After a wholesome breakfast of omelettes, baguette, fresh fruit and a strong Lao coffee, we headed down the road to hire a bicycle. It is all very informal here – hand over 25,000 kip (less than £1), and you are on your way. With our hats placed in the front basket, we pedal away. The roads are flat, our bikes single geared but far more … Continue reading Cycling Don Det and Neighbouring Don Khon.
We departed Champasak with a thick bundle of kip, having been forewarned that there are no ATMs on the islands. Having crossed the river we have a brief wait by the roadside for our minibus and the subsequent bumpy journey along route 13, unlucky for anyone who suffers from a bad back, to the boat jetty at Nakasong. On more than one occasion, our heads … Continue reading Don Det – 4,000 Islands
We arrived in Pakse soon after midday. The minibus ride from the border might have been along a toll road, but the cows and goats still had the right of way. This part of Laos is rural, and even when we arrive in Pakse, the biggest city in southern Laos, it retains that vibe. Over the next two weeks, we are back and forth from … Continue reading Pakse, Laos
Our first wander around Vientiane has an air of familiarity, yet we have never visited here before. Nestled on the Mekong and with French colonial architecture and wide boulevards in a grid pattern it has shades of Phnom Penh, the capital city of Cambodia. It also shares that same tired look, a little shabby, almost neglected, around the edges. Victory monument or Patuxay as it … Continue reading Vientiane
Okay, there were more than two we visited today but we feel that this pair deserve a mention, well worth a look if your time in Luang Prabang permits. Wat That Luang was the cremation site for Laos royalty up until 1975. Built on a low hill in 1817, close to the banks of the Mekong. If you are imagining grandeur then sorry to disappoint, … Continue reading Two more temples…
We stumbled across our first Laos almsgiving ceremony in Pak Beng. Sat having an early breakfast before boarding the slow boat as the monks came down the street. The lady from the restaurant gave them an offering and in return the monks chanted a blessing back. Roll on a week and Luang Prabang – a UNESCO World Heritage City that is famous for the ceremony. … Continue reading Almsgiving…
Before starting our two day slowboat journey along the Mekong we had to cross the border over one of the Thai – Laos Friendship Bridges. The bus was uncomfortable and old. No air con, or even fans – leaving the doors open created a cool flow via a wind tunnel. Random drop offs and collection of parcels on route as yellow blossom covered trees, chickens, … Continue reading Magic of the Mekong…
Oldest On the Bus 