The People Behind the Country

AMAZING PEOPLE – Leaving lasting memories 

This page is dedicated to people within the countries we visit that leave lasting impressions. These are the people that we will remember forever, for the lessons they taught us, for their generosity, their kindness and the friendships we built with them.

The owner of Step Inn Guesthouse, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

This guy was awesome. Lots of fun and so welcoming. We didn’t enjoy our time in KL as much as we had expected but coming back to the guesthouse to such a friendly welcome made such a difference. To top it off – this photo was taken the 19th February when we left the guesthouse as we realised he has the same birthday as Duane!

Owner Step Inn, Kuala Lumpur

Sai – The Cashew Nut, Rawai, Phuket, Thailand

This lady can cook and is super lovely too! Sai is the owner of Cashew Nut Restaurant in Rawai where we completed our Muay Thai training. Every day Sai would cook us up the most delicious, healthy, fulling food complete with her lovely smile. We loved our time in Rawai and miss Sai & her food!

A true home away from home – Cashew Nut, Rawai, Thailand

Alex – Indian Ink, Phuket, Thailand

Duane had dreamed of getting a tattoo for years but had not been ale to decide on a design or tattoo artist … until he came across Alex. After walking into Inian Ink, Patong Beach, Phuket and meeting Alex the excitement grew … this was it. Alex was a talented tattooist who designed and tattooed Duane for 36 hours. The result is more than Duane could have ever dreamed of.

Alex, Indian Ink

Dith & His Wife, Nong Khiaw, Laos

Dith owns Morning Dew Restaurant in the small village of Nong Khiaw. We were lucky enough to be invited to join Dith and his wife for dinner one evening after the restaurant was closed. Were were served delicious local Laos food and drunk the restaurant out of Beer Lao so we moved onto Lao Lao. Morning Dew is named after Dew, Diths son. An amazing, inspirational, hard-working family.

Enjoying a special dinner at Morning Dew Restaurant, Nong Khiaw, Laos

Children of Laos

The children of Laos captured our harts. The smile and constant laughter. They would never pass without a ‘Sa-by-dea’ (hello in Lao). These children no older than 5 years old enjoyed an afternoon water fight with Duane in preparation for the upcoming New Year celebrations. Their squeals of excitement & happiness were awesome!

Children of Laos

Owner Saibadee Guesthouse, Laos

This guy was so much fun. A guesthouse along The Loop where we enjoyed an afternoon consisting of french fries and bowls. We were made to feel so welcome and the food here was awesome!

Feeling at home in the middle of Laos

Trong & His Family, Hue, Vietnam

During our time in Hue, Vietnam we met Trong. Whilst unable to read a menu that was written completely in Vietnamese he ran over and explained he could speak english and offered to translate the menu. We spent the evening eating local food and drinking with Trong and his 2 friends. The following day Trong invited us to meet his family where we were served the most delicious home cooked meal. Meeting Trong and his family was a great experience – we were reminded that there are some amazingly giving & friendly people in the world.

Trong & His Family

Family Restaurant, Lijiang, China

This family run a small restaurant in Lijiang, China where we ate twice a day for 5 days. The daughter speaks a little english although she is very shy. We ordered our meals by playing charades and pointing to a few photos on the wall. Grandma would pull the corn from the cob for the corn dish we just couldn’t get enough of whilst the Dad would cook the rest of the delicious meals. The mum would ensure we had our chinese tea and serve us our dumplings whilst the daughter studied every night quietly at a table next to us. When we left we took them a note (thank you google translated!) to tell them we were leaving that evening. They ran out and purchased us a packet of biscuits and 2 bottles of water to send us on our way.

Lijiang China – You don’t have to speak the same language to connect with people.