Preparation for my first backpack trip~Laos

A trip to Laos with my younger siblings,
Anthony and Alice,both frequent traveler
and with Alice  just coming back from her solo world tour
will be an eyeopener for me as it'll be my first backpack trip away from M'sia.
A week to go but all packed and ready,
pray for a safe journey and good weather.

 

  ~Photos of places to go from Google

Laos Travel Itinerary and guide,
prepared by Alice.

LAOS 27 Oct 2012 – 4 Nov 2012

Flight Details

KL - Vientiane

AK1412 Sat 27 Oct 2012, 0735-0910

AK1413 Sun 4 Nov 2012 0945-1330

Weather

Wet season - May-October temperature around 30°

Dry season - November to March temperature as low as 15°

Currency

RM1 – LAK 2,600

Budget

US$40/RM120 per day

-          Room US$40/3=US$13

-          Food US$10-15

-          Transport / entrance fees US$3-5

-          *Optional - Massage US$3-6/hour

Electric plug

Flat blade plug,Two round pins

whatplug.info/from/malaysia/to/laos

 Rough travel 

Guide (Flexible to change as we go)

Date	Location	Remarks
27 Oct 2012	Vientiane	Arrive 0910 in Vientiane, half day to visit Vientiane Overnight bus to Phonsavan 10-12 hours
28 Oct 2012	Phonsavan	Rest and visit Phonsavan
29 Oct 2012	Phonsavan	Full day to visit to Plains of Jar
30 Oct 2012	Phonsavan to Luang Prabang	Morning bus to Luang Prabang 8 hours
31 Oct 2012	Luang Prabang	Mekong River cruise/Visit to Kuang Si Waterfall/Rent a bike to go around
1 Sept 2012	Luang Prabang
2 Sept 2012	Luang Prabang to Vientiane	Full day in Luang Prabang Overnight bus to Vientiane
3 Sept 2012	Vientiane	Full day to visit Vientiane
4 Sept 2012	Vientiane	Depart to KL 0945

Lonely no more

Dead and fallen trees at Port Dickson.
Coastal erosion and a rising sea blamed to global warming
coupled with human greed is overdeveloping
the once beautiful beach to the point of no return.

~a poem for the dead trees,

  Lonely No More
 I'm a lonely tree with  little leaves
 almost bare and dead by the rising sea
 soon i will not be alone anymore
 as i will be joining my dead friends
 living life without problems.
  thomas



Today this tree at Telok Kemang is nowhere in sight.




Uprooted at Pantai Purnama not far away.

Kuantan Riverside

Some shots of the Kuantan riverside
with new fountains along the riverfront.


The 424m bridge across the Kuantan river
which opens up a whole lot of opportunity
for villagers living on the other side.

 

An old wooden jetty at Tanjung Api.



Bukit Pelindung protecting the town
from wind and waves of the South China Sea.



A rainbow on the newly installed fountain,
i counted six of them.



Testing my 28~300mm zoom lens(at 28mm)
on a target 250m away.



at 70mm



at 100mm



200mm



and finally at 300mm.









 A White-bellied Sea Eagle busy searching for food.



Caught a fish by the claws.
(blurred handheld at 300mm)



An otter swimming pass.



A hazy sunrise by the esplanade.

Sultan Abu Bakar Museum

  Some shots of the beautifully landscaped Sultan Abu Bakar Museum
or fondly called Pekan Museum in the royal town of Pekan
which is yet to reopen as it is still under renovation
since October 2008!
I heard they haven't finish the interior yet
but i bet it will be nicely done to match the exterior.

 

Landscaped by Shoka Nursery of Kuantan
(Mr Ng,0129817433)


















An old police APC and a ex-navy Wasp helicopter
are some of the exhibit outside.



My sons posing with the new addition,
horses sculptured from wooden logs.
Pls don't try to climb on it as it's quite fragile.



A small boat by the Pahang River.

View Sultan Abu Bakar Museum in a larger map

Rocks of Lubuk Temiang beach

A slow walk on a hot afternoon along the rocky beach
of Lubuk Temiang in Labuan
yield some nice scenery and rocks.

 



An eerie find,
a rock resembling a baby.



Mushroom lookalike rock.





An abandoned anchor.









The cave at the end of the walk,
below the Kubung Bluff.









A lone mangrove tree fighting a losing battle.



This large piece of rock looks like
a cat sitting in a sphinx position.

View Eel Rock of Labuan in a larger map