Before arriving in Laos, I had mentioned it as part of my itinerary to a fellow traveler. He asked me what was there, and I said I didn't know, but was about to find out. I traced the Mekong River from 4,000 Islands near the southern border to the mountainous north. Along the way, I grew to appreciate the slow pace of life. If you see a driver swinging in a hammock fastened under the roof of a tuk-tuk passenger cabin, you know you're in Laos!
Highlights -
- crossing the southern border with Cambodia
- meeting Nicholas, Caroline, and Celene
- walking across Don Det and Don Khon
- meeting Noy
- taking the Frankenferry to/from Champasak
- bicycling to Wat Phu
- my room at The Inter City Hotel in Vientiane
- fine French dining at Le Central, Le Silapa, Le Cote D'Azur, and L'Elephant
- visiting MAG and COPE to learn about the effects of UXO (unexploded ordinance)
- my room overlooking the Nam Song (river) and limestone mountains in Vang Vieng
- rock climbing
- meeting Sandrine
- tubing down the Nam Song
- celebrating my birthday with a few Beerlao
- walking around Luang Prabang
- mountain biking
- my first elephant ride
- slipping into the very relaxed way of life
- Lao massage at Aroma Spa
Lowlights -
Getting stung by a hornet after eating my last dinner in Vang Vieng. It was black so I didn't identify it as a stinging insect. It felt like a hot syringe was jabbed into the middle of my left shoulder and left there for a few hours. As a consolation, the waiter applied some Tiger Balm and gave me Paracetamol.
Eating -
Laap lao chicken, sticky rice, Beerlao, fresh fruits (banana, mango, dragon fruit, papaya), papaya salad, fried rice, cheeseburgers, filet mignon, foie gras stuffed ravioli, white fish with orange and tamarind sauce (not together!), chocolate mousses and cakes, croissants, Lao-style coffee (with condensed milk), cappuccinos.
# of Days Couchsurfing -
0
Average Cost Per Day -
$61 (this would be about $10-15 lower if I didn't splurge on a hotel in Vientiane and a handful of fine French meals!)
