Tag: sunset

Last days on Koh Lanta

March 15, 2020 / Ulrika / 0 Comments

We had our last days on Koh Lanta and we took the opportunity to spend time at our closest beach, Long beach, and hang out with our nomad friend Jonas. We have known Jonas since the Corax conference on Malta in 2017 and we usually meet up when we are close to each other. Now Thailand was our latest close encounter.
We also enjoyed our last sunsets on the beach, soon we would go back to much colder weather and darker days so we wanted to enjoy the sun before leaving.

Vi hade våra sista dagar på Koh Lanta och vi tog chansen att spendera denna tid på vår närmaste strand, Long beach, och umgås med vår nomadvän Jonas. Vi har känt Jonas sedan Corax-konferensen på Malta 2017 och vi brukar ses när vi befinner oss nära varandra. Nu var Thailand vår senaste sammanstrålning.
Vi har också njutit av våra sista solnedgångar på stranden, snart skulle vi tillbaka till mycket kallare väder och mörkare dagar så vi ville njuta av solen innan vi åkte.

We found a lovely restaurant/hotel which had a Swedish owner and he let us use their swimming pool in exchange of that we ate at their restaurant, so we did. Papillon Bungalows had lovely food so we would go there anyway.

Othilia and her balls, it is her favorite thing to play with.

She even dared to wet her head in this pool and jump from the edge.

Dad started to be alright again after a developmental leap that Othilia went through.

More things we wanted to do before leaving Koh Lanta. Othilia got to try sitting in the front of the scooter (on a parking lot).

She also got to try our friend Jonas’s upgraded scooter.

Our friend Jonas is a nomad as well. Before we left the island Pontus and Jonas went out on a off-grid dirt bike tour. They had a couple of hours riding a dirt bike around the island and they had a lovely time.

The days were running out so we also spent a few sunsets on the beach.

Had our last dinner with Jonas for a while and we found a ping pong table that we used. It was 10 to 0 to Ulrika before she let Jonas know that she was left handed. Then he won!

Next evening our view was the mountains in Northern Afghanistan while we were flying back to Europe. It was time for a big change!

Long beach and Worldschooling

March 4, 2020 / Ulrika / 0 Comments

Our closest beach is Long beach and this is where we hang out the most of our time here on Koh Lanta. Here, we often meet up with our friends and it was also on this beach that we also wanted to meet up with the Swedish Worldschooling community that is located here this winter.
There are a few Swedish families on Koh Lanta that has taken their children’s well-being and education into their own hands and we managed to meet up with them on Long beach so that the children could play and us adults could talk.

Vår närmaste strand är Long beach och det är här vi tillbringar den mesta av vår tid här på Koh Lanta. Här träffar vi oftast våra vänner och det var på denna strand som vi också ville träffa det svenska “Worldschooling“-gänget som bor här i vinter.
Det finns några svenska familjer på Koh Lanta som har tagit sina barns välbefinnande och utbildning i sina egna händer och vi lyckades träffa dem på Long Beach så att barnen kunde leka och oss vuxna kunde prata.

Long beach at sunset. This was a dream for Ulrika to one day have our own child sitting on white sand during a sunset and taking a photo. Her dream came finally true here on Long beach.

We didn’t bring our best camera so the result was a bit dark, but it didn’t matter to us. We were finally here with our daughter Othilia and captured the moment in our minds instead.

We finally got the time to meet with other Worldschoolers.

Othilia was well taken care of by the other older girls.

Our second meeting with the Worldschoolers at Long beach.

Othilia grew tired of the beach so she soon left the company.

and walked her own way to discover new areas.

and found drums that she was eager to try.

She is not prone to walking our daughter, but a few lamps can get her moving. This is our part of Long beach too.

Our favorite Thai dish is Khao Soi, a Northern Thai dish, and we had a lovely place just next to us that served the most delicious Khao Soi we have eaten so far. The name of the restaurant is Kwan’s cookery 2.

The brisket at the Irish Embassy is usually also a lovely dish we have eaten here.

Thai Cat has ok food, but the good thing about this place is that they have a lot of things for the children to do.

The Fat Turtle at the south part of Long beach is another place we like, both for food and for the view. Here we are eating with our Swedish friends their last night here on Koh Lanta.

Ending this blog post with two different sunsets from long beach.

A long flight later – Thailand

January 20, 2020 / Ulrika / 0 Comments

We were finally ready to leave Europe and the cold and darkness. We had tried flying with Othilia once, so now it was time for a longer flight and see how it would go for her. So where would we go?

Thailand! We have been here before, we have a whole category with previous visits to Thailand, and now we wanted to take Othilia here.

Vi var äntligen redo att lämna Europa och kyla och mörker. Vi hade försökt flyga med Othilia en gång, så nu var det dags för en längre flygning och se hur det skulle gå för henne på en sådan. Så vart skulle vi åka?

Thailand! Vi har varit här tidigare, vi har en hel kategori med tidigare besök i Thailand, och nu ville vi ta med Othilia hit.

We were so excited, sizing down after increasing our belongings this last few years (thanks to our families for taking care of the rest this winter). This much is what a family of three thinks is necessary to bring to Asia.

Othilia just loved the play area at Arlanda and this was her favorite thing to play with. Unfortunately, a few other children also loved this airplane so lets just say that Othilia didn’t like to share this toy.

Ten hours later we landed at Krabi airport in Thailand. Othilia was the only child on the airplane that was running up and down the isles while Ulrika envied the other parents who where sleeping next to their child. Othilia fell asleep just before the cabin crew turned the lights on and started serving breakfast. Pontus got a few hours of sleep, but Ulrika was up almost 24 hours. It was worth it!

We landed at lunch time (Thai time), but for us it was early morning so our afternoon the first day was just to sleep. We went out just when the sun was about to set. It was lovely to see the sun again!

We meet up with our nomad friend Simon during our first night here and we got to know part of his family who were visiting him here on Koh Lanta.

This is what we came to Thailand for. To see Othilia’s eyes shine and the noise she makes when she is happy!

Othilia leveled up on her first days here. She finally understands why sun glasses is a good thing. She has also learned to count to three when we play hide and seek. The Swedish words for 1-3 are ett/en, två, tre and Othilia currently pronounces them as en, da, de. It is so cute!

Othilia walks much more in this kind of weather. Here inspecting the Thai shrines.

We live close to Long beach here on Koh Lanta so it is our beach to go for a swim. Othilia is a bit skeptical towards waves, so we have to carry Othilia past the part where the waves breaks.

In the water everything is fine as long as the water doesn’t touch Othilia’s face.

There is a children’s festival at the first weekend after schools starts so we decided to go there.

There are a few Swedish schools here on Koh Lanta and they had a tent on the festival with stuff for children to try, like innebandy (floor ball).

Also, Thailand’s SWAT team was here to show the kids all their guns.

Most of the things were free for kids, but they had a few food stalls where we found food and drink to buy.

Mum bought an ice cream for her, but it immediately turned in to being Othilia’s ice cream. It was Othilia’s first whole ice cream of her life and she liked it.

The children got free balloons, but the queue to get one of the free balloons was so long, so we bought Othilia a Nemo the fish helium balloon. This way we also prevented her from stealing other children’s baloons.

Then it was only Othilia and her balloon. Balloons, balls and now scooters are her favorite things.

This was our first few days here in Thailand. Our friend Simon took a rare photo of us three while the sun was about to set. Thailand is lovely!

Gokarna!

October 28, 2015 / Ulrika / 1 Comment

(Please scroll down to the orange text for the English version)

Nu befinner vi oss i Gokarna, som enligt rykten är vad Goa var för trettio år sedan. Vi valde att åka hit för att Ulrika skulle få vila upp sig och för att det är lättare att åka tåg norrut längs med kusten än vad det är från inlandet. Vi kommer inte att åka till Goa och vad vi har hört om stället så är det inte en riktigt en sådan plats som vi brukar uppskatta. Till Ulrikas stora glädje så fick hon för första gången i sitt liv åka liggbuss när vi åkte från Hampi till Gokarna och hon var överlycklig (det har hon längtat efter sedan hon såg sådana bussar i Laos)! Gokarna ligger 1 timme söder om Goa och består av en liten by och flera stränder som är separerade av höga klippor. Om man läser på wikitravel om Gokarna så låter det inte som ett trevligt ställe och ser man endast till Kudle beach och Gokarna beach så är vi beredda att hålla med. Vi valde dock att åka till Om beach och här är det mycket trevligare och rena stränder, men man får vara beredd som vit kvinnlig turist att utsättas för påhopp av grupper av indiska män som vill ta kort med dig enbart för att du har en bikini på dig och som helt ogenerat frågar efter kyssar (trots att Pontus satt bredvid). Det gäller att säga nej, vänligt men bestämt till dessa individer. Om beach där vi bodde upplever vi lite som en plats för indisk charterturism blandat med västerländska turister som börjat hitta hit från Goa. Hit kommer indiska familjer med barnen för att bada och hit kommer även indiska män som dricker och ligger redlösa i vattenbrynet kl 4 på eftermiddagen (ja, det har vi sett) och tomma whiskeyflaskor står utanför deras rum. Trots vår beskrivning så är det hemskt mysigt här och det är absolut inte stökigt även om vår beskrivning av Om beach låter så.

Det är oerhört vackert här och det är den finaste stranden som vi sett hittills i Indien och det enda vi gör är att hänga på stranden och kolla på solen eller så sover vi. Snart kommer vi göra den längsta resan hittills landvägen och då krävs det att Ulrika blir bättre. Vi har en alldeles speciell plan och den innefattar en 170 mil lång resa på 2 dagar, men vi har stora förhoppningar att få se ytterliggare en häftig plats som ryms inom Indiens gränser innan vi lämnar vårt fantastiska Indien.

We are now in Gokarna, which according to the rumors is what Goa was thirty years ago. We chose to go here so Ulrika could get some rest and because it is easier to take the train north along the coast than it is from the inland. We will not visit Goa and what we have heard about the place, it’s not really such a place that we usually appreciate. To Ulrika’s great joy, we got onboard a sleeper bus when we went from Hampi to Gokarna and she was overjoyed (she has longed for trying them since she saw such buses in Laos)! Gokarna is 1 hour south of Goa and comprises a small village, and several beaches separated by high cliffs. If you read the wikitravel site about Gokarna it does not sound like a nice place to visit, and if you only see Kudle beach and Gokarna beach we are prepared to agree with the description of the place. However, we chose to go to Om Beach and here it is much nicer and the beach is clean. However, be prepared as a white female tourist to be exposed to groups of Indian men who want to take pictures with you just because you have a bikini, and even undisturbed ask for kisses (although Pontus sat just next to Ulrika). You have to say no, politely but firmly to these individuals. Om beach feels like a place for Indian charter tourism mixed with Western tourists that have started to come here from Goa. This is where Indian families come with children to swim and Indian men come to drink and sleep in the water next to the shore at 4 pm in the afternoon because they drank them-self under the table (yes, we have seen this), and empty whiskey bottles standing outside their rooms. Despite our description it is really nice here and it’s definitely not as bad as our description of Om Beach sounds like.

It is incredibly beautiful here and it’s the nicest beach we have seen so far in India. The only thing we do here is hang on the beach and watch the sun go up and down or we eat or sleep. Soon we will make the longest trip so far by land which requires that Ulrika gets better. We have a special plan and it includes a 1700 kilometer long journey during 2 days, but we have high hopes of seeing yet another cool place that is within India’s borders before we leave our incredible India.

Väldigt roligt att få åka liggbuss! Very fun to go with a sleeping bus!

Väldigt roligt att få åka liggbuss! Very fun to go with a sleeper bus!

Väldigt vacker soluppgång som vi fick bevittna då vi kom till Om beach halv fem på morgonen. We got to witness a beautiful sunrise because we arrived at Om beach about half past four in the morning.

Väldigt vacker soluppgång som vi fick bevittna efter att vi kom till Om beach halv fem på morgonen. We got to witness a beautiful sunrise after arriving at Om beach half past four in the morning.

VI lyckades fånga en lysande planet på bild i skymningstimmen innan solen kommit över horisonten! We managed to catch a shining planet with our camera during the twilight hours before the sun came over the horizon!

Om Beach! Stranden kallas Om beach för att den ser ut som det indiska sanskritbokstaven Om. Om beach! The beach is called Om beach, because it looks like the Indian sanskrit letter Om.

Det varnas flitigt om risken att dö här runtomkring!
It is a lot of warning signs about the risk of dying around here!

Cafe Nirvana, enda stället med wifi här som fungerar! Cafe Nirvana, only place with wifi here that works!

Nirvana Café, enda stället med wifi här som fungerar! Nirvana Cafe, only place with wifi here that works!

Nirvana Café har även en jättegod fruktsallad! Nirvana Cafe also has a delicious fruit salad!

Solnedgång över Om beach! Sunset over Om Beach!

Been there, Don Det! (4000 islands part I)

April 18, 2015 / Ulrika / 2 Comments

Ah, för en vecka sedan lämnade vi Pakse med intentionen att stanna några dagar vid de 4000 öarna här i Laos. Vi anlände till Don Det runt lunch för en vecka sedan med långbåt, klev rätt ut i sanden från båten och blev förälskade i ön. Det är en helt annan mentalitet och frihet här som vi inte har hittat någon annanstans! Don Det är en liten ö i Mekongfloden och den 6.5 km långa slingan runt ön har varit perfekt för löpturer efter att först stigit upp för att titta på soluppgången och druckit kaffe serverad av Adrian mer känd som “The guy with the book”. Adrian Robson har skrivit en väldigt informativ och rolig bok om hans upplevelser som nomad i sydostasien och som han trycker och säljer helt själv i en äkta anarkistisk entrepreneur-anda. Titeln är “South east asia, In yer face”, så om du någonsin möter Adrian någonstans i världen så borde du ta chansen att köpa den för en billig peng och få ett signerat exemplar! Han har sålt ca 9400 kopior av sin bok på detta sätt, person till person.

Det är ett väldigt lugnt tempo här som man snabbt faller in i (tillexempel att stiga upp halv sex på morgonen). Alla happy (space) cakes, shakes eller smokes som finns på menyerna gör väl sitt till att inte detta är ett suparparadis (med bråk och höga ljud) utan folk är avslappnade och lugna. Droger är förbjudna i Laos och kan ge böter eller fängelse, men Don Det är en fristad utan polis eller myndigheter, vilket vi anarkokapitalister tycker är toppen!

Här bor man i små bungalows i homestays som drivs av befolkningen (dock verkar staten Laos ha planer på att utveckla denna lilla ö till en turistresort). Det kan vara bra att veta att människor i Laos generellt är blyga och reserverade. Om de inte svarar på tilltal och vänder dig ryggen när du försöker ställa en fråga, så är det för att de inte vill visa att de inte kan engelska och vill undvika pinsamheter.

De har inte haft elektricitet på ön så länge (kom endast för 5-10 år sedan enligt utsago) och väldigt långsamt wifi kommer och går. Det är också bra att veta att bankautomater inte finns på ön (men väl i Nakasang, dit man åker med buss för att ta båt ut till Don Det). Det finns dock restauranger som har uttagservice för en viss avgift, men de är beroende av att vara uppkopplade, så ta med pengar om du åker hit. Det är väldigt billigt här. Vi betalar 50,000 kip/natt för vår bungalow (55 SEK), men det går att hitta bungalows för endast 20,000 kip/natt (22 SEK) och vi fick precis veta att du kan hitta en hängmatta att sova på för 12,000 kip/natt om du villl (13 SEK) .

Vi har träffat väldigt trevliga personer här (Mike från Kanada, Katharina från Tyskland och såklart Adrian!) som vi pratat resor, anarkokaptitalism, bitcoin, kryptografi och talteori med. Vi hoppas att vi kan få möjlighet att träffa dem igen någon i framtiden! En kväll tog Adrian med oss ut till några öar för att bada, fiska (Ulrika var klantig och lyckades trampa på kroken och få in den i foten) och få den ultimata solnedgångsbilden.

Så allt detta kommer i en bildkavalkad nedan!

Nu har vi tagit oss till Pakse för vidare färd mot huvudstaden Vientiane senare ikväll i en över natten buss i sittande ställning. Alla sovbussar var fullbokade eftersom det är nyår här i Laos då många reser hem.

Ah, a week ago we left Pakse with the intention to stay for a few days at the 4,000 islands here in Laos. We arrived at Don Det around lunch a week ago with long boat, stepped right on to the sand from the boat and fell in love with the island. It’s a totally different mentality and freedom here that we have not found anywhere else! Don Det is a small island in the Mekong River and the 6.5 km-long loop around the island have been perfect for morning jogging after first getting up to watch the sunrise and drinking coffee served by Adrian better known as “The guy with the book.” Adrian Robson has written a very informative and funny book about his experiences as a nomad in Southeast Asia which he prints and sells all by himself in a true anarchist entrepreneurial spirit. The title is “South-East Asia, in yer face ‘, so if you ever meet Adrian anywhere in the world, you should take the chance to buy it for a cheap price and get a signed copy! He has sold about 9400 copies of his book in this way, person to person.

It’s a very relaxed pace here that you quickly falls into (for example, getting up at half past six in the morning). All the happy (space) cakes, shakes or smokes available on the menus shows that that this is not a drinker’s paradise (with fights and high noise), but people are relaxed and calm. Drugs are banned in Laos and can result in fines or imprisonment, but Don Det is a sanctuary without police or authorities, which we anarchocapitalists thinks is great!

Here you live in small bungalows in homestays run by the local population (However, it seems that the Laos government have plans to develop the 4000 islands into a large tourist resort which is a shame). It might be good to know that people in Laos are generally shy and reserved. If they do not respond when spoken to and turn there back when you are trying to ask a question, it’s because they do not want to show that they do not know English and want to avoid embarrassment.

They have not had electricity on the island so long (came only 5-10 years ago allegedly) and the very slow wifi comes and goes. It’s also good to know that there are no ATMs on the island (but there are in Nakasang, where you go by bus to take the boat out to Don Det). However, there are restaurants that have cash service for a certain fee, but they are dependant on being online and having cash at hand, so bring cash if you go here. It is very cheap here. We pay 50,000 kip / night for our bungalow (55 SEK), but you can find bungalows for only 20,000 kip / night (22 SEK) and we just got the information that you can find a hammock for the night for only 12,000 kip/night (13 SEK) if you are interested!

We have met very nice people here (Mike from Canada, Katharina from Germany and of course Adrian!) that we dicussed travels, anarcho capitalism, bitcoin, cryptography and number theory with. We hope that we can have the opportunity to meet with them again in the future! One evening Adrian took us out to some islands to swim, fish (Ulrika was clumsy and managed to step on the hook and get it into the foot) and get the ultimate sunset picture.

So all this comes in a picture cavalcade below!

Now we have taken a minibus to Pakse for further travel to the capital Vientiane later tonight in an overnight bus in a sitting position. All sleeper busses were fully booked because it is New Year here in Laos when many travel home.

Biljettkontoret hittar man till höger när man kommer ned till vattnet i Nakasang! The ticket office is located to the right when you come down to the water!

Pontus hämtar ut våra båtbiljetter! Pontus is picking up our boat tickets!

Båtarna som man tar sig runt på här i Mekongfloden! The boats you use to get around here the Mekong river!

Det är så här du kommer till Don Det! This is how you get to Don Det!

Don Det!

Anländer till stranden i Don Det! Arriving at Don Det beach!

Mycket på menyn här i Don Det! You can fin alot of things on the menus here in Don Det!

“The guy with the book”-Adrian. Hälsa till honom från oss om du möter honom någon gång! “The guy with the book”-Adrian. Say hi from us if you ever meet him (and buy his book!)

Pontus med vårat favoritträd! Pontus with our favourite tree!

Gatorna är inte stora i Don Det! The streets are not big here on Don Det!

Ulrika fann några kattungar att leka med! Ulrika found som kittens she could play with!

Typiska bungalows som du kan hyra billigt med utsikt över Mekongfloden! Typical bungalows you can rent over-looking the Mekong river!

Vardag i Laos! Everyday life in Laos!

Fiskar med Adrian! Go fishing with Adrian!

Bada och simma i Mekongfloden! Bathing and swimming in the Mekong river!

Den ultimata solnedgångsbilden i Don Det enligt Adrian! The ultimate sunset picture in Don Det according to Adrian!

Mike och Pontus rör sig sakta bort från solnedgången, diskuterandes bitcoin! Mike and Pontus slowly walking away from the sunset while discussing bitcoin!

Middag med härliga människor som vi träffade i Don Det (Mike, Katharina, Karin?(sorry, we forgot your name!!!) and Filip!). Dinner with lovely people we meet in Don Det (Mike, Katharina, Karin?(sorry, we forgot your name!!!) and Filip!

Tag: sunset

Last days on Koh Lanta

Long beach and Worldschooling

A long flight later – Thailand

Gokarna!

Been there, Don Det! (4000 islands part I)

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