Here we are after about a week in Luang Prabang and I could not put a finger on what I found so enjoyable about this location. After all, the sun has only broken through the smoked-filled skies once.

1. It's hot. I mean really hot. I'm from Florida (mostly) and I know hot. Southeast Asia is really hot. And unlike South Florida or even the Caribbean, there is not much breeze. Even on the boat.

2. It's busy. Many of the places we visited on the boat were popular touristy areas. The hongs are undoubtedly beautiful, but long-tails full of tourists kept them busy and noisy much of the day.

3. It's lovely. I thought this might be true, but after a week in and near Phuket, I didn't really believe it.

We set sail north to Koh Hong, dropped the anchor and jumped in the dinghy to explore. The Andaman Sea off to the east of Phuket is filled with limestone islands. They are, for the most part, uninhabited with sheer walls and foliage hanging on for dear life.

That surprised me at first. I would have guessed 80 or 90 percent. But when I thought about it, it made sense. Pumping at only 55 percent gives your heart room to pump more, like when you are running a marathon or running stairs a zillion times a day.