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LAOS THE LAND OF SMILES, STILT HOUSES AND THE MEKONG
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Welcome to Laos...
The line of division between China and Laos in the 18km no man's land
Adrian claiming the border as his own! |
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The Lao numberplate
Lao money, the kip, which comes in the form of 500, 1000, 5000, 10000 and 20000 denominations. At 2005 exchange rates 20000 kip = £1. When you get your money in 5000 notes from the bureau de exchange, you feel like a very rich person and you also need a very large bag to carry it! |
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A typical Lao village with houses on stilts, bamboo weave walls and grass thatch roofs with potbellied pigs and chickens running around
Bamboo strips being dried to make the bamboo weave walls
Grass being collected. It is usually dried at the side of the road before being used for thatch or brooms |
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Noodles being dried at the side of the road |
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LUANG PRA BANG
The Beast at the side of the Mekong. Luang Pra Bang used to be the capital of Laos and the Royal Palace is situated here.
Sunset on the Mekong |
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Temples of Luang Pra Bang
The 18 year old happy monk who has been a monk since he was 16
Monks out for a a little walk |
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A boat trip down the Mekong took us to...
...the thousand Buddha caves (where in fact there are 2500 Buddhas)
...to the Lao whisky village where they make the evil Lao Lao, the local firewater which is distilled from Mekong water and rice
...and then bottled with scorpions and snakes... mm tasty stuff!
..to the Kuang Si waterfall where the CTW (British based Care in the Wild) had some Asian Black Bears and Sun bears who were rescued before they could be used for the aphrodisiac medicine trade or have their bile ducts tapped for "medicinal purposes". They also had a tiger that had been rescued at 1 week old who was destined for the same illegal animal trade. Both species face extinction in the wild.
...the Kuang Si waterfall |
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The Mordon, a fantastic Thai cooking utensil that cooks noodles, vegetables, meat, eggs and anything else you want to throw in. South East Asias equivalent to a fondue set!
The Luang Pra Bang night market selling local sarongs, table cloths, duvets, bed covers, paintings, wooden carvings and jewellry. |
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Greg preparing to distribute pens, sellotape and post it notes to the poor kids of Laos as we drive past, trying to avoid hitting them as he throws stuff out the window.
A day's water supply for the rising temperatures of the Beast |
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VANG VIENG
Karst Limestone scenery surrounds this little town, situated 150km north of Vientiane and the Thai border
The Beast having a wash
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Just lounging around in Vang Vieng. If you really want to chill out there, you can order "Happy" shakes and "Happy" pizzas
Happy Shakes and Special food to be drunk and eaten at your own risk
Every house and restaurant has a Buddhist shrine which you can normally find food, water and joss sticks so that if Buddha passes by he can just pop in for something to eat! |
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It gets quite warm in the Beast |
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VIENTIANE Laos' laid back capital
The temples of Vientiane
The Laotian Arc de Triomphe located on a road known as the runway - so called because the tarmac was left by the Americans to be used for the airport runway.
The national Laos icon (not Greg) and very famous temple seen on the back of every kip note |
