How to Ride a Motorcycle Across SE Asia

Posted by markopoloayling on April 30, 2010 · Leave a Comment 

Originally Posted on OffTrackPlanet.com When it comes to Southeast Asia, everyone has the same guidebook and the same itinerary. Chances are you’ve island hopped through Thailand, trekked through Laos, hit a tranny bar here and there and you still haven’t left the crowd behind. You’re stuck on the Banana Pancake Trail. It’s time to get … Continue reading →

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Hanoi Hustlin’ (Hanoi, Vietnam)

Posted by markopoloayling on June 27, 2009 · Leave a Comment 

The backpacker district in Hanoi was situated in the Old Quarter, a maze of narrow streets, alleys and boulevards centered around a peaceful green lake.  In the evening young Vietnamese couples sat on benches along the water’s edge and watched the sun set over the peaceful water.  On the north end of the lake, a … Continue reading →

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The Slow Boat to China (Vientiane, Laos)

Posted by markopoloayling on May 6, 2009 · Leave a Comment 

Vientiane – Chinese Visa – Trouble on the Horizon – The Result Vientiane was a dull city of a half million people; you would never guess Laos’s capital if it wasn’t for the embassies and inflated prices.  A strange breed walked Vientiane’s streets at night: crazy Lao ladies, beggars, 8-year-old punks smoking cigarettes, the usual … Continue reading →

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