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Published: December 26th 2009
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Welcome to Laos, the road less travelled by anyone in the world.
So finally, we've made it to Laos, a country in east of Thailand, south of China, west of Vietnam and north of Cambodia, absolutely landlocked.
After 6 hours of travelling, flying out from Hong Kong, stopping in Bangkok and flying again. When we landed in Vientiane Wattay Airport, it was almost 9pm, after we paid US$30 for the visa and stamped in, we eventually landed this piece of poor but happy land.
I quite liked my first impressions of the capital, the street is clean, neat and quiet. We've spent only a night in Vientiane and thoroughly enjoyed it. We paid US$45 for a deluxe room at Novotel Hotel, and this hotel is considered the top-end hotel in the city. Since we had to catch the 1:00pm bus to Vang Vieng, so we had to wake up pretty early that day but I am so glad that we were still able to see the city. The city is quiet, less traffic than anywhere in Asia, and the buildings in the city are somewhat abandoned, or maybe just simply unfinished. Patuxai - The only and most important
landmark in the city, sets on Champs Elysee "Laos" versions, where I paid 3000 kip (HK$3) and climbed up to the top floor (7th) to view the whole city, probably the highest building in the country.
A few hours later, we bus it all the way up to Vang Vieng, 130km north of the city, 350km south of Luang Prabang. Vang Vieng is one of the main stop for people travelling between the twos, the journey took us 4 hours and half, compares of 3 hours as scheduled, was very interesting. The bus rides us up and down and again through all the mountains and rice fields, and we reached some of the limestones rock mountains in about 3 hours and I knew it was quite close. On the muddy way to Vang Vieng, I have seen several signs that declare something like UNICEF, so I know that donations from the world are at least reached to those in needed. Unlike in Europe, the long distance bus in Laos do not equipped with toilet, so the kind driver stops every 1 hour for 10 minutes toilet break.
We've finally reached Vang Vieng at 8pm and we got off
the bus right outside the ex-US Air Strip, we did not have our room reserved and the city was just dark - no street lights, no traffic, no shops, our torch was not working, I thought I was standing in middle of nowhere, as I saw the bus continues its journey up to Luang Prabang, to the North, so I finally knew which way to go. We walked thru the air field all the way down to the end of the runway, we saw a little path with few motorbikes coming in and out, we quickly turned in this path but it was different story : loads of bars and topless backpackers were all crawling the street, hundred of restaurant were open along the street, with same menu, same food and same price but simply different name, and I was so bothered by all these restaurants playing "Friends" with different episode in every corner, I was quite disappointed by the first impressions by this "Poor backpacker's" Khao Sarn Road but I know without them, we couldnt find our way to any accomodation so we suggested by Lonely Planet, where the best and cheapest guest houses are located near the river
so we walked down to the well paved road, paid US$5 and provided a room with private shower, electric fan, twin bed with linen, a tele box and ..... loads of ants.
We woke up at 7 the next morning, without any hesitation, we went to the tubing shop next to us, we paid US$1 and the Jumbo or "Song Taew" driver took us 6km north of the city with our huge rubber tube, and started our day.
Tubing is one of the MUST-DO activity in Vang Vieng, you can't leave Vang Vieng without this, we've spent nearly 3 hours floating 6km down from north to south and again just right outside of the guest house, it was delicious fun! Admiring the scenery, and getting absolutely off our faces. There are hundred of bars along the river, and these bars provide with swing if you like swing off yourself from 10 meter off to the river below with a zip of Lao whiskey, and people are willing to help if you wish to off the tube and stop for a quick beer and laap (a traditional lao dishes). Truly a wonderful trip!
I am starting to love
this country. The people are well behaved unlike other Asian people, everywhere is so relaxing, the atmosphere is laidback, there are lots of incredibly green rice fields (alot of people might not know that Laos produces the best jasmine rice in the world), caves, treks, ponds and of coz rivers.
And funny thing in Laos is, you might well know that you are in middle of the air strip or mountain, but the internet is fast as hell, I can't believe the speed of the internet, compares to the one I used in Kashmir in India, paid 40 Rupee with nothing, keeps on and off for an hour and the shop owner still charging me for that but this never happens in Laos.
You can pretty much to select your laziness level according to your mental or physical conditons, but you will never find a place so laidback anywhere except Laos.
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