Lesson 1: Tuk tuks are your best friend and your worst enemy (Vientiane, Laos).
Lesson 2: I am deathly afraid of bats (Vang Vieng, Laos).
Hello ordered, scheduled, fast paced world of the West,
I write to you from the country of Laos, the backpackers hub of the world! After a quick flight from Hanoi, Vietnam, my friends and I landed in the beautiful capital of Laos, Vientiane, on Wednesday June 19th and let me tell you... the adventure has definitely begun. Up until India in early July, we are truly backpacking without hotel/hostel reservations, without booked transportation from one hotspot to the next, and totally according to a bit of research, suggestions from travelers we meet along the way, and at the bottom of it all, our mood.
After arriving in Vientiane, we quickly found a hostel at the city center, Sihome Backpackers Hostel. Run by a young British man and local Lao woman, the place was friendly, clean, had inclusive breakfast, comfortable beds, and totalled 6 US dollars or 42,000 Lao kip per night. We couldn't complain. We only had a full day and two nights in Vientiane so the next morning we got to it and made full use of our time.
Waking up with the sun and the expected Lao showers (its rainy season), I explored the capital's boulevards, side streets, and riverside in my running sneakers. As I moved throughout the city, I became increasingly exposed to the French influence in Laos. Laos was a French protectorate forming part of the French Colonial Empire in Southeast Asia from 1893 to 1954. Its architecture, streetscape of grandiose boulevards and tree lined sidewalks, and delicious food portray such historic french presence. What's most interesting is the coinciding illustrations of French culture and Lao culture and religion. France's Diplomatic Residence and the US Embassy building's Romantic, European design stand out in stark contrast to the multiple Lao department buildings clad in gold and evidently Buddhist adornment. I passed four temples, two stupas, and even more surprising eighteen monks dressed in orange robes and Nike sandals. Small cafés were interspersed throughout recent city development and what appears to be traditional Lao Buddhist architecture.
With little information other than a map and a Trip Advisor suggestion, we made our way to the beautiful and somewhat unknown Buddha Park, approximately 25 km from the city center. Buddha Park also known as Xieng Khuan is a sculptural park or "spirit city" with over 200 Hindu and Buddhist relics.
After figuring out Vientiane's public bus system, almost crossing the Laos-Thailand border at the Friendship Bridge (a result of the language barrier and lack of directions) and taking a Tuk Tuk 7 km down a dirt road to the outskirts of Vientiane, we arrived at Buddha Park! Buddha Park was amazing. While exploring its.grounds, we met a 18 year old Lao boy who is currently in monastic school. We talked to him for awhile as he wanted to.practice his English, planning on leaving monastery, receiving a university education, and going into the developing tourism industry. Another lifestyle completely foreign to us and very informative to hear.
We made our way back to the city center, successfully catching the Line 14 bus, knowingly not crossing the Laos-Thailand Border, and eating delicious French sandwiches with a Belgian couple we had become friends with on the bus ride back.
The planned three hour adventure became a five hour adventure.
Lesson 1 learned-
Tuk tuks are your best friend and your worst enemy. Add two hour grace period to all forms of Lao transportation.
After Buddha Park, we visited the COPE Center. COPE stands for Cooperative Orthotic Prosthetic Enterprise. This organization was founded in 1997 largely in response to the wide range of people with physical disabilities throughout Lao PDR due to UXO contamination. To give you a little bit of background information, Lao PDR is the most heavily bombed country in the world per capita in history. Over 2 million tons of ordinance were dropped on Lao PDR during the Vietnam War between 1964 and 1973. Approximately 80 million unexploded bombies remained throughout the country after the war and today, all 17 provinces suffer from UXO contamination.
More than 20,000 people have been killed or injured as a result of UXO incidences during the post world war period and approximately 40 percent are children. Today, approximately 100 casualties still occur annually. The COPE Center portrays the prevalent and devestating political issue of UXO. The Center exhibits many stories of victims largely children who face injury or death while collecting scrap metal, an income generator. COPE is currently the only provider of prosthetic, orthotic, and rehabilitation services in Laos. The political issue behind UXO and cluster bombs is something somewhat unknown in the US due to our government's support and use of cluster bombs. While over 94 states have signed an international treaty against cluster bombs the US has not. However the even more important issue at hand is the need to address the extensive UXO contamination throughout Lao PDR and its impact on one's safety and state of living. I had never been aware of the extent of the Vietnam War throughout Southeast Asia and its effects even today. The COPE Center enlightened my time in Laos and possible plans for international work in the future.
After a busy time in Vientiane, we travelled north by bus to the town of Vang Vieng. Vang Vieng has developed as a backpackers-oriented town and is often known for its tubing and kayaking along the Nam Song River. Since the drastic increase in young tourists, drug and alcohol use, and as a result the dangers of the river, the government has cracked down the "spring break capital" of southeast Asia. It was really interesting to see the change in tourism and the town's economy. After getting settled in a bungalow, a straw hut with kindly provided mosquito nets and floor mattresses at Pan's Place, for a wopping three dollars a night, we spent the afternoon walking around the area, exploring the now calm cafés and bars and eating delicious French-Lao food. We ate at a vegan bar and visited its corresponding organic farm.
The next morning we were quite ambitious and went on a10 km kayaking trip along the Nam Song. At 7 km, we went spelunking- head lamps and all we swam and trudged through silt and water into Nam Song's Sleeping Cave. After 30 minutes into its depths, we arrived at the scariest thing I've encountered on the trip yet: a cave full of bats.
Lesson 2 learned in Laos: I am deathly afraid of bats.
After exploring the cave for an hour or so, we came out on the other side and kayaked our way back- covered in silt from head to toe- to Vang Vieng.
Quickly rinsing off in the river, we grabbed our backpacks and jumped in a minivan for a seven hour windy ride through the mountains to the beautiful city of Luang Prabang.
Who knows what lessons I will learn in the most beautiful city of Laos....
Get back to ya soon!
Love,
Allie
Lesson 2: I am deathly afraid of bats (Vang Vieng, Laos).
Hello ordered, scheduled, fast paced world of the West,
I write to you from the country of Laos, the backpackers hub of the world! After a quick flight from Hanoi, Vietnam, my friends and I landed in the beautiful capital of Laos, Vientiane, on Wednesday June 19th and let me tell you... the adventure has definitely begun. Up until India in early July, we are truly backpacking without hotel/hostel reservations, without booked transportation from one hotspot to the next, and totally according to a bit of research, suggestions from travelers we meet along the way, and at the bottom of it all, our mood.
After arriving in Vientiane, we quickly found a hostel at the city center, Sihome Backpackers Hostel. Run by a young British man and local Lao woman, the place was friendly, clean, had inclusive breakfast, comfortable beds, and totalled 6 US dollars or 42,000 Lao kip per night. We couldn't complain. We only had a full day and two nights in Vientiane so the next morning we got to it and made full use of our time.
Waking up with the sun and the expected Lao showers (its rainy season), I explored the capital's boulevards, side streets, and riverside in my running sneakers. As I moved throughout the city, I became increasingly exposed to the French influence in Laos. Laos was a French protectorate forming part of the French Colonial Empire in Southeast Asia from 1893 to 1954. Its architecture, streetscape of grandiose boulevards and tree lined sidewalks, and delicious food portray such historic french presence. What's most interesting is the coinciding illustrations of French culture and Lao culture and religion. France's Diplomatic Residence and the US Embassy building's Romantic, European design stand out in stark contrast to the multiple Lao department buildings clad in gold and evidently Buddhist adornment. I passed four temples, two stupas, and even more surprising eighteen monks dressed in orange robes and Nike sandals. Small cafés were interspersed throughout recent city development and what appears to be traditional Lao Buddhist architecture.
With little information other than a map and a Trip Advisor suggestion, we made our way to the beautiful and somewhat unknown Buddha Park, approximately 25 km from the city center. Buddha Park also known as Xieng Khuan is a sculptural park or "spirit city" with over 200 Hindu and Buddhist relics.
After figuring out Vientiane's public bus system, almost crossing the Laos-Thailand border at the Friendship Bridge (a result of the language barrier and lack of directions) and taking a Tuk Tuk 7 km down a dirt road to the outskirts of Vientiane, we arrived at Buddha Park! Buddha Park was amazing. While exploring its.grounds, we met a 18 year old Lao boy who is currently in monastic school. We talked to him for awhile as he wanted to.practice his English, planning on leaving monastery, receiving a university education, and going into the developing tourism industry. Another lifestyle completely foreign to us and very informative to hear.
We made our way back to the city center, successfully catching the Line 14 bus, knowingly not crossing the Laos-Thailand Border, and eating delicious French sandwiches with a Belgian couple we had become friends with on the bus ride back.
The planned three hour adventure became a five hour adventure.
Lesson 1 learned-
Tuk tuks are your best friend and your worst enemy. Add two hour grace period to all forms of Lao transportation.
After Buddha Park, we visited the COPE Center. COPE stands for Cooperative Orthotic Prosthetic Enterprise. This organization was founded in 1997 largely in response to the wide range of people with physical disabilities throughout Lao PDR due to UXO contamination. To give you a little bit of background information, Lao PDR is the most heavily bombed country in the world per capita in history. Over 2 million tons of ordinance were dropped on Lao PDR during the Vietnam War between 1964 and 1973. Approximately 80 million unexploded bombies remained throughout the country after the war and today, all 17 provinces suffer from UXO contamination.
More than 20,000 people have been killed or injured as a result of UXO incidences during the post world war period and approximately 40 percent are children. Today, approximately 100 casualties still occur annually. The COPE Center portrays the prevalent and devestating political issue of UXO. The Center exhibits many stories of victims largely children who face injury or death while collecting scrap metal, an income generator. COPE is currently the only provider of prosthetic, orthotic, and rehabilitation services in Laos. The political issue behind UXO and cluster bombs is something somewhat unknown in the US due to our government's support and use of cluster bombs. While over 94 states have signed an international treaty against cluster bombs the US has not. However the even more important issue at hand is the need to address the extensive UXO contamination throughout Lao PDR and its impact on one's safety and state of living. I had never been aware of the extent of the Vietnam War throughout Southeast Asia and its effects even today. The COPE Center enlightened my time in Laos and possible plans for international work in the future.
After a busy time in Vientiane, we travelled north by bus to the town of Vang Vieng. Vang Vieng has developed as a backpackers-oriented town and is often known for its tubing and kayaking along the Nam Song River. Since the drastic increase in young tourists, drug and alcohol use, and as a result the dangers of the river, the government has cracked down the "spring break capital" of southeast Asia. It was really interesting to see the change in tourism and the town's economy. After getting settled in a bungalow, a straw hut with kindly provided mosquito nets and floor mattresses at Pan's Place, for a wopping three dollars a night, we spent the afternoon walking around the area, exploring the now calm cafés and bars and eating delicious French-Lao food. We ate at a vegan bar and visited its corresponding organic farm.
The next morning we were quite ambitious and went on a10 km kayaking trip along the Nam Song. At 7 km, we went spelunking- head lamps and all we swam and trudged through silt and water into Nam Song's Sleeping Cave. After 30 minutes into its depths, we arrived at the scariest thing I've encountered on the trip yet: a cave full of bats.
Lesson 2 learned in Laos: I am deathly afraid of bats.
After exploring the cave for an hour or so, we came out on the other side and kayaked our way back- covered in silt from head to toe- to Vang Vieng.
Quickly rinsing off in the river, we grabbed our backpacks and jumped in a minivan for a seven hour windy ride through the mountains to the beautiful city of Luang Prabang.
Who knows what lessons I will learn in the most beautiful city of Laos....
Get back to ya soon!
Love,
Allie