Mar 17, 2010 - Laos - lifeless, or just laid back?

Sunday 14th March Our second day in Luang Prabang, and I can’t help feeling that we are missing something, given the build up that it had been given. ... Tuesday 16th March We are gradually warming to Luang Prabang, and have certainly realised that the people are generally friendly, just a bit more reserved than the other places that we have visited: once you make the first move, they are fine. ... Wednesday 17th March Sitting in the (tiny) departure lounge at Luang Prabang Airport, which has what must be the worst PA system in the world, and no visual displays. ... Our final thoughts on Luang Prabang? – when we arrived we saw some advice that said “don’t stay less than three nights if you want to get to know the place”, and that is certainly true. ... They are, however, laid back to the point of seeming apathetic – Luang Prabang has the only market we have visited in SE Asia where only very few people bother to try to sell you anything, a number are asleep behind their stalls and the majority only respond when you ask the price of something – which they tell you and then discount it three times, to about half the original price, without you needing to say another word. ...

Mar 14, 2010 - Vientiane

Vientiane 14-03 Foto's is weer een probleem, dus helaas maar weinig foto's. ... De 13e nemen we 's avonds de nachtbus naar Vientiane, een VIP bus. ... En dat merken we: We hebben een 2- persoonsbed, vertrekken op tijd (!) krijgen eten (rijst met vlees) en komen de volgende ochtend maar een kwartier te laat aan.Vientiane 14-03 Foto's is weer een probleem, dus helaas maar weinig foto's. ... De 13e nemen we 's avonds de nachtbus naar Vientiane, een VIP bus. ... En dat merken we: We hebben een 2- persoonsbed, vertrekken op tijd (!) krijgen eten (rijst met vlees) en komen de volgende ochtend maar een kwartier te laat aan....

Mar 12, 2010 - Luang Prabang.

Fri 12 Mars. So on this day I go to Luang Prabang, the religious and ceremonial capital of Laos. ... So once again I have to go over the hilltops on the 1200 metres level and finally go mostly downhill but still many curves and bends, sometimes like a serpentines until I finally came to Luang Prabang. ... At the bus station every passenger on the minibus were more or less attacked by guesthouse touts, despite my own hotel list, I decided to join and follow one of the touts, which lead me to the Muonglao Guesthouse.Fri 12 Mars. So on this day I go to Luang Prabang, the religious and ceremonial capital of Laos. ... So once again I have to go over the hilltops on the 1200 metres level and finally go mostly downhill but still many curves and bends, sometimes like a serpentines until I finally came to Luang Prabang. ... At the bus station every passenger on the minibus were more or less attacked by guesthouse touts, despite my own hotel list, I decided to join and follow one of the touts, which lead me to the Muonglao Guesthouse....

Mar 12, 2010 - Lao

Vietnam was sad to see us go - it cried from the sky on our last day and last morning there as we said farewell to the bulk of our tour companions. We eventually made it to the bus an hour and a quarter late, to begin the winding journey to Luang Prabang. ... Last night we had an extremely picturesque dinner in a restaurant up a hillside beside the river.Vietnam was sad to see us go - it cried from the sky on our last day and last morning there as we said farewell to the bulk of our tour companions. We eventually made it to the bus an hour and a quarter late, to begin the winding journey to Luang Prabang. ... Last night we had an extremely picturesque dinner in a restaurant up a hillside beside the river....

Mar 11, 2010 - Getting Templed Out

As I stepped out of the minibus in Vientiane I ran into three other back-packers that had also just arrived and were looking for accommodation. ... Really not much else to report from Vientiane! I went to bed early again last night since I had to wake up at 3:30am to go to the airport for my 6am flight to Cambodia. ... So that is where I am at now.As I stepped out of the minibus in Vientiane I ran into three other back-packers that had also just arrived and were looking for accommodation. ... Really not much else to report from Vientiane! I went to bed early again last night since I had to wake up at 3:30am to go to the airport for my 6am flight to Cambodia. ... So that is where I am at now....

Mar 10, 2010 - Phonosavan.

10 Mars.10 Mars....

Mar 10, 2010 - Bolaven Plateau

Foto's staan bij de 2 vorige berichtjes: Kratie/ Ban Lung, en Si Phan Don! 10-03-2010 We Verlaten de eilanden Don Khon/ Don Det met een bootje en de bus en binnen een paar uur zijn we in de volgende stad, Pakse. ... Dat doen we samen met een Nederlandse jongen (Groningen), Tjardo genaamd, waar we nu al een paar dagen samen mee reizen, leuk, en gezellig! Eerst slapen we een nachtje in Pakse, (een stad waar verder niet iets te beleven valt), zodat we de volgende ochtend vroeg op de motorbike kunnen stappen voor drie dagen. ... 's Avonds komen we weer in Pakse, en nemen gelijk de nachtbus naar Vientiane, de hoofdstad van Laos. ...

Mar 9, 2010 - Tubing down the river

It's only been a little over a day since my last update, but I figured I would write again while I had the time. After updating yesterday, I switched hotels from my first night in Vang Vieng. ... It is basically the main attraction in Vang Vieng - rent an inner tube and float down the river stopping at bars along the way. ... It is absolute insanity! There are bars lining the shores of the river and the people working at the bars literally fish for people.It's only been a little over a day since my last update, but I figured I would write again while I had the time. After updating yesterday, I switched hotels from my first night in Vang Vieng. ... It is basically the main attraction in Vang Vieng - rent an inner tube and float down the river stopping at bars along the way. ... It is absolute insanity! There are bars lining the shores of the river and the people working at the bars literally fish for people....

Mar 8, 2010 - Vang Vieng.

Then I have a 150 kilometres long minibus trip to Vang Vieng. ... Since I have been in Vientiane before and no more to see there, so I decided to go directly to Vang Vieng, a 150 km further north of Vientiane. ... In the afternoon I finally arrived to Vang Vieng and rather quickly I found my guesthouse, the Thavonsouk Hotel & Resort in the outskirts of Vang Vieng. ... Then I also have had a small sightseeing of Vang Vieng. ... Vang Vieng is not big so it is possible to explore the town by foot. ...

Mar 7, 2010 - Sabai-Dee Laos!

The last few days have been quite the adventure. I got into Luang Prabang, Laos around lunch time on Friday. ... The lady next to me on the plane (Karen - Aussie) was also traveling alone and had not reserved any accommodations yet either.The last few days have been quite the adventure. I got into Luang Prabang, Laos around lunch time on Friday. ... The lady next to me on the plane (Karen - Aussie) was also traveling alone and had not reserved any accommodations yet either....

Mar 6, 2010 - Si Phan Don

Si Phan Don 06-03 In de minibus verlaten we Ban Lung en daarmee Cambodja, om naar Laos te gaan. 's Middags varen we met een bootje naar het eiland Don Khon (Four thousand islands) waar we de komende dagen zullen verblijven. ... Bij aankomst drinken we, samen met een Nederlandse jongen die we in de bus hebben ontmoet, 'ricewine' met de lokale bevolking: 4 oudere mensen waarvan de oudste 86 jaar.Si Phan Don 06-03 In de minibus verlaten we Ban Lung en daarmee Cambodja, om naar Laos te gaan. 's Middags varen we met een bootje naar het eiland Don Khon (Four thousand islands) waar we de komende dagen zullen verblijven. ... Bij aankomst drinken we, samen met een Nederlandse jongen die we in de bus hebben ontmoet, 'ricewine' met de lokale bevolking: 4 oudere mensen waarvan de oudste 86 jaar....

Feb 26, 2010 - Luang Prabang

We met Chanthy on our first day in Luang Prabang. ... Ultimately this happened every day for the week we stayed in Luang Prabang. ... Luang Prabang is very expensive and earning roughly 15 cents an hour puts you at a disadvantage. ... But, after numerous conversations, with a lot of focus on pronunciation, a visit to his "house", meeting his friends and playing badminton, it was soon time for us to depart Luang Prabang. ...