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Published: February 27th 2023
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It's landlocked, it's Asian, it's a 'land of smiles', it's a non stress-inducing nation, it's something of a well-kept secret among travel destinations.....it's Laos! The first visit to Laos back in 2012 intrigued me, as here is a nation where a gloriously unhurried pace of living really tries its utmost to make sure that you are also part of that mindset no matter how busy you think your travel schedule might be! The first port of call this time around happened to be the only familiar part of the nation, the capital city Vientiane, which has a few cultural features but, for the most part, is also part of the entire nation's laidback charm. The French colonial era might have some relation to Patuxai, one of the city's more prominent landmarks, an elaborate-looking arch, possibly best described as an Arc de Triomph decked out in a style which best fits its location as a capital city in Indochina. Temple complexes such as Wat Sisaket and the riverside Presidential palace are landmarks which will flesh out your stay here nicely, but however long your stay here is, be sure to check out the riverside night market, characterized by orange canopies, an adjacent
fun fair, and a certain buzz generated by the volume of visitors who make up a sizeable portion of the area's atmosphere. The choice of accommodation, the Villa Sisavad guesthouse is also worthy of a mention here, as outdoor bathing facilities was a much-appreciated feature in a nation lacking in a coastline, but still blessed with a sunny climate all the same. The next leg of the journey entailed a trip to what I'd best describe as the Mekong river, or rather one of the 4000 islands located within its confines. The island of Don Det became home for 5 entire nights, and it is in this very location where you really do get maximum opportunity to unwind, disconnect and forget all about the pressures and even existence of an industrialized world. The most strenuous activity which you could do on Don Det is a leisurely cycle ride on a rented bicycle around the area, crossing the friendship bridge on the southern tip of the island to reach the (larger) neighbouring island of Don Khone. The two islands are dotted with the occasional monument or temple complex, but for the most part, this is alternative tourism for the real traveller,
and will appeal to those who favour the kind of experience which will remain in the mind more reliably due to its unique and basic infrastructure-characterized nature. A sad reflection on the state of our planet manifested itself in the fact that the post-pandemic economic blues have hit this region as hard as some of the more established areas of the globe, but the future of the region as a tourist destination will more than likely depend on how it weathers the storm over a longer period, and whether or not the perception of holidays overseas to far-flung places has declined due to the economic squeeze. Back on the mainland, and a short ride away from the jetty lies Khone Phapheng falls, the world's widest waterfall, where you can view the huge volume of water surging down the Mekong river, to a backdrop of a few basic amenities. The Mekong river itself really is the centrepiece of this entire region, and there is the ever-present sentiment here that time simply does just stand still, with the flow of the Mekong acting as a 'blood running through veins' pulse which just about keeps everyone in shape, despite age-old traditions refusing to
evolve as time elapses. Moving on from the 4000 islands area, and the city of Pakse is perhaps the region's economic engine where developments and urbanization characterize it as the area's sole hive of activity. Pakse has more than likely grown as a result of trade and business links with various other places near and far, and also functions as something of a hub of Laotian culture, not on the majestic scale of Luang Prabang, but somehow containing enough in the way of temples, parks, buildings of note, monuments and other cultural tweaks to make it well worth a look-in. Special mention here must surely also go to splendid Intouch riverside hotel Pakse which ticks a great number of vital boxes when it comes to affordable luxury and features such as superb rooftop pool which are sure to make your stay here feel more complete and satisfying. This was an 8-night stay, by the end of which, the perception that Laos is a majorly chilled-out destination really came to the fore, at least as much as first time around, if not more so, which I would think is quite an accolade given that the passage of time is something which you might more readily associate with our lives and environment becoming increasingly frenetic and faster-paced. In the grander scheme of things, due to what some might consider to be the refreshing lack of a tourist layer creating business opportunities which are designed to test your holiday budget, Laos had been an integral part of the world tour, but had also set itself apart from other nations on the route because of the all-important realization when visiting that this poor nation, long-since considered a backwater, should not, for all its warm-spirited charms, equate to anything resembling a poor experience.
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