Hello! I need help choosing a river cruise company and itinerary! Can you recommend? We want to go to China, Vietnam, Thailand, Laos. Is there and itinerary that goes to these countries. If not can you recommend a company that does both so maybe we can do a back to back? Also are these lines friendly to teens. They really want to go to asia so i think they will be so immersed in the tours and culture that boredom wont be a problem. Are all teh line all inclusive? we would like an all inclusive line but its not a must1 Thanks in advance
also are te dress codes on the ships strict we like casual or no dress codes do any lines offer these?
I think Princess cruises offer a pretty good network for Asia Cruises, their itinerary ranges from departing in Vancouver and arriving in Beijing to starting in Beijing and ending in Singapore. Generally, most cruise lines are pretty friendly to all age groups. Anyways, I think contacting your trusted travel agent may also be a good idea. In the source, I will put in the official link to Princess Cruises. Have fun!
Enjoy Laos' Renowned Laid Back Atmosphere at Houay Xay and Experience Unique Ethnic Villages
by Exotissimo Travel
Houay Xay, sometimes known as Ban Houay Xay is a town near the Thai border and is the capital of Bokeo Province. The town lies on the Western banks of the Mekong River opposite Chiang Kong Disctrict of Chiang Rai, Thailand and serves as the northernmost border crossing between the two countries. The town is home to several eye-catching temples as well as being a gateway to some of the region's most unique ethnic villages and the almost mystic-like Mekong Giant Catfish.
The most prominent temple in Houay Xay is Jom Khao Manilat Temple. It was built in 1880 and follows the Shan-style of architecture, with bright colorful paintings and murals. The temple's location on top of a hill allows visitors to watch the sun set over the Mekong River, a truly beautiful sight in itself. The temple is a short walk away from the ferry pier.
The local market, known as Talad Sao is a great place to experience the lifestyle of Houay Xay's residents and to observe the local products on hand. The best time to be at the market is early morning, when it is at its busiest and certainly at its most colorful.
About 20 kilometers away from Houay Xay is Ban Nam Sing Village. What makes this village interesting is that it is home to the Lao Huay ethnic group, one of the rarest in Southeast Asia. Their way of life has not changed much over the centuries, so it is best not to offer gifts to them as this will surely change their traditional lifestyle. A donation to the headman will be greatly appreciated instead, of which the proceeds will be used for the local school.
Ban Yong Hin Village, home to the Thai Lue people features a unique attraction. Here, the people live in mobile wooden houses. This is done by placing the house's stilts onto stones instead of into the ground. Not only does this provided mobility if the situation calls for it, but this distinctive architectural feature also protects their residences from termites.
If one wants to see how rice vermicelli (kanom jeen) is produced, then head over to Ban Khao Pun. Once there, having the kanom jeen with fermented fish sauce is a must try. The noodles here are of top quality along with the fish sauce.
An interesting attraction at Houay Xay is the Mekong Giant Catfish. There are reports of this fish growing to a length of three meters and some with a mass of about 300 kilograms. The catfish, sadly is in danger of extinction due to overfishing and development. They can however, be seen in the river during mid-April and May.
Houay Xay is certainly a pleasant town with its fair share of attractions. The town is easily accessible by foot and the whole town can be explored within a day. Your first destination in Exotissimo's Laos in Depth tour is at the laid-back border town. This tour is the perfect in-depth introduction to Laos, immersing you to its friendly people, intriguing spiritual culture and natural wonders.
If you like cycling, then why not try our Splendors of North Laos Biking Tour? This tour takes you to the wonders of this region, often overlooked by visitors to the country. The last leg of this memorable cycling tour is at Houay Xay. You can contact us if you would like to extend your stay at this charming town by the Mekong or if you would like to tweak any of our tours.
About the Author
Established in 1993, Exotissimo Travel is a well known Tour Operator with 16 offices throughout Southeast Asia. We have the expertise and connections to create your perfect tours in Vietnam, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Indonesia at the best possible price.
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.
Vietnam Paradise Travel is one of outstanding Vietnam travel companies that offer specialized Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia and Myanmar tours to their customers. They are experts with the places in Vietnam Laos, Cambodia and Myanmar and know the places well and hence can get your Voyage au Vietnam Laos, Cambodia and Myanmar planned in an effortless and easy manner. The website has numerous offers in the form of best sellers that are available for the customers to choose from. Whether it is the Travel Essential Vietnam 14 days trip or the L'Indochine à découvert 16 jours trip or Discovery Travel Vietnam 12 days trip, you can enjoy your Voyage Vietnam Laos, Cambodia and Myanmar and feel one with the picturesque place.
Vietnam Paradise Voyage through its numerous trips helps the tourist get an authentic experience of the place and a close encounter too with the Indochina border. You may discover all the major attractions the place has to offer and also tread on the paths where very few people have set foot. If you are more of an adventure lover, you could try any of the programs that are listed under the new circuits. For instance, you could be a part of the authentic travel and travel towards discovering the actual face of Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia and Myanmar. These authentic encounters in the place will truly fill you with immense satisfaction and adventure too. On your Voyage au Vietnam you may touch upon the Halong Bay, Mekong delta, Luang Prabang, Phnom Penh, Siem Reap, Angkor Wat, Saigon, Hoi An, Muine, Da Lat and many more.
Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia and Myanmar are also favorite eco-tourism destination and you can go on Vietnam eco-tours and enjoy your favorite time in pure nature. As Voyage Vietnam calls for careful planning of the itinerary as you will have to cover the entire place without leaving any remarkable place of interest, you could allow the experts in the field do it for you.
Spending time amidst the picturesque settings of the Halong Bay is indeed a true idea of relaxing after working in hectic schedules and leading a busy monotonous life. Voyage au Vietnam offers the perfect getaway and the expert tourist planners that are available will plan your holiday in such a way that you will not have missed out on anything at the place.
Hanoi, Sapa, Mekong delta, Luang Prabang, Phnom Penh, Siem Reap, Angkor Wat, Ho Chi Minh City, Can Tho, Phu Quoc and Chau Doc are some of the favorite destinations in Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia and Myanmar that you should not miss for the kind of pleasure they have in store for the tourists. Get your bookings done well in advance through Voyage Vietnam providers at Vietnam Paradise Voyage so that you can enjoy your holiday and take back wonderful memories of the same.
things to do in laos_2="things to do in laos" Is Obama and his policies a good reason?
to exercise your Second Amendment rights to firearm ownership? If he fires someone for voicing their dissatisfaction with Obama's handling of the war, what do you think Obama would do to private citizens who resist his socialist policies?
Take a look at all the other communist/totalitarian countries in the world. Take Cuba for example. Castro imprisoned and killed many political enemies. Same thing in the Soviet Union, China, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia... It isn't just communist countries either. Look at Nazi Germany. They killed off political enemies too.
That's what the Founding Fathers warned us against, and gave us the right to firearms ownership for. To protect ourselves from tyrannical governments. I don't think there's ever been a more important time to own firearms.
Amazing.
So you think that the proper way to run a military is to permit all officers to be as insubordinate as they wish, and that any attempt to control insubordination amounts to "totalitarianism" or "Nazism."
Just wondering: If one of General Patton's officers in World War II had published derogatory remarks about him, what do you think would have happened? Probably something a lot worse than firing.
"What to do with an inner tube and a happy shake" Technotrekker's photos around Vang Viene
things to do in laos things to do in laos things to do in laos
getting to laos_3="getting to laos" Can my wife visit Laos with me with a 2 year green card and her Laos passport?
Can my wife go to Laos wtih me? She got here in the U.S. July 2007, she got her 2 years Green Card it's good till 2010, but not the permanent one. She still has Laos passport and it's good till 2010.
What steps and what does she need to do, besides buying the air ticket?
So what you're saying is that your wife is a citizen of Laos and a US green card holder, and she wants to go to Laos?
In that case, of course she can go to Laos. Just make sure she takes her green card with her as she will need to show it to the immigration officer when coming back to the US.
And make sure you don't stay out of the US for more than 6 months.
"Getting Old" Vanessaanddan's photos around Vientiane, Lao Peoples Dem Rep (photography)
tours to laos_3="tours to laos" Are the following countries in Asia feasible to visit in 1 trip?
My roommate and I are planning on doing an Asia tour, just quick trips in each of the following countries.
Nepal India Laos Cambodia Thailand Philippines
I know that each country is a trip in itself but I wanted to do a multicountry trip. If these are all not feasible in one trip, which do you think should be grouped together?
Thanks!!
Interesting.but Asia is a huge place and to give you an idea.
India and Nepal (and maybe Bangladesh) are close together.
Laos and Cambodia (together with Thailand and Vietnam) are at the southeast edge of that area.
While the Philippines (with Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Brunei are farther south).
And any one of those three groups in my mind can be feasible.
And you can add Taiwan, Hong Kong, parts of Japan and South Korea, which are bunched up to the north and even more eastern than all the three groups above.
Tour Vietnam Cambodia Laos Thailand - the best way
laos trip_2="laos trip" How much would this trip cost?
I'm planning a trip to Asia for a couple months with some friends around December. We're looking into going to Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, Laos, Myanmar, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Mongolia, and China.
Can you give a rough estimate of how much it might cost for a couple of months on hostels, food, scenery, transportation around Asia, and clubs.
Do you know anything about Asian transportation system? Is it convenient?
I travel a fair bit. I often travel as a backpacker: staying in youth hostels and the like where I can save money, but I'll still splurge from time to time and I always make sure I eat well and enjoy the good local food.
Anyway, I end up averaging around about USD40 a day over most of Asia when travelling solo. In less expensive contries, I tend to spend more on accommodation because you can get a lot for not much money. You can certainly do it for less: if you only stayed in hostels and cheap accommodation, and you didn't go to fancy places too much, and you took public transport where possible, and you don't see too many sites with expensive entrance fees in one day, you could travel for less than half that. Travelling with friends also makes things cheaper because you start sharing transport and accommodation costs.
Alex's Trip to Laos - Part 1 April 2010 Luang Prabang Vang Vieng
flights from laos="flights from laos" How can i get cheapest possible internal flights in Thailand?
Hi guys, me and my partner are going to Thailand in march. We want to spend a day or 2 in Bangkok first then travel to Laos and spend a few days there then travel to Krabi for the final week of our holiday. Does anyone have any experience in travelling around Thailand? Whats the cheapest way to travel from Bangkok to Laos then Krabi? Id rather not have to go by bus as am not good in cramped stuffy places! Is it better to book internal flights online before the holiday or should we wait til we get there and see what they have to offer? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated! Thank you! To that rude answer at the bottom...if you read what i have said properly you will see that i was wondering if it was better to book flights now or wait til i get there. I have looked at ALL thai airport websites and know all those prices. Dont answer if you have nothing nice to say
The cheapest flights are on line paying by credit card - this will allow you to take advantage of any promotions that are offered - 50% off - you need to monitor the internal airlines to find the cheapest day/time to fly. You can also get to Laos by train from Bangkok - but you will need a first class sleeper unless the "Tenko" lifestyle appeals. Your packing a lot of travel into a short time - I would consider 2 weeks as a minimum and possibly do it over 2 holidays and not 1
tour laos_3="tour laos" South East Asia for a beginner traveller?
Hello everyone,
I have never been travelling before and I am planning on going to South east Asia this summer for 8-9 weeks or so. As I am a newbie to travelling and I will be going on my own I have been looking at tours around the region and one tour called Indochina Discovery which is 30 days and starts from Bangok goes into Cambodia,up Vietnam, across into Laos before going to Chaing Kong and Chaing Mai before finishing again Bangok. The cost of this tour is £1499 and that doesnt include all the meals, just transportation (not including flights) and accomodation? Do you think that would be good enough value for money or a bit of a rip off? Would it be alot cheaper doing it on my own?
Thanks, any knowledge or advice would be much appreciated
agreed. if you are total new to travel plus all by yourself, it will be a great investment to start your trip with a guided tour you can do this part of the world as cheap or lavish as you choose depends how much you can afford for one and what level of luxury you are comfortable with some places you can have a great newer room for 5$ or ten with AC or you can spend $50,$100 or more if you wish food, lunch for $1 but usually 3 or 4 dinner 5 to 10 but you can also pay 15 or 20 for lunch or 75 for dinner
in general even if you pay too much, its still cheap you can barter for anything,and are expected to not as much in higher end stores/restaurant/hotel but always ask
talk to as many people as possible, locals and fellow travellers be aware though. dont let your guard down for a moment you want to meet people and see things/be adventurous but there are people everywhere that are there to scam you travellers and locals Im jealous and wish I were going TRAVELLERS CHECKS
good to buddy up with someone or a small group for a few days of travel but again you can never let your guard down totally make sure that even if the worst thing happens, you still have your passport and $100 and or your credit card
just be smart but dont worry too much have fun. see crazy and wonderful things, the main attractions are popular for a reason but the best things are around the corner and down a narrow back alley i would suggest as a general rule, stay clear of any drugs or illegal activity
tours in laos="tours in laos" How much $US would I need for a months travel in SE ASIA?
I'm travelling to SE Asia landing in Bangkok in July. I was wondering for those of you who have been and did Thailand, Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia roughly how much could you spend on a budget where you are not into the large scale tourist sights and tours? My friend and I would like it to be cheap and we are happy to take buses, share hostel rooms and eat cheap. Any advice??
For the Backpacker type style that you describe... You can do it really cheap. Get the bus out of bankok immediately. You will find that Thailand is one of the more expensive countries. It can be done cheap but its a lot of work. Cambodia and Vietnam you can live with a decent room for 20 to 30 a day. Street food is good and cheap and generaly you can eat for a dollar a meal. Beer 4000 dong a glass or less. On the beach room in Sihanoukville at $7 dollars at the Ying Yang beach bar in Otres beach. good food and cheap booze. Cheapest booze is in vietnam. A bottle of Good rum for a buck. He!! the coke cost more than the booze. and rice wine is cheaper still and will knock you down. So bring a $1500 a piece and take home what you don't use. Remember that places in the country will allow you to stay for free as long as you eat at the guest house. (hammock living, and not very nice) but if you want to hang with the westerners its going to cost more.
How to Become a Better Business Leader by Following Lao-tzu's Te
Using the Lao-tzu's Te: a contemporary interpretation for becoming today's better business leader can help you improve as a business leader-manager by showing you how to get things done without "working" and how to handle situations without being "in control".
We can become better manager-leaders, no matter how good we are, there is always room for improvement and Lao-tzu shows us how.
This interpretation captures the magic, mystery and poetry of Lao-tzu's original masterpiece. It was painstakingly researched and cross-referenced.
The origin of Lao-tzu may be lost in the mists of time, but the truth of his words echo loud and clear, 2,500 years after they were written. The original Tao Te Ching could have only been written by an old man, and thus his name, Lao-tzu, which means "Old Man". If we are to believe the legends surrounding Lao-tzu, as an old man he turned his back on civilization and headed out on the back of an ox. When he at long last arrived at the border between China and Tibet, he was recognized by a guard and asked to put down in words all of his earthly knowledge, which he did, then crossed into Tibet never to be seen again. All that we have left is his remarkable Guide to the Virtuous Path.
A young man is reckless. He is willing to rush into a situation without knowing exactly what is going on or having a clear path of action once he is there. It would not be uncommon for him to apply solution and solution to a problem and keep getting the same unsatisfactory results. It is common for him to believe that you can throw enough time and/or money at a problem and it will simply go away.
As a business leader, he is willing to plunge into war, risk life and limb on a flimsy business venture and destroy everything that lies between him and his goal. He is head strong, short sighted, and self centered.
This is not Tao.
Lao-tzu explains this in verse twenty:
A country can be ruled with rules,
A war can be won with strategy and war-craft,
But everything can be had by doing nothing;
By being free of action and purpose.
How do I know? I know because I know.
The more rules to follow the poorer the people.
The more weapons they have the more unruly they are.
The crazier their thoughts, the weirder the stuff that happens.
The more laws that are passed, the more thugs and thieves arise.
A wise leader does nothing
And the people transform themselves.
A wise leader says nothing
And the people straighten themselves.
A wise leader controls nothing
And the people prosper by themselves.
A wise leader wants for nothing
And the people become simple themselves.*
A man in his prime tends to be obsessed with having it all, protecting it and leaving his mark on the world. He has spent thirty, forty, fifty years or more climbing the ladder of success and he is far from ready to abdicate his throne. He feels valued and wise and confident in his abilities to make money and secure his position.
This is not Tao.
Lao-tzu says in verse fifty-three:
It is easier to carry a vessel that is empty.
If you keep working it,
It will lose its point.
If you fill your house with valuable stuff,
You cannot keep it safe.
Brag about how good you are or how much stuff you have,
And you invite disaster to fall upon you.
When you have done what you had to do,
Withdraw into obscurity.
This is the way of heaven.
He has made his fair share of mistakes, and learned from them, grown stronger for having made them. He has in his management arsenal, weapons of mass destruction. People fear and respect him because he can unleash his wrath of terror and reign down on everyone.
This is not Tao.
Lao-tzu warns us in verse sixty-one not to follow this path:
In days of old,
People did not know that there were rulers.
In the next age, people loved and praised them.
In the next age, people feared them.
In the next age, people hated them.
Do not trust your leaders who do not trust in Tao.
In those days of old,
The Ancient Masters said very few words,
Which made each one important.
They did their work without taking control
And the people were amazed with what they had done.
A man in his prime has more on his mind than getting right with Tao and could not possible have written the Tao Te Ching.
Even a veteran leader with many, many years of experience has much on his mind. He has to weigh his dynasty against his legacy. He has to decide if he can retire this year or next, if his IRA can support his lifestyle, or if there is someone to replace him. He may have to make unfavorable sacrifices in order to put himself in a better position.
He has climbed to the top. He has made his own fair share of mistakes, and has learned from them to be a good manager/leader. He doesn't have to work so hard to please anybody, he is his own man.
This is not Tao.
Lao-tzu reminds us in verse seven:
Your body or your soul:
Which is more important?
Your money or your life:
Which is worth more?
A gain or a loss:
Which is more dangerous?
To keep life and lose other things
Or
To keep them,
When they only bring sorrow and pain,
And lose your life?
If you hold too tightly to your possessions,
It will only cause you grief.
If you hold too tightly to your money,
It will only cause you to be miserable.
Being content with what you have is not a sin.
Knowing when to stop is not a fault.
Staying out of trouble is not cowardly.
This is the secret to a long life and lasting success.
The Tao Te Ching could only have been written by the Old Man. Someone who no longer has to pursue material gains. Someone who has climbed to the mountain top and left everything he knew there. Someone who was willing to sacrifice self, to help other people at all times, and to follow the natural course of action.
This is Tao.
Lao-tzu says in verse twelve:
Do not think about yourself.
Think of others first.
Be kind to the good,
Be kind to the bad,
Thus kindess multiplies.
Be faithful to the faithful,
Be faithful to the faithless
Thus faithfulness multiplies.
The world should see you as detached
And humble, and often confused.
Yet, they will listen
Because of your child-like innocence.
This is the beginning of a journey of a lifetime. If you can understand this, you can understand how to get right with Tao. Lao-tzu was not the only one to say "Do not think about yourself, thing of others first," but he was the first. 500 years later a man from Judea would say: "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you," and "Love your neighbor as yourself." Putting the needs of others first puts us out front. Thinking of others first lets others think of us. We do this without expecting anything in return. We do this just to be kind. If we are kind to others, if we are failthful to them, then kindness and faihfulness grow and push rudness, distrust, faithlessness out of the way.
Being seen as detached allows you to make business decisions, or judgement calls, or tough decisions that are correct and beneficial for everyone. By being detached you don't have self interests in the decision, you are not putting your needs, wants or desires ahead of anyone else. You do what is right because it is the right thing to do. Attaching yourself to one vision, to one philosophy may drive a wedge between you and someone you need who holds a different view.
Being humble is all about keeping yourself to yourself. It is about being low. It is about not being in the spot light. It is about letting others have their moment. It is about giving them the tools they need to lead themselves. It is about being in the back seat and enjoying the ride. It is about riding on the back of the ox to destinations unknown. Lao-tzu says:
A nation ruled by a light hand may seem most unwise,
But the people live simple, good lives.
A nation ruled by a heavy hand may seem most wise,
But the people are cunning and discontent.
By taking the back seat, by being humble, may seem the foolish way to manage, but it has advantages over more Western Philosophies of assertion and aggression. You may even feel confused by letting things happen, naturally, without being "in control".
This is Tao.
The driver in the front seat knows the passenger is more important person. The passenger knows this too. Nobody likes a back seat driver. Let the driver drive and you won't have too. The driver feels better about himself, because he way able to do things his own way, without someone micro-managing his every move.
The fewer things you say, the more important they are. The more important your words, the more others will listen to you. The more others listen to you the more in line with the Tao they are.
This is Tao.
Lao-tzu said:
Good Leadership like good service,
It is best practiced in moderation.
Practice moderation and you will understand Tao.
Understanding Tao brings an abundance of Virtue.
This Virtue cannot be conquered.
The Virtue that cannot be conquered has no limits.
Only those with limitless Virtue are fit to lead.
Only a leader in touch with Tao will endure
By having deep roots in firm soil.
Focus on Tao
And you will see clearly
All the days of your life.
And
What is planted in Tao cannot be uprooted.
What is tied to Tao cannot be loosed.
It is to be honored from generation to generation.
When you nurture Tao within yourself, Virtue will be real.
When you nurture Tao within your house, Virtue will be abundant.
When you nurture Tao within your village, Virtue will last
When you nurture Tao within your country, Virtue will abound.
When you nurture Tao within your world, Virtue will be universal.
In this way, Tao will be known by all.
How do I know this is true? I know, because I know.
By studying Lao-tzu's Te: a contemporary interpretation for becoming today's better business leader and putting it into practice everyday, you can improve as a business leader-manager in ways you have never thought of before. A leader leads, not by talking down to people; rather he leads by being lower than them. He does not parade around out front; rather he cleans up from behind. In this way, his people are free to come and go as they please and do not feel his heavy weight or crushing blows.
These are lessons only the Old Man could have taught us. These are lessons learned from a lifetime of getting right with Tao. By following them you can allow yourself to act without striving, to lead without being "in control" and you can begin a journey that leads back to itself. You can set yourself free, find inner peace and happiness, and become a better business leader by using the everyday things in life to handle situations naturally.
* All quotes excerpted from "Tao Te Ching: The Old Man's Guide to the Virtuous Path", by Jeff Young, copyright 2010.
About the Author
Mr. Young is a nationally certified activity director working at his local nursing home. He is currently working towards improving his state's education requirements for becoming a certified activity director. He has completed his master's level advanced coursework for his ACC certification.
He is an ordained minister and holds a MetD degree in metaphysics.
He consults with other nursing homes about how to meet spiritual needs and improve their activity programing.
Lao song ລືມໄລບ້ານປ່າ Getting to know our family and friends
trip to laos="trip to laos" What does this shirt mean in Lao?
Hi I took a trip to Laos last month and I bought this shirt that I thought was just so cute, but the thing is, I have no idea what it means in English, help?
Explore the Stunning Landscapes and Cultural Heritage of Thailand on a Mekong River Boat Cruise
The confluence between the borders of Thailand, Laos and Myanmar known as the Golden Triangle famous throughout the world not only for its stunning scenery, but also its notoriety as haven of opium smugglers and turbulent political history. The illicit activities that once plagued the region have today been reduced to no more than a historical footnote upon which the region's tourist industry capitalizes. However, the many natural, historical and cultural charms still draw travellers to the area by the thousands.
One of the ways to best take in the montage of diverse landscapes and sightseeing offerings near and around the Golden Triangle, and the countryside of Thailand at large, is by going on a boat-cruise down the Mekong River. One of the primary irrigation arteries of Southeast Asia, the Mekong River is the longest of its kind in its geographic region, flowing down from the Chinese Tibetan mountains to create a natural border between the countries of Laos and Thailand and running through both Vietnam and Cambodia before finally spilling into the South China Sea. Although the upper part of the river is famously treacherous, with its swift rapids and steep inclines, the southern end around Louang Phrabang in Laos is popular for its idyllic cruising.
Most Mekong River routes through Thailand encompass the country's capital of Bangkok, with its wealth of Thai temples and associated art and culture, especially in the ancient kingdom of Ayutthaya. Northwards from here the cruise boats may dock at Chiang Rai, the most recommended base for a tourist's exploration of the Golden Triangle.
Cross over to the Laotian border into the town of Huay Xay and get a taste of northern Laos with its hill-tribe villages and quaint Buddhist temples. The highlight here is Luang Prabang, the capital of Laos in its days of ancient royalty. Today, this city is a UNESCO World Heritage Site noted as one of the most picturesque old settlements in the whole of Southeast Asia. Guided city tours will take you through famous Wats such as Xieng Thong, Khili and Sene as well as the vibrant Hmong night market.
One may also encounter the stunning Kuang Si falls along the shores of Mekong as well as the nearby elephant camp. Discover the small Buddha idols secreted inside the caverns of Pak Ou and the delightful flora and fauna of the unspoilt forests lining the Laotian shores of the mighty Mekong. Unravel the origin of the massive stone urns in Xieng Khouang, or Plain of Jars, one of the mind-boggling archaeological mysteries of the world.
The further downstream one travels, the more wild and impressive the landscape becomes, with its hills blanketed by lush vegetation, enormous outcrops of rock and an unpredictable ride of fast currents and periods of placidity. All through, you will pass through a montage of not only hill, dell and forest but also tranquil villages in the hum-drum pace of rural life as well as bustling urban centres. The final destination of Vientiane, with its graceful boulevards and serene temples prove a fitting finish to this action-packed adventure traversing one of the world's most untamed rivers.
Depending on where you embark and which tour you select, travellers have range of boat cruises to choose from, which may stretch anywhere from three to seven days journey. The charter is of course, subject to changing weather and river conditions and the crew necessarily reserves the right to change the itinerary without warning in the interests of safety.
The Golden Triangle is one of the best places to either dock or disembark, or simply spend the day on solid ground. Chiang Rai is the natural base here, being the commercial centre of the area. Those looking for a Chiang Rai resort, in which to find accommodation while exploring the many marvels along the Mekong, are directed to the Anantara Golden Triangle, Thailand, one of the most luxurious Chiang Rai hotels that makes the natural beauty of its environs into its own brand of enchantment.
About the Author
Pushpitha Wijesinghe is an experienced independent freelance writer. He specializes in providing a wide variety of content and articles related to the travel hospitality industry.
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