Reto, Patrik, myself and our new friend Salva crossed the Thai boarder into Laos. The trip took less than 10 minutes in a boat. On the Laos side of the river we checked into immigration with all the other lost looking backpackers. As the only Canadian in the group I had the largest visa payment, a whopping $42. The others paid various amounts all under $35. After paying and being processed we caught a van to the bus station and then a bus to Luang Namta. We stayed there for several days and prepared for our trip North to Muang Sing. There was not a
lot to do in the town of Luang Namta other than visit a market, several temples and prepare for trips elsewhere. Reto and I rented bicycles and road into the country side. It was great to have Salva traveling with us. Four is always better than three and I think Patrik enjoyed having a roommate.
It also made the motorbikes more economical, not that they were expensive at $3 a day. We rented the motorbikes for a week and traveled 56 km to Muang Sing. Reto knew a nice hillside guest home to stay at. The view from the balcony was beautiful and we were the only guests as it was low season.
Welcoming commity
Fast food Muang Sing
From Muang Sing we traveled South to Luang Prabang. It is best known for it monks. They rise every morning at 5am and walk a path through the city collecting food offerings from locals. Buddhists believe that for a better life every male needs to be a monk for at least three months in there lives.
Morning Monks
The hospitality and graciousness of the Laos people became very evident to us when we realized Salva had left his backpack full of computer equipment and other electronic devices in a local food market. When he returned the next day to ask about it a Laos women pulled the bag from behind her stall where she had stored it for him. It just goes to show there are good people everywhere in the world!
Shopping in Laos can be a treat if you like weaved products and silk. We visited a market full of beautiful blankets, scarfs and table runners. They are also well known for silver and handy crafts. Reto and I hiked one afternoon to Henri Mouhot grave. Mouhot is often mistakenly credited with "discovering" Angkor, although Angkor was never lost. Mouhot died of a malarial fever on his 4th expedition, in the jungles of Laos. He had been visiting Luang Prabang. This monument was neat to see and defiantly off the tourist trail. Of all the cities in Laos we visited Luang Prabang was the most in transition. From Luang Prabang we headed South to Vientiane, Laos capital and largest city, situated on the Mekong river. It was common to see Hummers, Mercedes and other luxury cars driving by. There was also no shortage of boutique hotels and shops. For a country where the average citizen makes less than $2 a day it seemed strange. One great place you should not miss is the Cope Visitor Center(www.copelaos.org). This museum, interpreter, education center is really well done and entrance is by donation. It was highly interactive and appealing to all types of learners. It educates visitors on the dangers of land mines and how prevalent they are in the country side. I realized if you want to keep a population of farmers poor and under control litter there fields with bombs. The effects of war here will last for decades.
Garden bombs
While in Asia I realised there are many modes of transportation. The sleeping bus was a first. Traveling from Vientiane to Pakse Reto and I shared a double bunk meant more for a small Asian woman than two western foreigners. Patrik ended up sandwiched beside a Chinese guy on
his way home from vacation. We were the lucky ones as the bus was overbooked by 7-10 people and there was no seats. Needless to say we were happy to arrive in Pakse.
Local Transport
Pakse was the last stop in Laos before crossing the boarder into Cambodia. Other than our nice room and great Indian food Pakse was not much more than a boarder town.
Patrik and Reto
Cooking along the way
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