Arthur's Diary, Week 5: Pai, Hot Springs & a Go at Tie Dye

Arthur is 65, retired, and spending three months travelling solo (with company when he wants it!) through Laos, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam. These are his diary entries - an honest view from the first ever DECADES trip, written for anyone wondering whether to make the leap themselves.

Pai - hippies, healers and weed bars

Whilst the jungle trek and wedding was undoubtedly the centrepiece of Pai, there was other stuff going on as well. It's an old city and had a reputation as being a bit of a hippy town back in the day, so even more weed bars, spiritualists, healers, Yogis and interesting people than most other places. It's quite close to the Myanmar border and I'd have loved to visit, but the FCO has it firmly off limits at the moment.

Hot springs and the biggest caves I've ever been in

Beyond Pai, I took a trip out to a natural hot spring bath which was just like getting in a bath, most refreshing. Visited Lod Cave the same day which whilst not the most spectacular caves I've ever seen, were quite possibly the largest I've been in. Some interesting structures, fascinating fish, bird and bat colonies, and bamboo rafting between the chambers.

Tie dye - who knew?

Our Decades activity for the week was a go at tie dying and it was good fun, and one piece is half decent - who knew?

Bamboo bridges and eclipses

Loved that bamboo bridge - it definitely creaked, and not just because of my weight. Shame the total eclipse didn't really play ball. The time lapse sunset was pretty impressive though at Two Huts. Next stop is down south to the island of Koh Lanta with an overnight stop in Phuket en route.