Here We Go Again!

Well, I’ve been a good boy by staying home for the whole month of December*, so I’m getting a little stir-crazy.  Time to go somewhere.  Joan and I have been planning this one for months.

*I actually woke up in Medellin, Colombia on December 1st but was back in Palm Springs late that evening.  Since December has 31 days I’ve counted that as a whole month.  My prerogative.

This is my second international flight since I moved to Palm Springs in the fall and I’m once again reminded how nice it was to live near LAX.  The flights tomorrow morning are long…and early.  I have to get up around 4:00 am to be out of the house by 5:30am to be at LAX by no later than 9:30 am for a 11:05am departure.  And that will probably be the easy part.  It’s usually just a two hour drive between Palm Springs and Los Angeles, but the flight timing plops me down on inbound freeways smack dab in the middle of the morning rush hour.

I’m excited that the first leg of the flight, Los Angeles to Tokyo, will be on the new 787…the Dreamliner.  I’m anxious to see if the hype matches the experience.  It’s supposed to be more comfortable and less tiring, but I’m of the notion you’re still stuck in a metal tube at 38,000 feet, travelling over 500mph for 12 1/2 hours.  Occasionally bouncing around a bit just to make sure you don’t accidently fall asleep.  The second leg is Tokyo to Bangkok, another 7 1/2 hours after the two-hour layover in Tokyo.  I’m not exactly sure when we arrive in Bangkok, but I think it is sometime next week!

After that ordeal, we’re going to spend a couple nights in Bangkok to recuperate (we’ll get back to this magical city later in the trip).  Here are the highlights of the rest of the journey:

• Three nights in Chiang Mai, Thailand
• Two nights in Chiang Rai, Thailand
• One night at the Thai-Lao border
• Downstream on a Mekong River boat stopping in Pak Beng, Laos for an overnight
• Four nights in Luang Prabang, Laos
• Fly to Vientienne, Laos (the capital) and spend a couple nights
• Fly to Bangkok, Thailand and stay four nights

Luang Prabang, Laos (photo by others)

I’ve been to Thailand many times but this will be my first trip in the northern part of the country and my first trip to Laos.  I’m especially looking forward to the Mekong River cruise and the time in Luang Prabang.

Stick with me here as I’m hoping for some good stories and pictures over the next three weeks.  My life is a trip!