Laos

Laos, our home for the next few years, is a small, landlocked country wedged between its more well-known neighbors in Southeast Asia. The Mekong river forms the border with Thailand while various mountain ranges form Laos’ borders with Burma, China, and Vietnam. This beautiful country of mountains, jungles, and rivers tragically holds the title of the most bombed country in world. During the years of conflict in SE Asia more bombs were dropped on Laos than the amount of bombs dropped during WWII. Out of this unfortunate history and its geographic and self-imposed isolation Laos is becoming an increasingly popular destination in SE Asia, particularly among backpackers. Laos’ appeal lies in its relaxed, charming atmosphere and the kindness of its citizens. Bo pen nyang, which loosely translate as “don’t worry about it” really does sum up the general mood of the country.

Vientiane, the capital of Laos, is small by comparison to other cities in Southeast Asia. Although it is developing very quickly and will host the Southeast Asia Games later this year, other ex-pats have told us how only a few years ago most of the roads were still unpaved. Perhaps Vientiane’s best feature is its perch on the Mekong where you can find many small bars and restaurants where one can enjoy a cold Beer Lao and sunset. Vientiane has a few tourist attractions but most visitors to Laos pass through town on their way to Luang Prabang, the former royal city of Laos and a UNESCO World Heritage site. The road between Vientiane and Luang Prabang passes through the backpacker haven of Vang Vieng where one can partake in numerous outdoor activities.

Near Xieng Khouang you find the mysterious Plain of Jars where there are hundreds of large containers carved out of stone. The origin of these jars is unknown but Lao legend says the gods used them to hold their alcohol. In the south, there are thousands of islands in the Mekong where one of the last groups of freshwater dolphins reside. Of course, this is only a short overview of the tourist opportunities in Laos and we look forward to seeing as much of the Land of a Million Elephants as we can.