Just when I thought it was going to be a near empty carriage with just a few passengers and an odd box or two of Beer Chang (Don’t they sell them elsewhere in Thailand?), hordes of boisterous tourism students, invaded the carriages just minutes before departure. It was barely 7 a.m. Some of us could hardly keep awake, let alone deal with the deafening chatter. A few passengers vacated their seats in search of peace and quiet elsewhere. I decided to stay put. More passengers hopped on along the way and the students dutifully gave up their seats under the 'barking [View Full Entry]

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Out of sheer boredom and not wanting to spend my last hours in Laos watching TV in my room (only because the movie selection on HBO and Star Movies sucked that week), I decided to give Wat Xieng Thong a go, a decision which I regretted almost immediately. Sorry but I could not partake in travel writers’ unanimous fascination with Wat Xieng Thong. Purely from a tourist’s point of view (and with no disrespect intended), I was seriously underwhelmed. Considering that Laos is one of the poorest nations in the world, it was surprising to find the streets devoid of beggars. [View Full Entry]

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The sample immigration form at the counter read First name: HARRY Last name: POTTER I could not help but chuckle to myself. The immigration officer was not amused. In fact, my snigger seemed to piss her off further. It made me wonder if I had really arrived at the Land of Smiles. That ice queen sure ain’t smiling. And I thought things could not get worse. Only when we were on the highway did I realize my taxi did not have a meter! Actually, there was one, except it was concealed by a towel. I decided not to confront him yet [View Full Entry]

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The front door was already left ajar when I tiptoed my way down to the reception. It was barely six. Sound asleep on the couch was one of the guys from the guest house who was probably too used to guests sneaking out stealthily (or so they thought) at such an ungodly hour to observe the daily alms giving ritual. Half of the tourist population in Luang Prabang beat me to it, all armed with their cameras and ready to snap at the first sight of men in saffron robes. A couple of lady peddlers cajoled me to buy miniature bamboo [View Full Entry]

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Rain or shine, at the break of dawn, devout Buddhists of the town (and some tourists) would kneel along Sisavangvong / Xieng Thong Road to give alms (mostly sticky rice) to the monks in return for karmic points. The daily alms giving ritual has been touted as one of the must-see highlights of Luang Prabang. I had set the alarm the night before, but the cool weather made it impossible to tear myself away from my cozy bed. After a good night's rest, I walked down the street to the Scandinavian Bakery for breakfast. I am no coffee connoisseur, but their [View Full Entry]

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7 a.m. I opened the door only to find that the rain had returned with a vengeance. I went back to sleep. 8 a.m. I could hear the rain splattering on the rooftop, and my stomach was growling in protest. 9.30 a.m. I braved the rain (note to self: leave the tripod at home and pack an umbrella instead) and walked out to the reception to catch a tuk tuk ride to the bus station. The receptionist (one of the many roles he played) informed me that the tuk tuk driver would not come and pick me up due the rain. [View Full Entry]

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It rained and rained and just would not stop. [View Full Entry]

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Do you know that Laos has a nation-wide curfew at midnight? Needless to say, nightlife is almost non-existent in the country save for a bowling alley that somehow manages to stay open well into the wee hours of the morning, or so I read. I assumed Laotians slept and woke up early the next morning. Well, I did, but I was wrong. I woke up before the damn cockerels crowed. By six, I was out and about hoping to catch a glimpse of Vientiane’s morning street scene. But there was nary a soul in sight. Disappointed, I strolled to Patuxai Park [View Full Entry]

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Has Laos become the new Bangkok? The queue at the check-in counter for the Udon Thani-bound flight was surprisingly the longest, beating traditional favourites like Bangkok and Phuket. Laos may have the Channel U's travelogue programme 'Adventure Clicks' to thank. My fellow passengers comprised mostly Thai nationals and a few Singaporeans - backpackers in their mid-twenties, middle-aged men who were perhaps visiting their Isaan girlfriends and an ex-colleague whom I hardly knew. I spotted her again at the bus station in Udon Thani, and that was the last time I saw her. By the time I arr [View Full Entry]

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