Plain Of Jars, Laos

The Plain of Jars (Lao: ທົ່ງໄຫຫິນ [tʰōŋ hǎj hǐn]) is a megalithic archaeological landscape in Laos. It consists of thousands of stone jars scattered around the upland valleys and the lower foothills of the central plain of the Xiangkhoang Plateau (north of Laos). The jars are mostly arranged in clusters ranging in number from one to several hundred.

French researcher Madeleine Colani concluded in 1930 that the jars were associated with prehistoric burial practices. Excavation by Lao and Japanese archaeologists in the intervening years has supported this interpretation with the discovery of human remains, burial goods and ceramics around the jars. The Plain of Jars is dated to the Iron Age (500 BC to AD 500) and is one of the most important prehistoric sites in Southeast Asia.

Today I was reminded of my trip to SE Asia which happened exactly three years ago - man how time flies. I haven't managed to see this place on the rather tight schedule; hmm to be honest I haven't even heard of this place before getting to Laos. This place looks pretty awesome so I've sent a card :)

Pai is...

...a small town in the hills of northern Thailand, that I have visited exactly a year ago :) Its a very relaxing place, and the 'crime scene' of my first ever (and maybe last) tattoo, done with bamboo sticks. 

Ok I am having a bit of a travel-withdrawal syndrome...I have to wait for at least 7 more months to embark on some major type of journey, and I can only hope I'll be able to squeeze in a city break or two in the meantime. Fingers crossed!

Akha Hilltribe Woman, Thailand

The lady is puffing it up...The Akha are an indigenous hill tribe who live in small villages at higher elevations in the mountains of Thailand, Burma, Laos, and Yunnan Province in China. They made their way from China into Southeast Asia during the early 20th century.

Women wear broad leggings, a short black skirt with a white beaded sporran, a loose fitting black jacket with heavily embroidered cuffs and lapels. Akha women are known for their embroidery skills.  

I haven't been to any of the northern Thailand villages...though I did want to, very much so. It requires more time and more chilling way of travel, which hopefully will happen one day :)

Karst Hill Landscape Of Vang Vieng, Laos

This is the first postcard I've sent from Laos...we have just left the paradise called Si Phan Don (4000 islands) and had to stop in Pakse town on our way to Vang Vieng. We were having coffee in a very laid back 'restaurant' in a private house, there were postcards but no stamps, so the (most probably) lady owner said just leave it with me i'll go to the post office for you. And she did! I wasn't sure about it until I received this card, paid a bit extra for the service but was worth it :))

Vang Vieng (Lao: ວັງວຽງ) is a tourist-oriented town in Laos in Vientiane Province about four hours bus ride north of the capital. The town lies on the Nam Song River. The most notable feature of the area is the karst hill landscape surrounding the town.

The place is very tourist-oriented and is teeming with backpackers (many of them keen to do inner tubing pissed as hell) really not my cup of tea, but the landscape is truly amazing and I was willing to go just to finally try riding in a balloon - pricewise and placewise it seemed like a now-or-never moment. I do have a fear of heights and I'll probably never do it again, but I do not regret it! Here a pic:

Café Cat, Paris 1975

One of the favourite cards I've received lately, also because it is kind of personal...Kiitos Marko ;) You see, I dream of owning my own cafe, and lately the thought has been visiting my mind more frequently, so much so I am looking at the legal predispositions. Exactly this kind of cafe, though you can't see much of it, but can imagine the quaint parisienne air about it...The cat of course is a bonus, and cat cafes are quite a craze these days :) I have stumbled upon one in Bangkok quite accidentally..! Hmm why not add a photo? This lady is taking a good care of the little ones :)

Not A Postcard - But A Current TRAIN Of Thought

I wanted to post two different maps but then I found this one and thought OH BRILLIANT it is exactly what I want to do! But if I want to do it this winter I need to start playing the lottery xD It is more likely I'll just do Southeast Asia, although I'd just LOVE to combine it with the Transsibirean..! It would be possible if I was able to refrain from the pleasures of everyday life...postcrossing included. Stop smoking (what else is left to do in this working environmemt though?), skip weddings (and they do come rarely on the whole), and what not. So!

But I am still looking for travelling buddies to join me in november/december!!