Wo chi su- Vegan Traveling in China

Before we arrived in China we heard a lot about the hardships of being a vegan traveling around China and I started researching what to do or what to say in order to get by. After a long search on the web I found that saying "i eat vegetables" is about the best phrase I can use that will hit the spot by trying to explain I'm a vegan. You can say a phrase that means "I don't eat meat" (or without meat-meyo rou) but they may understand that you eat other things like chicken or worse, dog.

Getting a taste of Chinese hospitality in Dali, Yunnan July 13-15 2015

Like most buses to Dali (大理) from Kunming the bus we were on was actually going to Xiàguān (下关,) also known as Dali New City, while where you will probably want to stay and spend most of your time is in Dali Old Town (古城, Gǔchéng). On the bus we met some nice Chinese youngsters from Guizhou province who were also visiting Dali and graciously invited us to share a cab with them to the old town. From that moment on they didn't leave our side, helping us get a room where they stayed (100 RMB), taking us out to dinner and drinks and being perfect hosts. Despite the language barrier (only one of them sort of spoke English) and age difference (they were about 10 years younger than us!) we had a great time with them and it was a nice welcome into China.

Crossing the Border from Laos to China + China Travel Tips, July 12 2015

Luang Namtha, Laos >> Jinghong, China

we booked a bus with an agency in Luang Namtha (100,000 Kip per ticket)  scheduled to leave at 7:30 am , and the price was supposed to include pick up to the bus station. When we showed up for pick up we saw the place was closed and no one in sight to help us. After much stress and commotion we were finally able to board another pick-up from another agency for no extra charge, so everything worked out but I would not recommend booking your bus with this agency:

Northern Laos- Jungle Fever in Udomxai and Luang Namtha, 9-11 July 2015

We headed further north to Luang Namtha intending to spend a few days there before crossing the border to China. In order to avoid another long exhausting ride we decided to stopover in Udomxai (sometimes called Maung Xai) for the night and continue to Luang Namtha the next day. 

Northern Laos- the Riverside Villages of Nong Khiaw and Muang Ngoi Neua, 4-9 July 2015

Nong Khiaw- we stayed only one night in this small but lovely village en route to Muang Ngoi. We took a shared pickup truck from Luang Prabang for 40,000 Kip, the ride was very uncomfortable and took 4 hours. We were told there is a bus which would probably be more comfortable but it changes daily.

From Thailand to Laos - our slow boat journey to Luang Prabang, 29 June- 3 July 2015

Heading to Laos we decided to take the famous slow boat across the Mekong River, from Huay Xai in North Thailand to Luand Prabang in Laos. The boat sails for 2 days with an overnight stop in the Lao village of Pakbeng. Your other option is taking a bus which supposedly takes about 14 hours and is very uncomfortable, or of course the quickest and most expensive way of catching a flight from Chiang Mai to Luang Prabang (direct flight with Lao airlines is about 110$). Despite the long journey the boat ride turned out to be a great experience and we recommend it if you are not pressed for time.

Thai Cooking in Peaceful Pai, North Thailand 17-28 June 2015

To get to Pai in Mae Hong song province, whether you choose to travel by motorbike, minivan, or bus, you'll have to endure an adventurous steep and winding ride going through the infamous 762 curves connecting Chiang Mai and Pai. Its about 110 KM and 3.5 hours of twists and turns but once you reach Pai you'll see that it was worth it. In the small town of Pai which has become a must-visit tourist destination in northern Thailand you'll find a relaxed laid-back atmosphere and somewhat hippy vibe, great restaurants including many healthy and vegan options, nightly food markets, poetry nights and jam sessions, detox, yoga and cooking classes but also vibrant bars and parties, surrounded by waterfalls, green fields and beautiful nature all around. 

Chilling in Chiang Mai, North Thailand 10-16 June 2015

We started our journey to Chiang Mai, the largest city in northern Thailand, in Bangkok Suvarnabhumi International Airport where we had just arrived on flight from Mandalay, Myanmar. We took the No.1 bus from the airport to the northern bus terminal (Mo Chit 2, not to be confused with a BTS station with the same name) and boarded a VIP night bus to Chiang Mai (680 Baht).