And r-e-l-a-x...
Trip Start
Apr 06, 2007
1
20
33
Trip End
Nov 18, 2007
Border,
Lao Peoples Dem Rep
Wednesday, August 15, 2007
What didn't sit too well with me was seeing old and ugly men with pretty little Asian women shamelessly walking hand in hand in public. Why they think prostitution is (socially) acceptable because its not just for an hour or because they are on holiday is beyond me. Rach told me to brace myself for Thailand where old men walk around with 14 year old Thai boys.
What did sit well with me was the people of Lao (Laotians?). Best word to describe them is nice. They all seemed relaxed and content and would always smile if eye contact was made. Similar to Chinese but less quirky and not such characters.
Pound an hour massage! Coffee and cake (sadly at Western prices). Bread (first bread bread since Turkey!)! 2 for 1 cocktails when they are 50p anyway. Wasn't too difficult doing the native thing just more difficult pulling yourself away from the good life.
Luang Prabang was the first stop where we stayed on Coksak street opposite Mount Phousi. A town there because we (tourists) go there. Three streets squeezed inbetween the meeting point of two rivers in the Laos jungle. Voted number one city to visit in the world by Wanderlust magazine but from all my travels so far I couldn't see why.
01 Laos Countryside
But then again I loved Lahore. Highlight was taking a tuk tuk out to an impressive waterfall in the jungle with deep blue lagoons.Departed the truck, me and Lorna making our way to Vang Vieng a day later. English pubs, steak and chips, thumpy dance music. Came here to tube and tube is what we did. Jumping in a tractor inner, floating down the Ma Song river for a few hours and stopping at the makeshift bars enroute where you could swing into the river from a back slapping height. So much fun. Next day we kayaked to the capital Vientiene.
Vientiene was cool situated on the border (Mekong river) to Thailand. You could see the French infulence here (colonialism) much more than the other places: there was an arc d'triumph along the main route and the buildings were French style with shutters and...em.. etc. In one of the Wats I met a temple boy (22 year old studying English) who the next day took me to Pha That Wat via his old temple. Was great. I got to meet and speak to monks. Even got to eat what the monks couldn't (monks are not allowed to eat with non-monks), food collected every morning during alms giving from the locals. Odd picking up rice and fish with your fingers (Lao people eat with their hands). Lao food is quite bland on the whole but the stuff the monks get was really good.
Minimising air travel I took a 23hr bus to Hanoi (Singapore - Darwin wont be so easy).
Comments
Just pictures!
just kidding man, there cool, I like the one with you praying :) & the 1st one looks familiar! I got your postcard today man, a very nice surprise, thanks. I will email you.... xx
Like the praying...chip off the old monk!
glad to see your new face- or old face as dad has interjected as always. sounds as if you have enjoyed this country a lot. when will you join the bus again? remember to respect the laws in singapore...no gum! Ra Folks!
Bring back the beard!
HAHA, just kidding, was impressive though! So a relaxed destination for a change. You still managed to fit in the jumping off hights into water and the kayaking. 50p for a coktail thats 2 for 1!!! I gotta get myself there!!
Miss you man xx
Morality
Why you think prostitution isn't (socially) acceptable is probably beyond them.