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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 Sean
August 5th 2005

Northern Laos

Asia » Laos » West » Luang Prabang

Waterfall
Ron and I rode 70 km roundtrip on frail bikes to get here. It was possible to climb all the way to the top and look down over the falls. Amazing.

Clouds abound on my way out of Vang Vieng, both in my head and in the sky. We have been racing the monsoon season for the last few weeks, a losing battle. The trip out of town left the group scattered, everyone peeling off at different times. The lack of sleep and lack of sense kept a few of us back. To Culture! Luang Prabang has over 30 temples and is a charming and romantic city surrounded by two rivers. French tourists are here in droves as direct flights from Bangkok allow the absence of road travel for the wealthy. With [View Full Entry]

By chazlie
August 4th 2005

So much for Good ol lonely!

Asia » Laos » West » Vang Vieng

Cave on the Mekong
This cave outside of luang prabang was absolutely chok-full of decaying Buddhas! Amazing and kind of freaky at the same time!

well, here i am in a comfortable internet cafe in vang vieng- contrary to most of what lonely planet said! (no power, no internet my arse!) it's raining wonderful tropical rain outside and i'm nice and fresh after a HoT shower- (that's right lonely, they have hot water too!) and a nap in my $1 a night luxury room! i went tubing down the river song today and it was absolutely beautiful. found out about the wwoofing as well- turns out that you actually have to pay vast sums of money on accommodation and food (more than in town) in order [View Full Entry]

By chazlie
August 1st 2005

Picture yourself on a boat on the Mekong

Asia » Laos » West » Luang Prabang

This is the end...
Floating down the Mekong with a ukulele singing the doors... for some strange reason :)

After two days of sitting on my arse on the slow boat to Luang Prabang I am strangely exhausted. Strange because there was bugger all to do for 8 hours at a time, and nowhere to go past about a 30cm radius. At one stage a few of us got on the roof, but were promptly told to get off by powers that be. Good thing, though as it started raining and didn't stop for 48 hours. About an hour before Luang Prabang we hit some rapids (thats right, in a boat full of about 60 people) and a massive tsunami-style [View Full Entry]

By Sean
August 1st 2005

Slow moving Laos

Asia » Laos » West » Vang Vieng

Mekong Rapid

So I'm having trouble sleeping, its not the rock hard beds, I'm used to those, the left side of my body (the side I sleep on) is covered in purple and yellow bruises. Throughout my first four months of travel in south east Asia, scores of people said Laos was their favorite place they've been to. It took me a few weeks to see why and while I don't necessarily agree I can appreciate it. For example, you walk across the street in Vietnam, you may get asked for a taxi three times, if you have a backpack you might as [View Full Entry]

By lovelyplanet
July 26th 2005

T. indochinensis - definitely not an endangered species

Asia » Laos

Laotian Smile
We will never forget it.

T. indochinensis - definitely not an endangered species Travelling in South East Asia you will sooner or later come along some of the notorious long time-travellers also known as T. indochinensis: slovenly pants, washy shirt (preferred colours are pink, orange or turquoise and adorned with a cool slogan like: I am home, take me drunk) are the common recognition signs. Real beauties combine this with a sarong-like-thing wrapped around and over any available body part which is not yet covered with wooden pearls, seashells and shark teeth. The feet of course are peeking out of a pair of [View Full Entry]

By Hot Foot
July 25th 2005

SPICY!

Asia » Laos » West » Vang Vieng

My new cow friend.

We met up with the Lao guys at their place, which is an abandoned house/garage across from our hostel. They all sleep on the floor in a pile and get drunk constantly. Seems fun. They seemed all right at first until we went to a bar. They proceeded to get really drunk and one of the guys told Kalyna how much he loved her a million times. So this is the second guy who's falled madly in love with Kalyna on this trip. And all I've gotten in a lousy marriage proposal. I was buying cigarettes at the bar and I [View Full Entry]

Kalyna promised not to eat you for one year!

By Napkin Nazi
July 25th 2005

Very Spicy!!

Asia » Laos » West » Vang Vieng

We had a very spicy day today. Natalie began her morning with the usual twenty minute whine about aches and pains, and fever. Blah, blah, blah. Then we had the most indedicive morning ever. We walked around for an hour going: "where do you wanna eat??" We did manage to book our minibus into Vientienne tomorow. Woo!!! We also rented motorcycles. Watching Natalie ride a bike is equally as amusing as a bike without a motor. Muahahaha!!! We kept wishing accidents on each other, as it was raining and hard to control the bikes on dirt roads. No accidents. I was [View Full Entry]

By Em and Andy
July 24th 2005

Laos just gets more beautiful!

Asia » Laos » West » Luang Prabang

Luang Prabang
The Thunder clouds arriving

So we left vang vieng on a 7hr windy bus journey through the mountains to get here. Said goodbye to our little group which was quite sad. But as soon as we arrived here we fell in love. Its a small town on the mekong river. A main road full of little bakeries and handicraft shops. A lovely night market where you can actually look at the stuff without being hassled. The people are still nice. We have spent the last few days making good use of a place called le cinema where you go and rent out a movie and [View Full Entry]

By Hot Foot
July 24th 2005

Now I'm falling apart.

Asia » Laos » West » Vang Vieng

Too embarassed to pose for the camera.
Check out my (tasty) sandwich sitting in a puddle:(

Loas just keeps getting better and better! We had an fun night in Luang Prabang. We went to this local club Dao Fah on the edge of town and had a few beers. Beer Lao, of course, since nothing else is sold. - It seemed kinda cheesy like a high school dance, with everyone sitting around. Then all of a sudden people started dancing these cheoreographed dances, and everyone knew them, except for us, the few foreigners. It reminded me of Micheal Jackson's Thriller. I had fun. Then finally they put on some "western" music and everyone started dancing and jumping [View Full Entry]

By Napkin Nazi
July 24th 2005

Tacotacoburritoburrito.................

Asia » Laos » West » Vang Vieng

So, we are finally in Vang Vien. Vientienne is being crossed of our list due to a meeting of government officials. They are prohibiting tourists from entering the city. Oh well, that gives us more time on the islands. Remmember how I said Natalie riding her bike was funny??? I take it back. Her falling off the bike is funnier!!!!!!! It was so inevitable, though. There are pictures on her blog. She is hiding her head in shame. Hahahahaha. Last night we went out to a club. The only club in Luang Prabang that allowes dancing. It was insane. There was [View Full Entry]

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