Population In Laos

Backpacking Information on Laos

By Josh Boorman

 

LAOS

Population: 5.9 million (UN, 2005)
Capital: Vientiane
Area: 236,800 sq km (91,400 sq miles)
Major languages: Lao, French (for diplomatic purposes)
Major religion: Buddhism
Life expectancy: 53 years (men), 56 years (women) (UN)
Monetary unit: 1 new kip = 100 ath

The Lao People's Republic is one of the, if not the least modernized countries of the Southeast Asia region isolated by the communist government, so poor it makes Cambodia look industrialized. As such, the small country prides on rich culture and heritage as much as its pristine surroundings and solemn traditions. Why Laos? Why now? Why not? This is a place so mysterious, outsiders know next to nothing about it, and it is this potential that makes it so alluring. Travellers who have the privilege to explore this exotic and generally unexplored frontier enjoy this simplicity and solemnity while it lasts until the waves of industrialization taints the truth and ingenuity that is Lao, as it slowly becomes a sought-after tourist destination for the backpacker culture- the details will come soon.

GEOGRAPHY

Laos (18 00 N, 105 00 E) is a 236,800 km2 small landlocked nation sandwiched between Thailand and Vietnam. The country is the mountainous former Kingdom with thick, plush, and high forests and jungles that shroud the majority of the land. Laos is mostly rugged mountains with the Phou Bia standing atop Laos at an altitude of 2,817 metres above sea level, while the Mekong River, the artery, the lifeline of Laos and of the greater SEA region, sits as the lowest point of the Lao terrain at 70 metres above sea. Lao also comes with only a few plains and plateaus, hence the serpentine rice paddies all across the land hill side.

CLIMATE

The climate here is generally tropical monsoon with three seasons: hot from March to May, rainy from June through October, and dry from December through February. The dry season is the high season for travel to Laos simply for the absence of extreme heat or precipitation that can obstruct whatever the traveller's plans. The extreme heat on April spirals the beyond tolerable temperature to 104 °F, unless the traveler will head up to the mountains.

PEOPLE

Laotian or Lao people are good-natured and generous people who are nice to foreigners for no apparent reason, it is an eye opener, even to, say Americans who are responsible for the 266 million bombs that have taken lives in this war-neutral country over the past 30 or so years. There are around 78 million bombs left unexploded that continue to threaten the lives of locals, where only 400,000 were found and detonated in the last 10 years. That is enough bombs to consistently explode every 9 minutes in 24 hours for 10 years. As an especially peaceful Buddhist nation, none can vex them. Kindness is a more familiar feeling than anger for these people, no BS. The kind of Buddhism in this country which accounts for the religion of 67% of the 6,834,345 population is Theravada, while Christianity is but an incomparable minority with less than 2% of the Laotians. In over 100 ethnic groups, the Lao have the most sizeable 55% or so demographic, then the Khmous and Hmongs, and de facto, LAO is the official language of the state. ENGLISH is growing more priority than the colonial language, FRENCH at the same, a few too many ethnic languages or dialects.

CULTURE

Situated and locked in the middle of the Indochina peninsula, Laos has beheld "crossroads" status. Romantic and mysterious, nice and cool, pristine but very adaptable, terrible past but bright future, simply breathtaking and gets more beautiful by the second, add very low maintenance- could have just described the "ideal" girl, but this is Laos. So if you want to keep coming home to this kind of girl, then Laos is the place for you.

The Lao culture is rooted on immense spirituality, particularly Theravada Buddhism with influences extending from architecture to daily living, as goes with the communal practice of alms giving every morning upon sunrise. But Laos, with its recently acquired accolade as the Ney York Time's best tourist destination in the World, a slow modernization is taking place posing great danger to the solemnity of some rituals such as the aforementioned daily alms giving to monks. For now, the Laotians' simple life is in control, in balance with the times in absolute no hurry to match the pace of its SEA neighbours.

ATTRACTIONS

Coming to Laos, no travel experience is complete without spending ample to excessive times in historical and sacred edifices. Not to be redundant or cheesy, Laos prides on these imperial and colossal structures that tell the great Lao tale of how it has become. The Pha That Luang, the Great Stupa, the national monument of Laos covered in gold is unprecedented and truly royal. The Buddha Park is also breath-taking and magical with but one phrase to describe it, "out-of-this-world". Hoi An is perhaps one of the places with the strongest resistance to change, thus its appeal to travellers with the taste for the old and authentic. Luang Prabang, a UNESCO World Heritage City, has more adventures in store with tremendous alternatives for fun and information for the independent traveller. The Plain of Jars are also a sought after place, esteemed to be as enigmatic as it is dangerous, for it is a site of undetonated bombs. River Mekong is a natural wonder beyond necessity and importance, it's downright fun. Lastly, home and paradise to the backpacker culture, there is Vang Vieng, so phenomenal, this, for many, can be the place they see on earth, and to some it happens, for it is the land where the waters are high, and the alcohol flows free. Tubing is, to many travellers one of the ultimate adventures in Laos, and is ultimately dangerous as well with 2 deaths reported and several other casualties from a simple gash to broken skulls- doesn't make the experience any less unless of course it happens to you.

FOOD

Food, food, Lao food- this is cuisine for foodies in search of new flavours. To a lot of insiders looking in, Lao or Khmer food is much a mystery as this whole country has been. Although its relatives are Thai, Chinese and Vietnamese food, imagine these marrying together. Lao or Khmer cuisine is perhaps the best vehicle to establish Lao connection. Lucky enough, Lao cuisine has not been side-swept by the wave of Western food chains, but to be sure, the streets will offer that most authentic Khmer cuisine from the Kingdom. A bowl of Kao Piak off the Daily Market, which is a bowl of steaming noodle goodness complimented by chicken, duck, and pork and condiments...lots of it from ginger paste, chilli, fish sauce, lemon, pepper, sugar, etc, is reminiscent of Pho. Khao jii pat-te is Laos' Bahn Mi, and tam maak hung is a doppelganger to Thailand's som tam. The fundamental characteristics of the cuisine are meat and fish are used sparingly, at least in contrast to the liberal use of fruits and vegetables. The use of coconut milk in cooking is adopted from Thai and Cambodian influences. Desiring something authentic? You want some Lao lao, that traditional home brewed rice whiskey? How about a little exotica- some crispy ant egg omelettes perhaps?

This place is a beautiful secret gem, which won't stay that hidden too long. Laos amongst all is a country the traveller will love for the sights and more so the smell that says "home".

For more valuable travel information on backpacking and various destinations throughout the world please visithttp://www.backpackingaddictz.com

Email: admin@backpackingaddictz.com

Josh
Backpacking Addictz

Backpacking Addictz is a website set up by backpackers for the use of backpacker. On this site you will find a lot of very valuable information surrounding different destinations around the world and tips and advice on budget travel and backpacking. You will also find an enthusiastic and insightful backpacking blog which is regularly updated with new posts and article.

Backpacking Addictz Travel eGuides are a fantastic, cheap and easy way to get hold of a vast amount of backpacking information prior to setting off on your backpacking adventure.

http://www.backpackingaddictz.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Josh_Boorman

Around Vientianne, Laos - the Capital City


 

Tour Lao

Lao Travel Planning Tips

By Duangpy Rasavong

Planning a trip to Laos? By now you might have done your research, and know a bit about Laos. You might already get excited and dream of the place you're heading to. But wait! You need to plan your trip a bit before you go.

A careful planning plays an essential role in determining your travel experience (good or not so-good). Here are some tips to keep in mind when planning a trip to Laos.

If you plan to go to other countries in the region before or after Laos (e.g Thailand, Cambodia or Vietnam), at least determine where to go first, next and last plus the entry/exit points in Laos. It's important to have a clear plan to avoid doubling back that can eat up your time and money.

• Plan your itinerary carefully. It helps saving hassle, time and money if you plan your routs thoroughly.


• Decide where and how to get your tourist visa. Tourist visas are now valid for 30 days. Here are two ways to get the Lao visa:


• Arrange it with the Lao Embassy, either in your neighbor countries if there isn't one in your own country or in one of Laos's neighboring countries (Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam and China). Allow plenty of time if you chose this option.


• Get it at Lao border or airport. Tourist visa is issued at most Lao ports of entry. Visa fee ranges from US$20 (China) to US$42 (Canada). Remember to take exact amount of money and 2 passport photos for that.

 

Please note that not everyone is eligible for Lao visa-on-arrival, you better checkto make sure you aren't in the list of "not entitle" nationalities.

• Get your passport ready. Make sure your passport is not expiring within the next six months. You won't be given a visa to enter Laos if your passport has less than six months validity. It can be worse if you plan to get a Lao visa-on-arrival, and arrive at a Lao border or Airport only to find your passport is invalid.


• If you consider taking anti-malarial drugs, take it well in advance because you might have awful reactions to anti-malarial. If you take it too close to your travel date, you may still feel awful on your vacation. It's best to ask your doctor.


• Sort out your traveler check or credit card(s) for use in Laos. Take some cash as well. Small notes make it easy when you need to buy things on the go like bottled water and snacks.


• Book/buy your tickets early. Book your ticket as soon as you have a clear plan. You can save good amount of money by purchasing your ticket early. Stay with the same airline during your entire trip to receive round-trip or connecting fare discounts.


• If you're on medication ask your doctor for your prescribed medicine. Take enough for the period of your travel. It's a good practice to keep them in their original packages (in case you have to declare at the airport security checkpoint). Putting them in your carry-on bag to ensure that you have your medicine whenever you need.

 

Duangpy is the owner and author of http://www.laos-guide-999.com. Her website provides a wide range of information on Laos from Lao travel tips to the rich culture of Laos

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Duangpy_Rasavong

"Giant jars and a little whiskey lao lao" Ristohannah's photos around Phonsavan (travel pics)


 

Vientiane Hotels

Things to Do in Vientiane

By James Bukovsky

I recently visited Vientiane which is the capital city of Laos and I was definitely positively surprised by the charming and somewhat unique destination.

There is a heavy French influence in this city and together with the Asian atmosphere it creates a lovely environment.It is a relatively small city and cannot be compared in size to Bangkok or Kuala Lumpur but it does have a lot of historic and cultural sights which tourists can visit.

Buddha Park

The Buddha Park is located just outside of the city and it is filled with Buddhist images and art pieces. Some of the older items date back over five hundred years ago. This attraction is open daily from 09:00 until 16:00.

Lao National Museum

The premier place to learn more about the history and culture of Laos is at the excellent Lao National Museum. A lot of attention is also paid to the general Mekong region and the Hmong which are the local tribe's people. You will also find a lot of information about the various different wars in which the country has been involved. The Lao National Museum is open to the public daily from 08:00 until 12:00 and from 13:00 until 16:00.

Hin Khana Waterfalls

The Hin Khana Waterfalls is a very popular destination for both local residents as well as tourists. Many local citizens visit this attraction with their family for picnics and lots of activities. There is a wonderful area for swimming and you will find plenty of stands and other hawkers selling a wide range of food items and beverages. You can enter the area daily from 09:00 until 18:00.

Ho Phra Keo

One of the most impressive temples in Vientiane is the Ho Phra Keo temple. It was constructed nearly five hundred years ago by King Xaisetathirat. A wonderful museum is housed inside Ho Phra Keo which displays a lot of historic religious and cultural Lao artifacts

Golf Courses

If you enjoy playing golf then there are a number of well maintained and rather inexpensive golf courses which you can visit during your vacation. One of the most popular golf courses in Vientiane is the KM6 course which is visited by many of the local expats.

James is travel consultant living on Phuket and is working on a number of projects. If you are looking for information about Phuket then be sure to visit his Phuket guide which includes an excellent section on Phuket Nightlife.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=James_Bukovsky

Bokeo Laos

Laos PDR - Please Don't Rush

By Simon Ramsden

Laos

Imagine a sleepy French village on a drowsy afternoon at the end of summer. That is how Laos feels. Only less vibrant.

The land of crawling broadband and dawdling monks shatters - or at least quietly snuffs - the myth that southeast Asia is all tiger economy hustle and bustle. Every time a ripple of thunder breaks the stillness of the former French colony sandwiched between Thailand and Vietnam, the electricity goes down. Forget that fruit shake you ordered, which requires a blender's input. Better make it a Beer Lao.

Careful how you handle the currency, as Kip are next to worthless, meaning that it's necessary to keep track of lots of zeros.

All these surplus circles mean it's easy to get confused and tender an insultingly small amount or a fortune, then only realise the gaffe because of the look on the cashier's face. It's easy to feel rich with all those zeroes in your pocket, but beware, you may not notice that you accidentally blew a billion, until you don't have the million or so necessary to buy a packet of chewing gum.

Relax. Spend a while in Laos and you may find that you start to adopt the dreamy expression worn by many of the inhabitants. Aside from the non-too-insistent pestering of hawkers and tuk-tuk drivers, pressure scarcely exists. Time elapses at the speed of a lolloping ox.

Thank or blame Communism. No reason for rush exists in a state where enterprise is vaguely frowned upon. Just like sex outside marriage. It is illegal for a man to sleep with a woman who is not his wife in this, the highly regulated People's Democratic Republic, which even has a midnight curfew. Not that you would necessarily notice, because the curfew is enforced ever so softly and by the subtlest of soldieries.

Many travellers return repeatedly, hooked on a country that regularly wins prizes for being so laid back and enchanting, the epitome of oriental charm. Few observers have a bad word to say about Laos.

The so-called Jewel of the Mekong may, however, seem a bit constricted, given that it has a smaller population than urban Paris and few places to visit. Tourists flock to three main towns: Vientiane, the temple-infested cultural capital with the strange rhyming name, Luang Prabang, and Vang Vieng.

While Vientiane and Luang Prabang ooze style and atmosphere, Vang Vieng is rather ramshackle. If you miss the TV show 'Friends' and like it broadcast louder than the thunder that regularly deafens the village, this is the place for you. Younger and/or boozier travellers will enjoy its wildly popular signature activity, 'tubing', which entails drifting drunkenly downriver, slotted inside a tractor tube. Tubing is worth trying once, even if you are t-total, just for the peacefully panoramic views of the mountain-lined Mekong tributary, the Nam Som. Also for the amusement of watching the antics of the young and foolish, who swing from ropes across the river and do all sorts of inadvisable and dangerously daft things with ropes and ladders.

Alternatively, board the plane to Luang Prabang and be spellbound by the radiant temples and their saffron-clad incumbents. Watch the Mekong go by between drowsy spells half-reading a book in a river-bank restaurant, or just wander the streets absorbing the unspoiled antiquity.

Laos ranks as one of the world's poorest countries. What a pity it is not easier to throw money around, there being a limit to the number of silk scarves, stone Buddhas and bottles of snake wine you want to stuff in your luggage. Unlike most of southeast Asia, this place makes you want to spend your money.

The biggest draws are the charm of the people, the French colonial influence on the architecture and the mystique that enshrouds the old Indochinese outpost.

Laos' landmarks, for example Buddha Park, Vientiane's twisted sculpture theatre, are hard to fathom. Then there is the Plain of Jars. Laos' answer to Stonehenge, this Highlands plain is peppered with giant stone urns that defy conclusive explanation but serve as vehicles for informed speculation and fanciful guesswork. Be warned that this area contains a large amount of unexploded ordinance.

Laos has been conquered and occupied by pretty much every country on the planet except Monaco, in a history almost as blood-soaked as neighbouring Vietnam's. After the communist Pathet Lao finally took complete control of the country in 1975 and sent the last King and Queen of Laos on a terminal visit to a re-education camp in a cave in the northeast of the country, they enforced a rigid closed-door policy that was to last more than a decade. The country has only recently opened up to tourism, so the inhabitants have yet to start to think of the visitor as no more than a mobile ATM. Laos is one of Asia's last tourism frontiers, a country with a fascinating and largely intact cultural heritage, peopled by mostly friendly, funny and gentle folk. It can not be more highly recommended as a rewarding and relaxing destination for all travellers, regardless of the depth of their pockets.

Laos has great adventure sports possibilities, with fantastic rafting, mountain-biking, kayaking, trekking, rock-climbing and motor-biking available on greendiscoverylaos.com. Laos' newest and greenest eco-adventure is at the Gibbon Experience, where guests stay in tree-top bungalows and use zip line cables to glide through the canopy of Bokeo Nature Reserve, in search of the elusive and playful Black Gibbon - gibbonx.org. Most visitors to Laos, however, do nothing much more energetic than knocking back a few cold Beer Lao while watching the sun set on the Mekong. Such people will simply explain the attraction of this lovely country lost in time by revealing the true meaning of 'Laos PDR':

'Laos - Please Don't Rush'.

Simon Ramsden is resident in Ao Nang [http://www.andamanadventures.com/ao_nang.shtml], Thailand and runsThailand climbing trips to Koh Lao Liang, Koh Yao Noi, Koh Phi Phi and Railay/Tonsai.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Simon_Ramsden

"The Gibbon Experience" Lyse_e's photos around Bokeo Nature Reserve, Lao Peoples Dem Rep


bokeo laos

Muang Sing Laos

Travelling in Laos

By Nick Pulley

Laos is a wonderful country and one that is worth as few weeks of any serious travellers time. No-one leaves Laos disappointed, finding it an ideal destination to escape from the grind and stresses of day-to-day life. Its welcome charm invites you to immediately immerse yourself into the culture and natural beauty of a land that is home to the ever smiling Laotian people.

Travelling on a private adventure itinerary is a great way to see the country. The roads are bad...really bad, the distances are long and the public transport is lacking in comfort, convenience and punctuality. Travelling with your own driver and better quality of vehicle ensures you pack a lot into visit, but of course will cost extra.

Head north to Luang Namtha or Muang Sing where the trekking is outstanding, probably the best in Asia. The Laos government has insisted on a very eco friendly approach to tourism at a stage where it will really make a difference. You can visit, and stay with, a variety of hill tribe people, which is quite an experience.

You'll trek virgin trails, learn the ways of the rainforest and the tribes that live within it. On many tips you'll get to spend time with the Laos elephants (it's not known as the 'land of a million elephants' for nothing you know!) and learn about the work being done to preserve them. Then there is the wonderful Luang Prabang, with its legacy of ancient red-roofed temples, French colonial architecture and refined cuisine. It is unquestionably one of Southeast Asia's most enchanting cities and is an essential stop on any visit. From here you can reach the likes of the Pak Ou caves and the Kuang Si Falls.

In the south you should make a beeline for Si Phan Don, the Four Thousand Islands, a landlocked archipelago and home to some of Laos' most traditional villages as well as rare freshwater dolphins and the thundering waterfalls.

Nick Pulley is CEO of Selective Asia, a UK based specialist tour operator running privately guided itineraries in Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia and Thailand.

Visit http://www.selectiveasia.com for further information

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Nick_Pulley

Muang Sing , Laos province de Luang Nam Tha Tour du monde

Pakse Laos

pakse laos_8="pakse laos"

Vacations To Pakse, Laos Holidays Package Tours

(4 Days / 3 Nights)


Day 1: Pakse Stopover Tour: Arrival – Pakse – Tadlo Adventure tours


On arrival at Pakse, you will be met and taken by road west into the Bolevean Plateau. The Bolevean Plateau is known for its cooler temperature being located high above the Mekong Valley. The area is famous for its many waterfalls, and the most beautiful of these falls, Tad Fan, we visit. Tad Fan waterfall is spectacular with twin waterfalls plummeting into a deep gorge surrounded by flourishing vegetation. A trip to the plateau provides a refreshing break from the heat and allows you to observe the cultivation of rich coffee, tea, cardamom, bananas, and other crops that can be seen en route. This trip gives visitors the chance to venture off the beaten track and to discover some of the lesser-known areas of Laos, exploring the wild beauty of this southern region. In the afternoon we arrive at Tad Lo, home to another scenic waterfall and numerous ethnic minority groups. We visit the villages of Alak, Nge, and Katu before overnighting in Tad Lo.



Day 2: Package tours in Pakse:Tadlo – Pakse – Wat Phou – Don Khone – Adventure ferry trips (B/-/-)


After an early breakfast, we head out towards Khong Island. On the way we make a short detour to visit Pha Suam waterfall and to explore the ethnic minority villages of Lao Teung. We continue to travel by road via Pakse town crossing the Mekong by ferry to visit the fascinating pre-angkorian ruins of Wat Phu, one of Southeast Asia's most dramatically situated temples. Wat Phu is one of the Lao World Heritage sites recognized by UNESCO in 2001, this wonderful archeological site of Khmer civilization dates back to the 5th century, predating the famous Angkor Wat in Cambodia. We continue our journey by motorboat to Don Khong, the largest island in the South Mekong river region known as the 4000 islands, one of the most scenic areas in Laos. Overnight in Don Khong



Day 3: Travel Packages to Pakse: Don Khone – Khong Island – Pakse – Cruising exploration ( B/-/-)


Following breakfast, we enjoy a visit to the surrounding countryside, and embark on a long tail boat tour of the Don Khone area, which takes you to visit the remains of the French period and Liphi Waterfall or "the Corridor of the Devil". We return to the mainland at the fishing village of Ban Nakasang and drive further south to visit Khone Phapheng. Khone Phapheng is considered the largest waterfall by volume in South East Asia; this is a really impressive near the Lao-Cambodian border, set within an area which is teeming with wildlife, making this area one of the most breathtaking destinations in Laos. Afterwards we drive back to Pakse. Overnight in Pakse



Day 4: Vacations to Pakse: Pakse – Departure (B/-/-)


After breakfast, you will be transferred to the airport.



Inclusive of above prices:


•Transportation in private


•Accommodation in twin shared room


•Boat trip as stated in above sights


•English speaking guide


•Admission fee to indicated sights


•Meals: daily breakfast at hotel


•Gov’t tax and service charge


•Luggage handling and drinking water



Exclusive of above prices:


•Visa stamping fee on arrival


•Alll air tickets in/to/from Laos


•Travel Insurance in all kinds


•Lunch or dinner unless where stated


•Single room (quoted separately)


•Other foreign language guide


•Peak tourist season or special event rates•Tip, drinks and other personal expenses



Additional Remarks:


•Itinerary is subject to change depending on the confirmed flights, road conditions, and room availability.


•Hotels listed in above might not be upto standard of your expectation, especially in the remote area where limitation of accommodation.


•Prices are subject to change in case of VAT or other tax increases and USD currency fluctuations





Vietlong Travel provides best tours in Laos for customers. We will bring best services with cheapest price to tourists.Your satisfaction is always our pleasure.


To get more infomation about This Tour , You can log on :

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Pakse, Laos


pakse laos
pakse laos

Laos Hotel

Laos Hotels and Holidays

By Darshi Chohan

 

Properly known as Lao People's Democratic Republic, Laos is a country in South East Asia. Like the neighbouring countries of Vietnam and Cambodia to the south, Laos's architecture reflects the traditional styles of Indochina combined with French colonial influence of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. On Laos holidays you will see buildings and temples with staggered, overlapping roofs like the shell, and golden temples with ornate carvings.

Luang Prabang

Luang Prabang, a popular tourist destination and UNESCO World Heritage site, is located in the North of Laos where the Nam Khane River meets the Mekong. Although it is a small town, Luang Prabang was once the capital city of Laos. You will quickly notice the strong influence of Buddhism here, the town being home to eighty monasteries. As well as its many monks, this area was once known as "the kingdom of a million elephants," so you will be able to enjoy an elephant ride on your Laos holidays here.

The 3 Nagas Hotel

One of the most historic of the Laos luxury hotels in this region is the 3 Nagas by Alila. It is a boutique Laos hotel comprised of three buildings that are each more than a hundred years old. One of the buildings was constructed in 1898 for a visit from the Laos Royal Family. Each has been modernised to make this a luxurious and peaceful place to stay, but the restoration has kept this Laos hotel's historical charm intact.

To maintain its intimate feel, the 3 Nagas by Alila has just 17 rooms, individually furnished and decorated, featuring wooden beams and smooth wooden floors. Balconies look out over the lush green garden with its pentagonal pond where you can lie on a lounger and enjoy the peaceful surroundings.

La Residence

Another of the Laos luxury hotels in this region is La Residence (Phou Vao), located just ten minutes from Luang Prabang's centre. It is decorated to reflect the country's culture, with an indoor water feature, as well as a lily pond in the garden. But the best feature of La Residence is this Laos hotel's amazing mountain views over the forest.

Places to Visit and Sites to See

Places to visit during your visit to Luang Prabang on your Laos holidays include the Royal Palace, the Kuang Si Falls and the Pak Ou Caves. Since the communist government deposed the royal family in the 1970s, The Royal Palace has been a museum for people on Laos holidays to explore.

The Kuang Si Falls are about 20 miles away from Luang Prabang, where you can see the pools and cascading water, taking in some nature before returning to your Laos hotel. It takes two hours to reach the Caves at Pak Ou by boat, during which time you can take in the atmosphere of the jungle. At the caves, holidaymakers can see hundreds of icons and figurines lining cave walls, another example of Laos's historical ties to the Buddhist tradition.

Darshi Chohan is a Far East holiday expert for Tropical Locations, a specialist operator offering the best Laos hotels for Laos holidays and for other destinations in the Far East, Indian Ocean, Arabia & India. Tropical Locations has a dedicated team of experienced travel consultants ready to share their knowledge and help you to plan and book your ideal holiday.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Darshi_Chohan

Champasak Grand hotel,Pakse, LAOs


 

Vat Phou Cruise

Laos Downstream Cruise Vacation Packages , Laos Vacation

Day 1: Mekong downstream tour: Huay Xai – Pakbeng Cruising trip (B/L)


The Luang Say Cruise boat leaves Houei Say pier at 09:00 hrs for a cruise down the Mekong to Pakbeng. En route one stop is made to observe rural life along the Mekong and visit minority ethnic groups; then, a buffet lunch on board. Arrive Pakbeng before sunset and check-in at LuangSay Lodge. You can then enjoy dinner on the terrace overlooking the Mekong River. Overnight in Pakbeng.



Day 2: Mekong downstream tour: Pakbeng – Pak Ou Caves – Luang Prabang Sightseeing Tour (B/L)


Full breakfast at lodge, (Optional: walk to Pakbeng market, where people from the surrounding minority villages exchange their goods). At 08:30 board the boat for the second leg of the cruise. A short stop to discover a Hmong village before having a buffet lunch on board. Continue to Pak-Ou village at the mouth of the Nam Ou River, and then visit Pak Ou Caves "Cave of a thousand Buddha's". On the way to Luang Prabang a brief stop is made to observe the traditional process of manufacturing local rice alcohol. Arrive at Luang Prabang before sunset. Overnight in Luang Prabang.



Day 3: Mekong downstream tour: Luang Prabang – Half day city tour – Kuang Si Waterfall (B)


Your half day city tour begins with a visit to the Royal Palace Museum, which hosts a range of interesting artifacts. We then head to the magnificent Wat Xiengthong with its roofs sweeping low to the ground, which represents classical Laotian architecture. We also have time to visit the impressive stupa of Wat Visoun and the shrines of Wat Aham and Wat Mai. In the afternoon we will visit local villages of Lao ethnic minority groups at Ban Ouay, a Hmong village, Ban Ou a Laoloum village and Ban Thapene, a Khmu village. This then takes us to the beautiful Khouangsi Waterfall where you can cool off with a refreshing swim in the pools or walk along the forest trails. We then return to Luang Prabang by early evening. Overnight in Luang Prabang.



Day 4: Mekong downstream tour: Luang Prabang – Vientiane - Half day city tour (Flight) (B)


You will be transferred to the airport for your flight to Vientiane. Upon arrival you will be checked into your hotel and following lunch Your half day city tour enables us to see the major temples of Vientiane including the oldest, Wat Sisaket, a temple of thousands of miniature Buddha statues, and the former royal temple of Wat Prakeo, which previously housed the famous Emerald Buddha Image. We also visit Lao national icon, That Luang Stupa, and we stop to take some pictures of the imposing Patuxay Monument, which is Vientiane’s own Arc de Triumph. Overnight in Vientiane.



Day 5: Mekong downstream tour: Vientiane – Pakse Cruising to Champassak – Vat Phou Cruise (Flight) (B/L/D)


You will depart Vientiane early for your 6.30am flight to Pakse. On arrival you will be met and transferred to the Vat Phou Cruise leaving Pakse for Champassak at 10:00am. Once on board, we head south, arriving at Champassak in time for a riverside lunch, followed by a guided tour of the mysterious pre-Angkorian 10th century temple of Wat Phou, the boat’s namesake. As dusk falls, we board the Vat Phou for a relaxing cruise down-river, enjoying the tropical sunset on the deck. Dinner is served on board, while the boat docks for the night alongside a remote Laotian village. Overnight on board Vat Phou Cruise.



Day 6: Mekong downstream tour: 1-day rejoining on Vat Phou Cruise (Huei Thamo - Oum Moung Temple - Khong Island) (B/L/D)


After a leisurely breakfast on board, we set sail for the village of Huei Thamo, only a few minutes walk away from the spectacular hidden Ancientforest temple of Oum Moung. We rejoin the boat for a leisurely cruise southbound and enjoy lunch on the deck, continuing south to the wild paradise of the “4,000 islands” region. In the afternoon we will arrive at Ban Dua Tae, a traditional Laotian Village where the traditional way of life has not changed in centuries. We observe traditional village life and learn about the daily activities within the village. This evening we enjoy a quiet dinner on board, under the stars, serenaded by the songs by the songs of the buffalo toads. Overnight on board Wat Phou Cruise.



Day 7: Mekong downstream tour: Vat Phou Cruise to small village of Ban Veuthong - the “Niagara of the East - Xieng Di" – Pakse (B/L)


Today we will enjoy breakfast on the upper deck, while cruising to the small village of Ban Veuthong, where we will board a small longtail boat to Khong Island, the largest island in the 4,000 islands region. After visiting the island, we take a long tail boat back to the mainland for lunch amid the bygone splendid of another age; colorful French colonial houses and an old customs post, alongside a stone quay. We will transfer by minivan to the encaptivating, scenic splendor of the Khone Phapeng waterfall, “the Niagara of the East“, close to the Cambodian border. We return to Pakse for “civilization”, which is a two-hour journey by road, arriving in the late afternoon. Overnight in Pakse.



Day 8 : Mekong downstream tour: Pakse - Departure (B)


After breakfast; you will be transferred for catching a flight to Siem Reap-Cambodia or exiting Laos overland from the Chongmek International checkpoint to Ubon Ratchathani Thailand.



End of service!



Inclusive of above prices:


• Transportation in private


• Accommodation in twin shared room


• Domestic airticket as stated only


• Boat trip as stated in above sights


• English speaking guide


• Admission fee to indicated sights


• Meals: daily breakfast at hotel


• Gov’t tax and service charge


• Luggage handling and drinking water



Exclusive of above prices:


• Visa stamping fee on arrival


• Int’l air tickets to/from Laos


• Travel Insurance in all kinds


• Lunch or dinner unless where stated


• Single room (quoted separately)


• Other foreign language guide


• Peak tourist season or special event rates


• Child or adult in triple sharing room


• Tip, drinks and other personal expenses



Additional Remarks:


• Itinerary is subject to change depending on the confirmed flights, road conditions, and room availability.


• Hotels listed in above might not be upto standard of your expectation, especially in the remote area where limitation of accommodation.


• Prices are subject to change in case of VAT or other tax increases and USD currency fluctuations



Note for LuangSay Cruise:


High season: From 01 November 2011 to 30 Apr 2011 Departures every Monday, Thursday and Friday for Cruise Down.


Low season: From 01 May 2011 to 31 October 2011 Departures every Monday and Friday for Cruise Down.



Note for Vat Phu Cruise:


High season: From 01 November 2011 to 30 Apr 2011 Departures every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday on a cruise down or cruise up


Low season: From 01 May 2011 to 31 October 2011 Departures every Tuesday for Cruise up & Saturday for Cruise Down.



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Or to find more Laos Adventure Tour , please take a look through this site :

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*** BEYOND EXPECTATION***

Mekong River cruises in Laos - Travel Indochina


vat phou cruise
vat phou cruise

Wat Phu Champasak

Things to See on Your Holidays in Laos

By Andy Gibson

[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="Plain of Jars: Site 1 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)"][/caption]

 

With Burma around the corner, Laos is one of the most beautiful landlocked countries in Southeast Asia. Known as the Land of the Million Elephants, Laos is filled with forested landscapes, and rugged mountains all through. The climate here is tropical, and rains happen between May and November. It is part of the Golden triangle, since it is a country where Opium is grown here.

With economy on the upward slide, tourism is the major source of income in Laos. People come here to explore the hidden terrains, learn more about their culture, unique language, and style of dressing. Buddhism is the predominant religion here and so don't be surprised to see all those temples strewn across. Keep in mind, these five things that you must see when holidaying in Laos.

A large spiritual cave dug into the limestone cliff that is facing the river is what makes Pak Ou caves so popular. The caves are filled with images of Buddha in various styles and shapes, but the most beautiful is the Luang Prabang model of standing Buddha. There are tours conducted almost on a daily basis to this place, and the only means of transport is by boat from Ban Pak Ou.

Plain of Jars is another popular destination with tourists staying in Laos. The only reason the place is called Plain of jars is because through the coastal region, there are huge jars strewn all over the place. There are three places which are open to public, of which one of them has the most number of jars. Most of these jars are nearly 2000 years old, and the mystery behind them is that they are all filled with bones, or food remains and has no other information on them. Some of the jars are as heavy as 6 tonnes, and made of stone, which was not very common in this area.

Known to be the largest waterfall in all of Asia, Khone Phapheng is beautiful and breath taking. It is located in the south side of Si Phan Don. If you are lucky, you could get to see plenty of dolphins around this region.

A place that is very special to residents of Laos is the Pha That Laung. This is where one sees Budhhism and Lao sovereignty go hand in hand. The monument looks like a missile from afar, and when getting close, one sees that it is a tall structure with small windows on the sides. A major festival happens here every year in November, which is the highlight of the place.

A small structure, which is very tiny when compared to the Angkor era sites, Wat Phu is a monument that is very unique. The ornate shiva sanctuary, and the crocodile stone are what make the place so enigmatic and popular amidst visitors. A three day Buddhist festival takes place here every year, when worshippers make their way up the Wat Phu Champasak, and also leave offerings.

Stay in holiday rentals in Laos and a place that is very special to residents of Laos is the Pha That Laung. This is where one sees Budhhism and Lao sovereignty go hand in hand. The monument looks like a missile from afar, and when getting close, one sees that it is a tall structure with small windows on the sides. A major festival happens here every year in November, which is the highlight of the place. So if you rent a holiday apartment you must try and visit it.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Andy_Gibson

Laos Trip to Ubol Rachathani - Wat Phu Champasak Laos

Laos Tubing

Common Excl

usions With Backpacker Travel Insurance

By Matthew Coe

You have decided pack your bag and travel the world, planning on which countries to go to and what to do in every spare minute you have.

When researching all of this, travel insurance will be very low on your list but could be one of the most important things you need to get right for your trip. Why you ask? With insurance companies notorious for trying to get out of paying you what you believe is covered you will be surprised that many things will not actually be covered in a basic policy.

Want to work when you are away, then most companies do not cover for this and if they do it is usually just for office work and everything else will not be covered. Although this is not always the case some will allow manual work but you will be servilely limited on what you can do and it usually always has to be at ground level. A common exclusion when working is personal liability, so if you were to in an extreme case to lose a limb or to die then you will receive no money from the insurance company.

I find that where most people can have most problems is with adventure sports. A lot of companies say that they cover over 50 sports as standard; whilst this is true have a good read as you will soon find that what you want to do might not be covered. A lot of backpackers like to learn how to scuba dive on their trip and this is usually covered with most travel insurance, but if you are thinking about bungee jumping or tubing in Vang Vieng, Laos you might need to upgrade your sports cover.

All travel insurance policies have exclusions that they do not have to pay out on if you are intoxicated or on drugs so be careful when claiming, going back to tubing in Laos you will most likely be drunk and be doing dangerous activities with rope swings into the river.

All travel insurance companies have a key facts document which lists all exclusions and their terms and conditions. This is the most important document to look through before you purchase your backpackers travel insurance. You could be in for a surprise with what you see; some companies state that if you travel to Australia you have to register with medi-care when you arrive otherwise you will not be covered for your medical expenses. This is only in the small print of the policy document so most people will not see this and will be in for a big bill and shock when you are told that you are not covered and have to cover the cost yourself.

I hope this document helps you in your preparation for your trip and your purchase of your backpacker travel insurance. Remember cheapest is not always the best when you are travelling the work by yourself in countries where the health care system might not be up to western standards.

Matthew Coe is a experienced backpacker, having visted over 60 countries around the world he has a great knowledge of traveling the world on a budget and everything that comes with planning a trip.

For more help choosing backpacker travel insurance and use a backpacker travel insurance comparison site

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Matthew_Coe

Tubing in Laos (and the broken skull) (HD)


 

Lao Hotels

Laos Adventure Travel - And What an Adventure!

By Anne Fairlie

[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="The 'Nam Ou' is an important transportation route in Laos. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)"][/caption]

 

We couldn't find Laos! All this way from Canada and the van drivers could not find the Thai - Lao border! After a few u-turns, a bit of paperwork, a 5 minute boat ride, we were in Laos.

Lao is about people, truly delightful people who let us see into their homes and their lives. It's about villagers learning the lost arts of weaving and animal farming. It's about the mysterious Plain of Jars - what are those things anyway? It's about MAG and their tireless work ensuring kids are wary of bombies that fit into the palm of your hand but are meant maim and kill. It's about 4000 islands in the south and chasing elusive dolphins into Cambodia. It's about the daily dawn ritual of monks walking through their communities.

A highlight of Northern Laos on this Explore tour for me was a walk on day 3. It was described as a 3.5 hour walk but what they did not say was that we would leave at 9 and get back at 6 because we stopped a lot! They have set up a small area here as an ecotourism project: they are taking people into some small villages in this biodiverse area. In the meantime they are teaching villagers how to weave so they have a product to sell the tourists being brought in and also how to farm with animals rather than the traditional slash and burn.

I shot about 4 rolls of film in one day so that tells you how much I enjoyed the day. We were all sun burnt and hot so stopped at the internet café for chocolate cake on the way back to the hotel! Always a good idea to eat dessert first - life can be uncertain!

A day or so later, we took a boat from Nong Khiaw on a trip down the Nam Ou river which joins the Mekong just above Luang Prabang. The 5 - 6 passenger boats are long narrow skiffs with the motor at the back but the driver at the front.

The river is quite narrow so it was very easy to see what the people were doing along the way. You could smile and laugh with them and of course wave! Some people were even panning for gold if you can believe it! Others were washing all manner of things aside from themselves. We saw really little boys - age 4 even - paddling around in canoes all alone, parents nowhere to be seen. We saw some very primitive small "hydro" stations where the river ran a bit faster over the rocks. Just enough speed to generate a bit of power for their homes. Quite incredible. We saw people coming to the sandy outcrops mid-river to fill sacks full of sand to use for construction in their home area.

It must be a very steep uphill battle for the government and NGO's in the area to teach people to look long term when there is such an immediate need for water closer to home than the nearest well and a little electricity.

Luang Prabang is the nicest little town. At one of the main temples they have made many mosaics of local life on the sides of two of the stupas. The mosaics are made from glass and of course shine in the sun. The scenes that are created on these walls are just amazing and so colourful. Life in Lao - people falling into a well, others praying, kids feeding a dog, fields of corn, monks strolling, elephants herds walking.

I have never seen anything like it before and it was great. It is a very lazy town and very hot here (even the main shopping is done at the night market). At dusk most of the group climbed to the top of the hill in the centre of town for a 360 degree vista of the area including the Mekong.

At about 5:30 the next morning we went back to that same temple to see the people offer monks their food for the day. In Buddhism, people gain merit by giving to the monks. Many tourists now go out to see the procession and as the Explore leader explained, it is almost more for the tourists now than for Buddha. Interestingly some street kids had set up a spot for themselves with plastic bags and bamboo bowls laid out so the monks would then scoop some food out of their bowl and put it into the kids' bowls. Circle of life. It was quite a long procession - about 12 monks altogether and as the tourists scrambled about trying to get photos of all this giving of food, we must have looked quite the sight.

The basis of the ceremony is very human and I like that part of it. I had seen a similar ceremony earlier in the trip and I could not help but compare. As we waited outside our family-run guest house, 3 monks came along the road. The lady next door was waiting for them: she was sitting on a mat. They circled around her, she bowed her head, they said a few words - prayers perhaps, she passed them the rice, she bowed her head again, and the monks continued on by.

So which is Laos? Both most certainly. The enchantment of the place is that it still retains the one-on-one element: you can feel the people here and feel their humanity. But if you think about life from their perspective, they are keen to have farangi come, stay in their guest houses, buy their wares, see their sights, use their internet cafes. Laotians are ready for all these things. But given the historical events of the last 50 years, the one true thing they have is their religion. So it becomes a struggle to satisfy all sides of life.

I asked what the monks do all day. They chant / pray just twice a day and the boy monks go to school. They are taught in a school just for monks but in small village areas, they are in village school with all the kids. No one is allowed to touch them or play with them though. I thought this sounded quite lonely. You may know that everyone is supposed to become a monk for awhile in their life. Tough decision. As a parent, if you give your child to the monk-hood, the child will be schooled and fed for free and the family gains merit for the next life. Sounds pretty good - but as you grow older, there is no one to look after you so a bit of a downside as well.

During the Vietnam war, there were some air bases in Thailand. If the weather was bad and "they" could not drop their bombs on the Vietnamese target, "they" dropped them off in Laos on the way back to the airfield. "They" were too worried to land with bombs on board so "they" dropped them off indiscriminately in Laos. The estimate is 90 millions special cluster bombs. A cluster bomb is a shell casing with about 670 mini bombies inside. Each mini bombie fits in the palm of your hand. Inside the mini bombie, there are about 300 ball bearings. On impact, the ball bearings scatter to a range of about 30 metres. The bombs are armed somehow by the number of rotations they do in the air before impact. Some bombies did not explode when they landed because they had not rotated enough. And that is the situation Lao deals with today. Estimates here are that there are up to 30 million bombs still active. They landed anywhere and everywhere - in trees, on houses, in crowded people places - and so now they are trying to find these and set them off safely.

A British group called Mines Advisory Group (MAG) are the people doing this important work and doing a great job. Lao people need to be educated as these bombies can be trod on or picked up by curious kids etc at any time. The bombies may have been under the ground for awhile and then a heavy rain will uncover them. Curious kids might have been playing in that area for months and suddenly a bombie goes off.

It is a tough decision to decide where to do the bomb location work. According to the director, they call a meeting of all the local mayors and have a discussion. We were told that the area most in need of safe agricultural land gets slated for mine clearance first. So far about 90% of the land cleared has been agricultural. As usual not enough people have been trained to do the work and more money / donations to buy newer, faster equipment would help a lot. So far in 10 years, with 12 teams of experts, after 2 months of training each, they have cleared 200,000 bombs with only 2 of their employees getting hurt. Check out this website: http://www.mag.org.uk

We had the opportunity to go to a bomb site. I can tell you we were very careful to walk in someone else's footsteps and listen to instructions! Then we watched as they detonated 2 bombies in someone's field. From there, we went to the SOS orphanage in town and sang "Hokey Pokey" with the kids. And a wonderful Indian curry for dinner!

It was finally time to head to the south of Lao so, for only the third time in the whole tour, we had a 12 hour day on the road. Our tour leader paced the day just right and we got into Pakse about 7 pm, in time for dinner at the hotel's roof-top restaurant! A delightful way to end the day.

Another boat was our mode of transport stopping off first at Wat Phu. Built in the 5th century - even before Angkor Wat - as a Hindu Temple. It was converted to a Buddhist Temple in the 14th century. I learned that a "makara" is a cross between an elephant, a fish, and a crocodile. It is always shown in profile and usually on the lintel of a Hindu Temple. The doorway under this "makara" marks passage from the material world to the spiritual world.

Back in the boats again to meander through the 4000 islands: destination Muong Khong. 2 wonderful nights in one of the best hotels on the tour were spent overlooking the river. It's a lazy place with the days passing in scorching heat and desultory mosquitoes. A cool drink, a walk to the temple, a cool drink, time at the internet café, a cool drink, a nap, a cool drink, dinner: you get the idea!

Our Explore tour leader had been working in Lao for about 5 months. She would take pictures of the people she met in the villages, get them printed on her days' off in Bangkok, and then hand out the pictures the next time she passed through. What a treat this was for the villagers as in one of two instances, someone had died, and she was able to provide a picture of the person for their loved one to treasure. In another village, early in the season, she had asked the chief what the village needed, was there something we could buy or bring to them as a way of saying "thanks" for showing us their way of life?

Turns out the villagers use slash-and-burn agriculture so they needed some new knives. She told us this story before we arrived as she did with every group. All of us then had the chance to buy a knife which she then presented to the chief. He was great as he had a book with columns etc. and had a check mark for everyone who had received one already and the people who still needed one. So we felt good by helping the village down the road by buying their knives, we gave them to this village as a way of saying thank you, the chief was able to show his people he was looking after them, and the villagers got new knives. Win Win Win Win!

It comes down to sharing. For the Lao, it's instinctual, never a second thought to share what they have. When the Explore leader asked us to describe Lao in one word, I chose generous. It's a generosity of spirit I saw in everyone we met that enabled me to share in their lives for just a minute. How fortunate, how privileged, I feel looking back and remembering our laughter.

Visit Trek Escapes, the Adventure Travel Specialists to gather all the information you need before heading out on your dream holiday. You can also enter to win our contest for free travel.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Anne_Fairlie

Qingdao Hotel of China


 

Guide to Vientiane, Laos

Guide to Vientiane, Laos

By Simon Ramsden

Vientiane

[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="240" caption="Vientiane (Photo credit: LightOnDude)"][/caption]

Unlike other southeast Asian capital cities, Vientiane is not a 24/7 frenzy of commerce. Its relaxed atmosphere makes it feel like a small town, which makes a kind of sense, for that is exactly what it is.

If there were a 'Mellowest Capital in the World' competition, Vientiane would win hands down. Backpackers head south to get drunk and float down the river that skirts the village of Vang Vieng. More sophisticated travellers zero in on Laos' luxurious capital, Vientiane, usually before a visit to Luang Prabang. Unusually for a capital, Vientiane lies just over a border - the one with Thailand, just across the Friendship Bridge. The influence that shines through most brightly, however, is French. For a start, the name is gallicised. The original name, Viangchan, which means 'City of the Moon' in the native Lao language, proved too tricky for the French tongue.

Expect French food, French flowers (marigolds), even the Arc de Triomphe - well, a monstrous concrete mockup, known as the Victory Arch. Dubbed the Vertical Runway because it was built with cement donated by the United States in 1969 for airport construction, the arch is a touch taller than the original, to spite the French, but unfinished. A sign blames this on Laos' tumultuous history, presumably meaning the punishment inflicted by the French, Japanese, Chinese, Burmese, Vietnamese, Thais and Americans. But all that was a while back. Even the sign itself recognizes the monument's deficiencies, calling it a 'monster of concrete'. No spin here. Cynics may wonder why the landlocked Communist state still cannot get its act together and finish the job. The decrepitude which the arch epitomises also extends to the streets, so be careful not to step in a pothole or sewer.

Be careful too of the tuk-tuk drivers, who are as enterprising as any you will meet in Asia. Always fix a price and clarify your destination before you jump in. Otherwise, expect to be taken to the wrong side of town for rather more Kip - the not-quite-worthless currency - than you care to cough up. The perfect remedy for a white-knuckle tuk-tuk ride is a session at one of Vientiane's many excellent and ridiculously cheap spas. For a flurry of Kip you can experience a massage far less brutal than the kind meted out by Thai pampering pugilists - and in much more atmospheric surroundings.

Blessed with bags of Indochinese style and with the cheeriest of residents, Vientiane blends Gallic flair with Asian mystique. This style also influences and permeates the sauces and aromas of the exquisite cuisine available in the world-class French restaurants at Fountain Square. For those travellers who are heartily sick of the sweet and sickly white wheat products falsely posturing as 'bread' across almost all of SE Asia, the lunch baguettes and breakfast croissants available throughout most of Laos will make a most welcome change.

The culinary alternative to Fountain Square is the Mekong. Its near bank is lined with scores of cheaper but still good Asian restaurants where diners lounge on mats and watch the sun set over the river while sipping a cold Beer Lao, the default and delicious state brew. If you can tear yourself away from Vientiane's culinary attractions, then maybe visit the Lao National History Museum. Set on the high street, it sounds and looks boring, but is brought to life by its jargon of jingoistic rage against the invader. Check out the photos of sniper peasants and the displays of chunky guns. 'Weapons ordered by the US imperialists for its puppets,' one caption screams.

If your spine can handle the bone-jarring 24 km ride, then take a trip from Vientiane to maybe the area's most memorable attraction: that memory card-consuming icon, Buddha Park sculpture garden. There, tilted at crazy angles, mammoth concrete statues of Buddhist and Hindu gods jostle with fantastical likenesses of real and imaginary beasts. The highlight must be the three-storey giant pumpkin-like representation of Hell, Earth and Heaven, which is entered through the jaws of a demon head. More kitsch than religious, but a fun day out. Apparently designed by Salvador Dali while drugged beyond his eyeballs, Buddha Park dates back to 1958 and owes its existence to the mystic seer Luang Pu Bunleua Sulilat, who left Laos after the 1975 communist takeover. The park cuts a contrast with the golden and gorgeous downtown temples that stick to the rulebook more but, like Buddha Park, also have a slightly hallucinatory feel about them.

Whilst these attractions are worth a visit, Vientiane lacks the truly monumental and instead captures the senses by its tranquility and idiosyncratic charm. It's a place to eat, people-watch, relax, get a massage, maybe visit one of the respectable night-clubs. Vientiane lacks vibrancy but, for so many visitors with enough energy expenditure in their everyday lives, this is just what the doctor ordered.

Simon Ramsden is resident in Ao Nang [http://www.andamanadventures.com/ao_nang.shtml], Thailand and runsThailand climbing trips to Koh Lao Liang, Koh Yao Noi, Koh Phi Phi and Railay/Tonsai.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Simon_Ramsden

Lao Airlines Vientiane - Luang Prabang QV635 ATR72-200 RDPL-34137


airlines to laos

Drinking In Laos

[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="Beerlao (Photo credit: Wikipedia)"][/caption]

By Vincent Fischer-Zernin

Drinking, ritual

Water! Cafelao and Tea

Water is what everybody drinks, cold or hot. Coffee and tea are relatively new to the country. The recreational and fortifying drink used to be, and still very often is to this day, hot water (nam hohn). A glass of cool water (nam yen) as refreshment and to make you feel welcome is immediately served to any guest or customer upon having been invited to sit down, at home or at the office. In 'better' Thai restaurants it's no longer done for commercial reasons; why give something away for free. In Laos it is still a sign of gracious service.

Coffee (kafae) became known early last century with the establishment of French coffee plantations on the Boloven Plateau in southern Laos. By now these plantations produce world class coffee for export whilecafelao has locally become the in-thing to drink. It is made with sweet, white condensed milk sitting on the bottom of the glass which is then topped up with solid black coffee. A truly black-and-white concoction, the Lao B-52!

Tea (nam xah) eventually descended from China. A fairly recent newcomer is indigenous green tea made from organically grown mulberry leaves as pioneered at the organic farm in Vangvieng. It has pretty much captured the local market and is in the process of seriously going international. My morning brew consists of mulberry tea for its acknowledged medicinal benefits blended with bergamot flavoured Earl Grey tea for the caffeine induced pick-me-up effect.

Wine

Hail, thou French occupiers; it is cheap, thanks. The choice of wine - red, white or rose - to go with your meal is entirely yours. In regards to which wine accompanies what food there are NO rules, that's French wine industry hype. Feel free, as well, to chill your wine to your preference because it would be pretty silly to drink red wine in the tropics at 'room temperature' as lectured in Europe.

The Rituals

On the occasion of birthdays, weddings, funerals or anything else

To keep the mood lively anybody can, and quite a few eventually will, grab a bottle of whatever liquor (lao) is available or brought along for the purpose, take a small glass and start making the rounds offering a shot to everybody. It is difficult to refuse while she herself, it really seems to be more often a 'she' than a 'he', has quite a few in the process of doing the catering with the sole intention to get you, and everybody else, drunk. It's all about comradeship though it predates communist days. Basically it is a democratic way to make sure that everyone gets royally drunk equally fast. While lifting the glass in greetings to the host and assembled crowd wishes for a winning lottery ticket and so on are very much in place and repeated often. It's a drink-up ritual, finished by you ostentatiously turning the glass upside-down to prove that you have, indeed, emptied it to the last drop.

Any day - any time when friends are gathered together

A voice is raised demanding, suffering no objection: lift (yohk kuen) your glasses which you then knock (tam) against each other. In Europe, you toast an occasion or person; here, a glass simply raised towards those present at table is an invitation and challenge for all to join in and drink, every time. The frequency of yohk kuen increases literally by the minute and participation is obligatory. Mind you, it doesn't take much persuasion!

If you do not drink alcohol make it clear to your host and companions and you will be respected for it; otherwise you cannot chicken-out, it's a communal fun affair - clink along with your water!

Laolao and Laokao

Same; none other than the local alcohol (lao) version of a Vodka or Schnapps distilled from corn or rice. Carpenters can't do without. I have observed them in mid-April, the hottest month of the year, at a noon temperature of well over forty degrees Celsius, straddle a house roof of considerable height and asking for a refill. I've tasted laokao (white liquor) over the decades starting in Thailand. It is getting better and better, that is cleaner and cleaner, not leaving behind the next morning that terrible aftertaste of yesterday's schnapps. Laolao(Lao liquor) is about to attain the quality to be mixed with tonic water. Xayoh to the Carpenters!

Laobongyaa

That's the stuff you see around sold as yaa or 'medicine' out of various glass jars with different herbs and roots inside. Each jar helpfully features a cardboard sign listing its various medicinal benefits. The more exotic varieties of Vietnamese origin feature such delicacies as cobras, scorpions and lizards. The bong stands for 'preserving' whatever is in there. It better!

Laohai

Local wine is made of rice, water and, yes, yeast. It's the yeast that makes this laohai potent for which reason its sale used to be forbidden in Thailand. This was meant to prevent people from making it easily at home and thus not paying taxes to the state for the privilege of getting drunk by their own inexpensive means. So as a foreigner you were sent into the supermarket to fetch the yeast from the farang women's bakery section. In Laos it ferments in traditional clay pots (hai) from which it is drunk by means of long bamboo straws. The volume consumed today is refilled with water to get drunk, again, tomorrow; fermentation and partying going hand-in-hand.

Beerlao

Where there is tam mak-houng, laab and som mou, there is Beerlao, no translation needed. Together with these dishes, and the love for celebrating, it has become a national icon. The ladies know how to consume and keep their alcohol down well. Don't talk about the older generation. When attending any Baci, village or temple fair, they drink you under the table. The women will lead you around in a ramwong-dance before you pass out. Gosh, they drink; yohk keun, lift your glasses!

Knowing what is bound to happen, an empty yellow Beerlao crate is helpfully placed underneath any table of three-plus imbibers which will fill up in no time with empty bottles, large ones. We are drinking here by-the-crate, mate!

It is praised by many as the region's best beer with an ever growing reputation and fan club (read the Bangkok Post's Letters to the Editor) turning it into a tourist attraction in its own right.

I remember when traveling around South America in the late sixties and ending up in some forlorn spot in the Andes or Amazon where they did NOT sell Cola, you knew you were really off the beaten track. The distribution of Beerlao to the farthest corners of the realm is a pillar of this society, a necessity for its functioning and a pride to the company employees. It won't always be chilled to perfection but, nonetheless, admirable efforts are made to this effect. It certainly doesn't need to be chilled in Samneua, it's too cold up there all year round anyway. If you end up in a spot where there is no Beerlao available at all, not even at room temperature, you certainly are a long way away from this world as we know it... or you might happen to be jungle trekking or white water kayaking with our adventure tourism company Green Discovery, and you'll be in good hands.

The Book "Lao Cooking and The Essence of Life"
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