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Laos was under the control of Siam (Thailand) from the late 18th century until the late 19th century when it became part of French Indochina. The Franco-Siamese Treaty of 1907 defined the current Lao border with Thailand. In 1975, the Communist Pathet Lao took control of the government, ending a six-century-old monarchy. Initial closer ties to Vietnam and socialization were replaced with a gradual return to private enterprise, a liberalization of foreign investment laws, and the admission into ASEAN in 1997. To be updated

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By Gypsyrovers
April 17th 2006

Pi Mai Laos!!

Asia » Laos » West » Luang Prabang

Dinner with Le Gang
Susannah, Finola, Erik, Titia

Not a bit of an exaggeration when I say that Helen and I have just had the most fun few days ever. Made a timely arrival to Luang Prabang on Wednesday 12th for the Laos New Year (Pi Mai) Celebrations. We think New Year's Day was actually Easter Saturday but its hard to know when the celebrations extend as many days as they do streets and water pumps! Pi Mai is celebrated with the ceremomial chucking of water over every person that comes within throwing range. Its an extension of the tradition of pouring water on Buddhas to get rid of [View Full Entry]

Kids in Traditional Dress for Miss Luang Prabang Parade

By SASINSEA
April 17th 2006

Water Festival - "Pi Mai"

Asia » Laos » West » Luang Prabang

Who said monks are pacifists?!
Walking by a temple during Pi Mai we were ambushed by this monk, so we had to defend ourselves ;-)

It has been a wonderful week we have spent in Luang Prabang. It was hard to leave Muang Noi, one of Laos' best kept secrets, but I'm sure we'll return one day. We have spent most of this week drenched ( I have tried many times to get to the internet cafe without being soaked, but have failed each time......) We have met up with a really great crowd. Phil and Millsy, who we originally met in Chiang Mai, recognised us from an internet cafe as we walked down the street. Since then we have meet heaps of people; the Irish [View Full Entry]

By Kelso
April 15th 2006

Happy Songkran and then there was Laos

Asia » Laos » West » Vang Vieng

Happy Songkran- weeklong water throwing fest!
Load up the pickup, throw some water

E-mail #2- New Country, New Explorations! Hi everyone! Since my last e-mail, I am certified to scuba dive to 18m, participated in Songkram (new year) water/ talcum throwing rave/ parties in Bangkok, and finally left Bangkok for Laos. We are presently in Vang Vieng where there are stunning views of limestone caves. Laos is much different from Thailand. In Thailand, you see all the things that you would expect to see at home and everything happens on time, on schedule. In Laos, it's like entering a third world country. Much of the trip to Vang Vieng, I saw poor (by our [View Full Entry]

By Pete and LA
April 15th 2006

Loas Facts

Asia » Laos » West » Vang Vieng

VV1
View from our Bunglow, Vang Veng. Hope to climb those awesome limestone karsts later!

We're in the heart of Communist Loas at the moment. As you can imagine, LA is taking some "gentle reassuring" that we are not gonna get blown to bits by some of the 14 yr olds roaming round the country with AK47's! It's soooo poor, a lot more so than Thailand, but then again we didn't really see "real Thailand" but the main touristv spots. The scenery is unreal here. Huge limestone cliffs and lots of water. A storm hit last night like nothing I've seen before. Fork lightening like the movies! We are living for a pittance. Accom is $6US [View Full Entry]

By Michael R
April 15th 2006

Die Ebene der Tonkruege

Asia » Laos » East » Phonsavan

Tonkruege...

Dem vielen Wasser in Luang Prabang entfliehe ich in Richtung Osten. Nahe der vietnamesischen Grenze befinden sich die “Field of Jars”. Die deutsche Uebersetzung “Ebene der Tonkruege” ist irrefuehrend, weil die Kruege gar nicht aus Ton sind, sondern aus Stein. In der Gegend um die Phonsavan wurden die per Hand behauenen Steinkruege inklusive “Deckel” auf mehrere Huegel transportiert und dazu benutzt die Asche von Toten beizusetzen. Wie der Transport der bis zu 15 Tonnen schweren Kruege abgelaufen ist, welches Brauchtum dazugehoerte und welche Kultur hier uebe [View Full Entry]

...liegen in herrlicher Karstlandschaft mit Reis- und Weideflaechen...

...gestoert nur von den Kratern amerikanischer Bomben aus dem "Zweiten Indochinakrieg" !

By Michael R
April 14th 2006

Play with Water

Asia » Laos » West » Luang Prabang

Fischernetz

Luang Prabang - Laos religiöse Hauptstadt Am Zusammenfluss von Mekong und Nam Khan liegt die relative übersichtliche Stadt Luang Prabang. Vor 750 Jahren konnte der König erst dadurch vom Buddhismus überzeut werden, als Buddha die Güte besass, ihm höchst selbst zu erscheinen. Seitdem hat der König den sogenannten "Theravada-Buddhismus" als Staatsreligon etabliert und die Stadt gilt bis heute als Zentrum dieser Religionslehre. In ich-weiss-nicht-wie-vielen Klöstern werden auch heute noch junge Mönche ausgebildet und man sieht sie in den Strassen überall mit ihren orangenen Schärpen her [View Full Entry]

Kapelle der Königsfamilie, Luang Prabang

Mönch im religioesen Zentrum: Luang Prabang

By Pete and LA
April 14th 2006

3 steps back to Laos!

Asia » Laos » West » Vang Vieng

cash
Look what $40NZD converts to in Laos kip......stuuuuupid!

We're on day 4 here in Loas. It's been mainly travel except for a great 2 nights in what's called the most scenic city in all SE Asia, Luang Prabang. We have both been blown away by the sheer poverty of the majority of the nation, even a big jump back from Thailand (mind you, that's 'tourist thailand'). After that feral 8 hr overnight bus ride we boarded the 2 day slow boat to Pak Beng, a shit hole stop over on the edge of the Mekong. We were on the boat for 6-7hrs but it felt like 20 with having [View Full Entry]

By Simmy
April 13th 2006

Week 12 Laos

Asia » Laos » North » Luang Namtha

Its been a really hectic week travelling from Vientiane on a 4 hr bus trip to Vang Vieng; another 8hrs to Plain of Jars; a further 7hrs to Luang Probang; a 8hr slow boat and 8hr bus to Luang Nam Tha where i currently am. We took the 4hr bus trip from Vientiane to the river where we kayaked the rest of the way to Vang Vieng. The blow up kayaks were really hard to steer so i zig zagged and 360 degreed the entire thing. I also mustered the guts to jump off the 30ft cliff into the river [View Full Entry]

By ossi
April 13th 2006

SUEDLAOS 2: MEKONGDELTA....4 TAUSEND INSELN UND REICH DER WASSERBUEFFEL

Asia » Laos » South » Khong Island

Provinz Attapeu
...abendstimmung auf dem xekong fluss...

ATTAPEU.....DIE ABGELEGENE PROVINZHAUPTSTADT wir sind auf dem weg nach attapeu, dem hauptort der gleichnamigen provinz. dieser suedoestlichste teil von laos schlaeft seinen dornroeschenschlaf. zumindest seit ende des vietnamkrieges, waehrend dessen hier die hoelle los war. hier haben die vietcong fleissig auf dem ho-chi-minh pfad fuer nachschub durch den jungel gesorgt. noch fleissiger haben hier die amis ihre tollen feuerwerke veranstaltet und testeten dabei, wie effizient die ausloeschung des planeten wohl sein koennte. wie schon so oft, sehen wir auch hier die uxo mit ihren lastern die hei [View Full Entry]

By cosimovaga
April 12th 2006

"Freedom or jail? Pay US dollars or not?"

Asia » Laos » West » Vang Vieng

First day in Laos, first day on the Mekong River
Pakbeng, Laos

"Freedom or jail? Pay US dollars or not?" Asia » Laos » Vang Vieng By cosimovaga April 12th 2006 cosimo [View Full Entry]

Pink sunset greeting me on my arrival in Luang Prabang

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