travel pals if we can stop in there even for just 15mins; But with the view, and it's relaxing seating, We ended up sitting for while, perhaps almost an hour.

After Me Linh Coffee Garden, we rushed back to the city to check out the Crazy House.

The following day, I left Dalat and moved to Nha Trang. 

I went to Da Lat, more out of curiousity on what is around, and it seems, this place is poorly reviewed, and probably because, as it seems, not much of the visitors to this place make the effort to see Pongour Waterfalls. More than the flower garden and the city itself, i think Da Lat is best with this waterfall, and the view along the way.

There were some waterfalls too near the town, but they are nowhere close to the beauty that's there in Pongour.

Admission Fees for Flower Garden is 20,000 Dong; Pongour Waterfalls is 10,000 plus 5,000 parking; Silk Factory is 10,000 (no parking charge).


This post is part of the #limbonisASIA trip. See link for more stories, detailed expenses and itinerary

I never really planned on going to Dalat, except only that one of the waterfalls I found through Google Maps was very close to it. At the same time, it does not really seem to be a top destination for Vietnam from the travel guides and reviews.

I arrived in Dalat from a night bus from Ho Chi Minh city, and it was around 6am when we arrived in town. The check in time is at 12noon, so we had the morning to explore the nearby places. 

We first walked around the lake, and my travel bud recalls reading about a flower garden around the lake. We walked further and spotted a number of tourist buses parked at some entrance very early in that morning. It was a flower garden indeed, and the place seems to be a favorite destination for local
tourists.

After the flower garden, we felt a little tired, and so walked back to the guesthouse to take a nap.

As we were so tired, we didn't wake up until it was evening. We settled on dinner at the nearby vegetarian restaurant, and a beer around the night market.

The following morning, we set to go to pongour waterfalls. It was a heck because of the bike tires to get to the waterfall, but its abundance was just too much too bother about its distance from city center and what it took to get there.

On the way back to city, thought about checking out the silk factory but was too late in the afternooon that the factory is closing, so decided to get back the following day.

Then, before heading back to town, we thought of checking out the cable cart. Unfortunately, it was too late as well to get a ride; So, instead of riding the carts, we drove to the other end, where we are looking to see the monastery.

Then again, the monastery was also closed. We drove around the hill, and at the back was a tranquil lake. We saw a restaurant with stilt setup, so we had some coffee and beer for a while.

The following day, we hit back the same dirt road to see the silk factory.

Then, there was a coffee shop that had a lake view, and asked my travel pals if we can stop in there even for just 15mins; But with the view, and it's relaxing seating, We ended up sitting for while, perhaps almost an hour.

After Me Linh Coffee Garden, we rushed back to the city to check out the Crazy House.

The following day, I left Dalat and moved to Nha Trang. 

I went to Da Lat, more out of curiousity on what is around, and it seems, this place is poorly reviewed, and probably because, as it seems, not much of the visitors to this place make the effort to see Pongour Waterfalls. More than the flower garden and the city itself, i think Da Lat is best with this waterfall, and the view along the way.

There were some waterfalls too near the town, but they are nowhere close to the beauty that's there in Pongour.

Admission Fees for Flower Garden is 20,000 Dong; Pongour Waterfalls is 10,000 plus 5,000 parking; Silk Factory is 10,000 (no parking charge).


This post is part of the #limbonisASIA trip. See link for more stories, detailed expenses and itinerary

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Me Linh Coffee Garden in da Lat

Coffee has been one of the reason for me liking and keep coming back to Vietnam;  it's accessibility, and cheap price; It's available in probably every 250 meters in town, and can go as cheap as 6,000 dong a serve ($0.28) in Saigon.

On our way back to Pongour waterfall, we spotted a serene lake and a coffee shop with its view. I've asked my travel pals to spare me at least 15mins to have a sip.

The shop looks quite simple from the outside, and as we walked it, I am delighted to see the various handicrafts sold at it; And, more than the handicraft and a regular cup of vietnamese coffee as I thought, they actually sell various kinds of coffee from the regular kind up to what would cost 60,000 dong a cup (6 times at least the price of a regular coffee in town).

After placing the order, you sit in their lounge, or the veranda with a view of the lake, and their coffee plantation.

I confirmed with my pals if we're staying 15mins indeed, and was glad to be told, "probably a bit more."

Me Linh coffee garden makes a good stop for the 50km distance from Town Centre to Pongour waterfall, and silk factory.



This post is part of the #limbonisASIA trip. See link for more stories, detailed expenses and itinerary

Coffee has been one of the reason for me liking and keep coming back to Vietnam;  it's accessibility, and cheap price; It's available in probably every 250 meters in town, and can go as cheap as 6,000 dong a serve ($0.28) in Saigon.

On our way back to Pongour waterfall, we spotted a serene lake and a coffee shop with its view. I've asked my travel pals to spare me at least 15mins to have a sip.

The shop looks quite simple from the outside, and as we walked it, I am delighted to see the various handicrafts sold at it; And, more than the handicraft and a regular cup of vietnamese coffee as I thought, they actually sell various kinds of coffee from the regular kind up to what would cost 60,000 dong a cup (6 times at least the price of a regular coffee in town).

After placing the order, you sit in their lounge, or the veranda with a view of the lake, and their coffee plantation.

I confirmed with my pals if we're staying 15mins indeed, and was glad to be told, "probably a bit more."

Me Linh coffee garden makes a good stop for the 50km distance from Town Centre to Pongour waterfall, and silk factory.



This post is part of the #limbonisASIA trip. See link for more stories, detailed expenses and itinerary

Read More »