NAMATAKULA ...actually Mango Bay. Namatakula is the village on the other end of the bay. Quiet, secluded place, again about 2-3 miles down a dirt road from the main road, Kings Road, that circles the island around. We did not hesitate to take the walk. Seemed pretty easy downhill, until the rain caught us. Luckily a car passed us very soon and we have been fortunate again. The car stopped and the guys offered us a ride. In that short 3 minute ride we have had time to realise

RAKIRAKI On the way out from Vatia Beach we didn't leave anything to the chance and pooled a taxi to the main road. From there it is a short bus ride to Rakiraki and then a few minutes on a local bus to our resort. I couldn't find anything 'budget' on a short notice, but I've decided that we deserve a treat and booked us in for a couple of nights at Wnanawu Beach Resort. Still not too expensive, definitely worth the buck. Beautiful room with ocean view terrace and a bathroom

PHONSAVAN After 9 days in Prabang it was the highest time to leave. Wish there was more time to explore the northern hill tribes, but Majka is not so keen on trekking the jungle and finding a bamboo shed with no running water at the end of the day, and there is no time either, since we want to spend the Christmas on the beach. However, northern hill tribes, brace! I'll be back if I can. Since we are heading south there were 2 options we considered. Either go to Vanh Vieng, th

HOI AN Spending a night on a Vietnamese long haul bus is a strange sensation, you can't wait for the journey to end yet when it does it sort of takes you by surprise. The bus suddenly stops and before you're able to blink an eye your luggage is dumped outside and the driver shouts '...leave now, quick!!!'. I remember this feeling from my military service which leaves me wonder why did I pay for this bus journey?! Yeah, the soft westerner has spoken again. All the 'stress' is

MUI NE Excitement is rising. After 2 days of jam packed itinerary at Mekong delta, quick dinner and sleepover at Long Hostel, our bus is leaving to Mui Ne. This will be the first beach stay on our journey and a kind of holiday from holiday. We are horizontal on this sleeping bus and keep thinking of all the beach bumming we'll be doing for the next 3 days. Before I start praising Mui Ne, let me tell you about these buses. They are great long haul alternatives to planes or tra

HO CHI MINH Southeast Asia! We've finally made it! Our second flight during this trip was sort of inevitable as my romanticised imagination hoped for an over night ferry from Hong Kong to Hanoi. However, there is no such thing and taking a train wasn't an option due to our expired (and single entry) Chinese Visas. Flights were much cheaper to Ho Chi Minh city, so it was pretty clear that we will start our Vietnam journey the other way round as planned, from Saigon heading nor

Xi'an, Shaanxi Province 1.October is the Chinese National Day. First day of seven when 1.5 billion souls of People’s Republic of China gets off from work and our first day in Xi’an. We have decided to sit out this crazy week here, so we can rest and enjoy less touristy attractions around the city. Arriving at the central station located in the north part of the ancient city wall proved to be less confusing than our previous arrivals in previous destinations. Maybe we are gett

XINING, Qinghai Province Looking out the train window I've realised that there is not an inch of a land that hasn't been moved or somehow altered. Only the bold, rocky mountains of the region seem to be getting away with the 'change'. That is until they come into the way of progress. Then they are moved and levelled to the ground, drilled for tunnels and exploited for minerals or simply planted with neat rows of trees... It's like in their eyes everything needs improving and

THE MONGOLIAN ROAD TRIP When two weeks ago I've mentioned about going off the map, I've had no idea! My limits have been found and pushed, while Majka is happy beyond words that we are back to a land of showers and asphalt roads. I think she's really angry with me because I've promised her a shower every day or at least every other day, but for now she's all smiling and forgiving. Ticking bomb if you're asking me and I think we're about to find another limit... But here's the

YEKATERINBURG After 36 hours on the train we have arrived in Yekaterinburg which has been greeting us with summery 10°C… apparently normal at the end of the summer and as I have been informed we should feel lucky. A few years back there has been snowing in August. Lucky or not, we have been determined to find our next home for the coming few nights as soon as possible. Dmitry, our host, was expecting us at 12. From the train station uphill towards the city centre we have fir