Laost in Laos

Asia » Laos
December 9th 2006

Published: December 22nd 2006

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christophinoz

Rope swinging Laos styley

I hope the H&S accreditation is in date!

Decided to fly to Vientianne as I was a bit short of time and had heard that the 24 hour bus ride was a bit of a nightmare. Flew with Lao Airlines and survived!

Blitzed the main tourist areas in an afternoon and saw, in no particular order,:
Lao national footy stadium (6,000 capacity) where I just walked onto the pitch
Lao national sports museum - kinda felt a little sorry for them as it's tiny. It only took 5 minutes to look around it and 4 mins of that was chatting to the staff(?)
Pha That Luang - the most holy stupa (temple) in Laos. Lost the key to the lock on the bike so had to pay to go into it again to try and find the key. Didn't find the key so had to, via the medium of charades, ask for a hack saw to remove the lock. Explaining what had happened to the guest house, whom I'd rented the push bike from, was interesting...think that the Coconut Monk is testing me?!
Wat Sisaket
Ho Phrakeo

Travelled to Vang Vieng, which is a bit of a western travellers alcoholics hangout, by bus the next day where

Buddha's at That Louang, Vientiane

I did:
Tubing (and drinking copious amounts of BeerLao) down the Mekong which included the most painfull bellly flop I'd ever done! Played in a marathon international volleyball game but can't really remember what happened.
Went mountain bike riding to the local caves
Went to a Toga party without wearing a Toga

Then took another 8hr bus ride north to Louang Praband along, the apparently infamous Route 13, which had armed patrols on the road due to the threat of hijackings...
Whilst there I visited:
National museum
Yet another wat
Saw the buddha's footprint
Went to another illegal after hours party
Went to le cinema
Visted the old royal place
Walked around the nght markets
Went to Kouang Si waterfalls where there were tigers and bears (?)

Then decided to fly to Chiang Mai, again with Lao Airlines, instead of taking the slow boat, thus saving myself 2 days...well, if I get there that is...

"So, did the plane make it to Thailand in one piece? Did Chris survive the food they served up? And, are England gonna play some cricket in the Ashes before it's too late?" Tune in for next weeks installment...if you can be