I went on a 17-day solo backpack in July 2011

It was my 3rd solo backpack trip into Asia. Using local transport, I visited the golden triangle (incl crossing into Tachiliek/Myammar, MaiSai), then crossed the Mekong river into HuayXai (western Laos), Luang Namtha, Oudomxai, Bodene, Mengla (China), VangVieng and flew home from Vientiane (central Laos). Was raining 60% of the time, but did not encounter any major landslides or floods. Observed some awesome lightning strikes and thunderstorms in the valleys of VangVieng for 2 nights. A bit scary, but wow! Had the unbelievable dining experience with 5 hungry strays staring down my bbq meat in the supposedly "one and only upmarket food square" in Namtha! But, guess what, these strays were the most well behaved dogs I ever come across in the whole world !!

Felt achieved... especially when done with an average cost of US$35/day (incl food, transport, aircon rooms)