Before heading back to cold, wet England I backpacked for three weeks. Chiang Mai, Thailand was my first stop - a beautiful and quiet city that felt very small compared to Bangkok and Saigon. Perfect for relaxation after finishing work. Religion is far more open and visible in Thailand than Saigon, everywhere you looked there were monks walking the streets and temples all over the city.
From Thailand I went to Laos and took a very scenic trip on the slow boat from the border to Luang Prabang - the old capital of Laos and therefore very cultural. Lots more temples and a very beautiful city on the banks on the Mekong River. Vang Vieng was the next on my journey and vastly different from Luang Prabang. It is a very small place, built up so travellers can drink and go tubing. Bars and restaurants play 'Friends' and 'Family Guy' constantly with Western tourist staring at the screens nursing hangovers! A group of us went tubing - lying in a rubber ring and floating down the Mekong in the sun, a brilliant way to spend the afternoon. Vientiane - the capital - felt very small compared to Saigon and there isn't a lot to do, but I went to the Museum and found out more about Laos history. Laos history is virtually untaught in the UK so it was very interesting.
Cambodia was my last stop. The Killing Fields and S-21 Prison Museum in Phnom Penh were shocking and very sobering. Such tragedy so recently. Angkor Wat and the surrounding temples were beautiful and well worth the 3 days a friend and I spent exploring them. I recommend hiring bicycles and cycling round them, it was fantastic.
South East Asia is an amzing place that is rapidly changing with all the tourism and Western culture coming in. It has been a fantastic 11 months and I wish I could spend longer there. It was very sad saying goodbye to Saigon and all my friends there, but who knows, maybe I'll be back there soon!
Goodbye Asia, hello England :)
