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Published: January 20th 2014
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Nellie & crew
Baggage in the trunk....(american joke..I don't get it either) Laos, for being one of the 5 communist countries in the world, is amazing. The scenery is spectaculour with magnificent mountains and rivers, and again, lovely people. Turbulent past what with Vietnam war etc..most heavily bombed country in world with yanks dropping a B52 load of cluster bombs every 8 mins for 9 yrs during Nam. Now they pick up fragments still and make jewelry out of the aluminum ! Also still riddled with land mines still causing death and injury. People poor, hard working but happy and kids always smiling, playing with simple bamboo toys and stones etc. Went on hefalump trek followed by washing them in Mekong and being washed by them! Awesome experience.
Village visit in Vang Vieng, during which we stayed with local peasant family, we were split into men, 3 to a room in villagers house, and women same but separate houses. Entertained by village children dancing and communal meal prepared by villagers. Great experience and again, very humbling, begging the question....who is the more civilised. If civilization includes degree of socialization, children happy and playing freely outside dawn till dusk with their pals and minimal supervision ( and no computers or I phones), looking
Bananarama
I'm gonna need Mair than that, lass after their own elderly and disabled, and sharing their last bowl of rice, then its no contest, in my eyes! Not corrupted by money, greed, envy, or loose moral values, and most don't care who governs them...they are far too remote!
The main trans Laos highway from China to Cambodia is worse than our worst B road, winding and twisting round mountains, and more pot holes than Beiruit. We spent 6 hours on it by bus yesterday traveling to Luang Prabang, and a smart but basic guesthouse, unfortunately overlooking a Chinese karaoke bar....why do the Chinese go so crazy for karaoke, and absolutely murder what are already rather dodgy tunes...and at a volume that the entire town has to suffer....god help us when they take over there planet, as they surely will.
Spent a fantastically active day yesterday, in Luang Prabang, starting off with 7 k bike ride to a lagoon..yes Shirley too...followed by a steep climb to a mountain cave and torchlight exploration of a half mile cave system..no, Shirley waited at bottom, then swim in lagoon, then kayaking 9k down Mekong.....Shirley went fishing, catching a good fish with a bamboo rod, short twine, and simple hook.
Gee up
But no galloping, please Having amazing time..G Adventures really looking after our group, making sure everybody happy...gives us chance to do different thing as enough of us with different interests and abilities. Going for restaurant again tonight.. Team leader knows all best ones so no guessing or getting it wrong....another girls 21st last night so another party unfortunately....tough but hey, someones got to do it.
Now in the capital, Ventianne, seat of Commy govt., and seat of most of Laos turbulent past and instigation of Vietnam war, then short flight to aforesaid country and Hanoi..
Got to be very careful with dress and decorum here...no shoes in any building, no display of affection in public, drug use punishable by death, and sex strictly forbidden in hotels. Not that we, of course....... But how do they monitor that? Sex police listening at door, sensors in bedsprings, hidden camera feeding back to KJB headquarters??
Very rough bus ride to capital on main road hardly more than dirt track in places..quite quiet road thankfully. Driving crazy with no apparent rules or monitoring. Accident rate horrendous, but eventually got to Ventianne tonight. Very different with french influence and its own Champs Elysée and Arc
You can take a horse to the water..
But you can't stop him squirting you! de Triumph look alike. But they eat birds and toads instead of frogs. So that's alright then....
Off to get street food and markets, then Laos bowling.
Flight to Hanoi tomorrow.
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