Blogs from Laos, Asia - page 568

We drive through the extremely thick smog and pollution. This was our last look at Hanoi and it's a relief. I didn't mind Hanoi but the pollution and the chaos was getting too much. Thinking back to how I had to scrub the filth from my feet just from walking around, I was somewhat glad to be leaving. Arriving at the airport an hour before our plane leaves usually would raise some anxiety but 10 mins we are through customs and begin killing time. After an extremely short flight and hassle free customs we are in Laos. The "bible" claims Vientiane is perhaps the most relaxed capital city in the world. They could well be right. We were greeted by very friendly locals and were never hassled to take rides or to buy useless crap. Once ... read more

Hi all, Commin to you loud and clear from Laos, and what a difference from Vietnam. Cam and I keep saying "what the hell were we doing in Vienam". Seriously, Laos is so beautiful, so layed back, so peaceful and we have only been here two days. Before leaving Vietnam, I shipped 20 kilos of items back to Australia from Hanoi on Thursday as my backpack was at breaking point. (will take 3 months unfortuantly tho) Got a great shot of the traffic in Hanoi, see timelapse shot.. Was a quick flight yesterday morning from Nam, only 50 mins from Hanoi to Vientiane (Capital of Laos). We were served bread and water on the plane, no kidding. But for such a quick flight, who cares. After arriving in Vientiane (a small city, but a city none ... read more

- FOOD: Cheap, good and filling meal at bus stop; crocodile (tastes like pork); Lao lao shot (tasted like tequila); popular Indian (I can see why); our local - Sabaidee restaurant with fab tuna sandwiches and pad thai. - AREA: Much nicer bus back for just an extra dollar; quiet riverfront now the boat festival is over; cafes crammed with tourists; backpack pain (how I've grown to hate it); ripped travel trouser pain; Lao songs that I recognise. - PEOPLE: Nice tuk-tuk man; better bus driver; sweet bargainers; shouting but harmless people. - ACCOM: Hotel Bougnasouk again but this time a room with a view; Orchid Guesthouse splash out - not such a great room for 10 dollars with single, springy beds and towels that don't dry you; manky guesthouse with dirty, cracked, cockroached, 'sticky' room ... read more

- FOOD: Pumpkin soup; steamed fish in Gaza leaf and fish curry (sadly far too many bones and overrun with aniseed tasting herb; river weeds (a must - they are so nice); pink drink - AREA: Tiny village - the most basic and stunning I've stayed in with steep mountains and vegetation forming the backdrop - the perfect chill out spot; breaking down bus; wake up chorus of screeching cockerals, babies and pigs; Tham Pha Thok limestone caves ; dirt road lined with palm trees as the highway; tiny waterfall; SNAKE in the wild; cockfighting; beautiful 6 hour boat journey and cave temple. - PEOPLE: Vomitting toddler; very nice family who own the guesthouse including the perfect host 12 year old boy and his adorable (but whingy!) baby cousin; 3 dodgy, stalking men; playful children who ... read more

- FOOD: Hotel restaurant breakfasts and squid with ginger dinner - gooood; expensive but oh so nice salad; posher restaurant food; cocktails; Mekong fish. - AREA: Best preserved town in S E Asia: Winding mountain roads, rivers with terraced banks, palms, peaceful roads; Buddhist and French architecture; Wat Xieng Thong temple - mosaic everywhere; chained up monkeys; long stretch of fantastic night market; Phu Si hill with temples, cave shrine and Buddha footprint; giving blood and having massage at Red Cross; plinkety-plonkety music; midnight curfew; Tat Kuang Si waterfalls on Singh, the elephant; bear and tiger sanctuaries; circus village stop. - PEOPLE: Most people sleep during the day here - they're more laid back than usual!; friendly masseuse; kids fascinated by Singh, adults scared by Singh; cute village kids who are already vendors; men (and some ... read more