A Place to watch the Rice Grow (Laos)

Member Name: Robert48

Product:	Laos
Date:	04/06/01 (109 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Lovely People, Great Scenery

Disadvantages: Getting Commercilised, Security Probs

Laos is one of the most fascinating places I have ever visited. I first went there in 1993 when to get a visa you had to buy a package from the Government Tourist Board, not cheap! You were issued with a 'laisser passe' document which you had to show before you got on any form of transport. I had a guide wherever I went during the day. Luckily he was great and became a friend as well. I visited Vientianne when the rush hour was a flood of bicycles leaving a factory!

After Vientianne I booked a trip to the Plain of Jars, again not cheap but they had to send my guide as well as the local one did not speak English. When I arrived I had 1 driver 1 local guide 1 English speaking guide and 1 Mitsubishi Pajero all to myself!

Phonsavan the local town is like something out of the Wild East. A semi tarmacced road flanked with 1 or 2story wooden buidings. A Water Buffalo tied up out side a shop. The Gov. Guest House up on the hill was bit remote but good in a 'basic way'. The people were very friendly especaillay when they found I was British as some ex British Army guys has started a demining programme. Check out Mines Advisory Group !

The plain itself is like a Yorkshire or Scottish Moor with great big jars scattered around. There's not much else to see so unless you are really interested in the jars or the war it may not be worth the trip. The trip to the tribal village was great in that they were not trying to sell you stuff as they do in Thailand and you could still see all the US bomb casings being used as pig troughs femnce posts, supports for rice stores etc. The flight out in an old Mil 8 helicopter was something else. You looked down and the landcsape looked like a golf course full of bunkers. These are the bomb craters from the 'Secret War'

The road to Luang Prabang was too bad and dangerous due to bandit activity to use so that entailed another flight and another Government Hotel, the Phoussy, faded co
lonial splendour, a dreadful restaurant and no power anywhere in town between 7 am and 7 pm ! The hotel has now been done up and the town now has 24/7 power !

A lovely town with a great boat trip up to Pak Ou and a visit to another unspoilt village, unfotunately the village is now fully commercial.

All in all a great trip and a great place to visit even now. Travel restrictions have been done away with. The roads are open and travel is possible right up to the Chinese Border. The people are still friendly BUT Vientienne has suffered bomb attacks and inflation is rampant. Vientianne should now just be treated as a gateway not a destination in itself

Summary: