The route we traveled in northern Luzon in 5 days. We discovered once again how beautiful this country is outside of the big city.

Our first stop was to Baler where we stayed at Coasta Pacifica. We stayed here for 2 nights and enjoyed the swimming pool, beach, having a tour of the area and getting out of the car. There were 2 routes to get to Baler and google maps recommended we take the route that goes through the mountain which tacked on 3 extra hours.

All of the kids on a surf board. This was Blake’s first time in the ocean/pool & Kalani’s first time back in the ocean after being stung by a jellyfish

Our “city tour” took us to Cunayan Falls. The kids were a bit disappointed that they didn’t have their swimsuits, but we told them they could swim in their clothes like the locals and that made them happy

We got to explore the “Millennium Balete Tree” where you can walk through it since there is a path “carved out”. And the kids could have stayed here for a couple of hours climbing all over it

We left Baler and the only road to get to Tuguegarao was a bit scary at times with it only being dirt roads, land slides and washed away in some places

On this road to Tuguegarao we saw some of the descendants of the very first people in the Philippines called “aeta“

After a few hours in the car we made it to Tuguegarao and met up with our good friend Mavis. She and our driver Juan joined us exploring the Callao caves

There are 7 “openings” at Callao caves and in the 2nd opening is a “church” that holds services once or twice a month

We said our good-byes to Mavis and continued driving north to reach Cagayan Holiday & Leisure Resort. This is where the Survivor Cagayan crew stayed

Cagayan Holiday & Leisure Resort has a bunch of homes (our had 5 bedrooms & private pool) to rent out, a casino & private airstrip…mostly caters to Chinese clients who like to gamble

On our way to our next destination we came across the “Filipino Family Vehicle”

We stopped at Pagudpud beach and enjoyed the powder white sand and beautiful scenery. They call this place the Boracay of the north.

Our hotel on the north/west of Luzon was at Fort Ilocandia and it was wonderful. There was so much to do/see at the resort that we will most likely go back since we didn’t get to do everything we wanted to

We got in this jeep and went on some sand dunes as a family

Mason really liked sliding down the sand dunes

Kalani went horseback riding around the resort and on the beach

She also tried out archery for the first time

After staying at 3 wonderful resorts, our last hotel in La Union would be considered a dive in comparison. But, we enjoyed a walk on the beach and were now only 6-7 hours away from home.

We enjoyed the beautiful countryside of Norhern Luzon

This is our room at the Intercontinental Hotel, which had this spectacular view of Victoria Harbor

We took a tram up to Victoria Peak

BIG groups of Filipinos were gathered at parks playing games since they all had the day off

On our tour of Hong Kong Island we stopped at a local market

Over 1,000 people live in this apartment building. There are many of these apartment buildings all over Hong Kong

A nice quiet area on Hong Kong Island

Heading back to our hotel, we passed this “ship” that is really a department store inside

We took the metro to head to Lantau Island. We were headed to the Big Buddha, but these girls were going to Hong Kong Disney

Heading up to the Big Buddha by cable car

Our tour guide arranged for us to have a glass bottom cable car going up to Big Buddha

From the cable car we could see construction of a bridge that will give another access to mainland China

Off the cable car and we see Buddha in the distance and western types of shops for the tourists

Buddha (34 meters high) is blessing us as we climbed the 268 steps to reach the statue

Across from the Big Buddha is the Po Lin Monastery. Here are statues of Buddha as Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow

We hit up the “Ladies Market” to buy some cheap gifts for the kids

We also went to the Night Market to have a look, but they basically have the same things as the Ladies Market

Our last day we started out visiting the beautiful Nan Lian Garden which is right in the middle of the city

Chi Lin Nunnery was just across the bridge of the Nan Lian Garden

Guardians of Buddha

People get fortune sticks at the temple and then go to these fortune tellers to find out their future. There are at least 2 dozen of these fortune tellers on site

It was wonerful to spend time together as a couple and we really enjoyed our tour guide and driver

Our flight arrived in Brunei around midnight from Manila

We spent our first afternoon swimming with our cousins at the Radisson Hotel pool

Royal Regalia Museum, where you can see things that the Sultan has used; like this chariot that is about 50 years old

Brunei has proboscis monkeys in the wild; along with other animals that we were fortunate enough to see

We visited a water village that we had to take a “water taxi” to reach. There was a home that was open to tourists and it was interesting to see how people live at this water village

From the water village we took a boat to try to find some wild animals. Our boat driver spotted this crocodile.

We also found these monkeys near the water edge. We also found proboscis monkeys and a lizard, but they were too far for a clear photo.

Esjay, our tour guide, was well prepared and brought along binoculars that Mason loved using

We also got to tour around a Mosque that the current Sultan had built. It caught me a bit off guard when the men wouldn’t even acknowledge me or the kids while there.

In order to tour the mosque we had to dress appropriately and remove our shoes

Our tour guide drove us around Brunei and told us how the country/government functions. This is a subsidized government home.

At the Polo Club there is an elephant kept there. We were told that the elephant belongs to the Sultan’s sister.

Our last night we stayed at the Empire Resort and it was spectacular. The kids didn’t want to leave.

Matt took Kalani kayaking for the first time in one of the pools of the Empire while Mason and I hung out at the kids pool/playground.

Our family in Brunei stayed with us at the airport while we waited to board our plane. We LOVED being with them and getting to know them better…Family is what it’s all about!

We arrived at the Yangon Airport and were greeted by our tour guide, the owner of the company and our driver

Straight from the airport we headed to a family’s home to watch the famous Htwe Oo Myanmar Puppet show…this group has traveled to the USA to perform their show

We took this type of airplane nearly daily to travel to our next city. At the airport we never once showed our ID since we had our tour guide with us and took care of everything for us while traveling domestically

We stayed at the “Amazing Bagan Resort” and really enjoyed the pool, especially in the afternoon when it was hot

Our first stop in Bagan was at the Nyong U Market. They have produce, meat, souvenirs, etc

With our tour guide at the Shwezigone Pagoda, which was one of many that we saw in Bagan.

At the top of a Pagoda during sunset. So many pagodas in Myanmar. It would have been fun to take a hot air balloon and see all of the pagodas from that view point (but the balloons don’t operate in the summer).

We went to a lacquer-ware factory to see how they make things. This shows the different steps to making something from lacquer

In Bagan they have a Golden Palace…this only shows half of the palace

While in Bagan the “Water Festival” started. The locals are out getting people wet and painting faces.

After 2 nights in Bagan, we went to Mandalay and stayed at the Mandalay City hotel

We went to U Bein Bridge which was super busy and crowded

We visited a monastery around lunch time and saw the monk procession where they bring in their donations for the day and then get their lunch meal

Mason ready to call people to prayer with a prayer gong

Ladies could only get so close to a Buddha to worship

So many people have put gold flakes on this Buddha that he looks like he is getting fat

We went to the Mandalay Hill Pagoda and had a beautiful view of the city and also saw the beautiful pagoda

The most memorable part of Myanmar was the “country-wide water fight!” (Thingyan) We were able to open the sun-roof to our van and have people throw water on us…yes it got the van completely soaked inside

The locals here are making a traditional sugar snack that is only eaten during the Water Festival

Matt and Kalani got out of the van and started dancing with all of the locals while getting water thrown on them

Matt and the kids joined in the fun of throwing water on people as they drove by

Yangon was first and last city we visited in Myanmar. They had awesome water stations to get wet

Getting wet with water wasn’t bad since it was mostly warm water. But then there are some people who buy ice and pour ice cold water on you and of course you scream and they laugh

The kids were done getting wet so they went inside the cab of the truck we had and were so much more happy

Our very last stop in Myanmar was at Shwedagon Pagoda. It is pretty amazing looking especially at night

Directly from the airport we went to a night market in Vientiane that was next to the Mekong Delta…then we went to Dhavara hotel for a night’s stay

Ho Pra Keo in Vientiane was originally constructed in 1565 as the Lao royal family’s personal chapel, and as a home for the Emerald Buddha after it was snatched from northern Siam (Thailand). This sacred jade statue was reclaimed by the Siamese in 1778 and now sits in Wat Phra Kaew in Bangkok which we saw in 2013.

Cool carvings out of tree trunks at Ho Pra Keo

Wat Si Saket located in Vientiane is famous for its cloister wall housing thousands of tiny Buddha images and rows with hundreds of seated Buddhas. These images mainly date from the 16th and 19th centuries and come in all sizes and are made from wood, stone and bronze – more than 6,800 Buddhas in total.

Laying Buddha at Pha That Luang reminded us of Thailand since they have one of these too.

One form of the local transportation in Laos

Inside an indoor market/swap meet type place. Almost every country in Asia has something like this

The Patuxai is dedicated to those who fought in the struggle for independence from France…and is very similar to the Arch de Triomphe in France, although this one in Laos has shops inside.

View of Vientiane from the Patuxai

We drove 3 hours from Vientiane to Vang Vieng and stayed at the Riverside Boutique Resort

They day started out cloudy and rainy, but we still had a great time and enjoyed the beautiful scenery

First stop was to Tham Chang Cave and we had to climb a bunch of stairs to get there.

Inside Tham Chang Cave

Mason praying inside the “Elephant Cave”

A Laoation tractor, also used as a means of transportation on the road for locals

Outside of the Tham Nam Water cave the kids had a great time playing with the inner tubes…inside the cave was pitch black expect for the headlights that we wore

We had a “Sunset Boat Ride” although we really couldn’t see the sunset. Still we all had a good time and saw a lot of foreigners looking like they were enjoying spring break as well.

All the food that we ate in Laos was DELICIOUS!

We are big fans of family massages when they are cheap

The Farley Family enjoyed Laos and all that we were able to see and do there

And thanks to our wonderful tour guide Chansay…and if he is booked, his fiance is also a tour guide!