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“Adventure in Laos” |
We fly from Bangkok to Laos.
When we reached Laos, it was still morning, it was Christmas Eve; we were so excited when we arrived in Laos. We had our passport, photos and US Dollars out at the Luang Prabang custom; we had applied the VISA on the spot and clear the custom.
As soon as we were clear the custom, we took a small truck taxi; it took us to the town area. As Laos was our last minute added trip, we didn't have much information about Laos. We didn't know where to stay, we ask the driver to drive us to the direction as the internet information has provided but half way, the truck taxi breakdown, so we stopped and the driver take time to repair it.
As we needs to wait for the repair, my friend decided to walk over a distance away to find out any place to stay, while I was waiting for the truck taxi to get repair and at the same time take care of our bags.
After waited for some time, the truck taxi has repaired was ready to move on but my friend was not back yet. After letting the driver waited so long, I've paid him and asked him not to wait any more, I didn't want to hold his time to earn his living.
I took my friend's bag and my own bag aside waiting for my friend by the road side to come back, waited for so long under the sun, I try calling her but her mobile was switch off. I waited a bit longer, I started to get a bit worry for my friend, wondering what happen to her, she mention to me, she went over to one of the street to check out, how come she took so long? I was really concern, I started to carry her bag in front of me and carry my own bag behind my back started to walked and looks for her.
When I walked toward the street direction my friend was mentioning to me, she saw me from a far distance and she was shock that I'd carry her heavy bag together with mine walking towards her. She was standing outside one of the local house, talking to a man, checking on the price per night for a room and finally we check in to the local house and stay (a few US dollars per night, very cheap).
In Luang Prabang, it was a small town; you hardly see building there. Our first thing we did was gone to the bank to change their Laos currency. My friend went to the bank and I was waited for her outside the bank, I was waited very long outside thinking that it must be a long queue inside the bank. When my friend came out of the bank, I asked her why take so long, she told me that a lot to count that's why take so long, and she said must went back to our room first, I didn't understand why, anyway we went back to our own room first.
When we were inside our room, she asked me to close the door and lock it, I thought what happen, when she took out a few stacks of Laos dollars note then I begin to understand what she mean by counting so long, it because we were issued all in small notes, ha..ha... One hundred US dollars, we have changes so much money in Laos's currency and all were in small notes, we took some time to count every note again and keep it in hundreds stacks for easy access.
In Laos, they accept both US and Laos dollars note. The local people would like you to pay them in US dollars, as it is more value to them. My advise to you, if you need to change Laos currency, don't changed too much money, otherwise, you will have problem changing it back to US dollars and Laos currency cannot use it in any other country.
As we finished counting the money, we went out to explore around. Our first day, we went up to a hill temple to see sun set and then we went for dinner. We were not able to have a great Christmas Eve party as the country doesn't have the such pratice in celebrating it and it was very quiet on the street.
Nevertheless, we told ourselves to find something great to eat, we went to their night market and had our dinner near by, we had noodle for our dinner, my friend love the noodle there so much, we had the same stall of noodle every nights. I found the noodle soup was with a lot of Ajinomoto added, after eating it, I felt so thirsty.
There was one night, seated at the table eating the noodle, I saw a local young lady did was horrible, I got shock when I saw her doing it. As the local people pack a few packets of noodle to take away, she has extra-added sugar, vinegar and three big tablespoon Ajinomoto into her packets of noodle. Oh men, I wonder how it really taste on the noodle and how much water I've to drink if I've eat it. I can't believe it the way they had their meals, it was so unhealthy meal to do so.
Next day, we went for river tour to visit their place of interest spot for a few hours. When my friend and I were discussing where to visit and what transport to take next, she wanted to book a van or bus to a place, I was suggestion to her to rent a bike is cheaper. She thought I was talking about bicycle, she said she doesn't know how to cycle and she don't mind rent a biscycle to explore around if I would take her on the bicycle but I wasn't referring to bicycle. I was refering to rent a motor bike and not bicycle.
We went to rent a motorbike and I'd pillion her everywhere she wants to go. She finds so convenient to have our own transport moving around (It was my friend first time on a motorbike.). Renting a bike was not expensive but you got to have your passport leave with the shop as a form of deposit, a bit risky, actually, if they lost your passport, you will have a lot of trouble to get it back or renew.
In one of the night, I remember clearly; we went to watch a traditional dance show, paid to went in to watch (ticket a bit expensive), not allow to take photo and video. The show divided into two parts of the dance.
One was indoor, dance on the stage and the part two dance in a open space outside. It started with the indoor dance; we were directed to a hall at the second floor and seated. The light off, the music started and the dance begin, the indoor dance was so boring, I fell asleep inside the hall, I can't believe it, I paid so money to sleep inside (ha...ha...).
The second part of the show was alright and short, we were directed to the ground floor and get seated. As soon as everyone were seated, the music begin and the dance started. On their last part of the dance was amazing, they fill the big jar with water full and they used their mouth to bite on the big jar and carry it up using their mouth and dance with it. After the show over, I went over at the big jar, I try using my hands to carry up, I can't even bring it up, it was amazing.
In Laos, the most memorable moment was the day (26 Dec'2003) we went to explore the waterfall. We heard from our hostel owner told us there was a waterfall not too far away, about 2km. We decided to went for explore on our own by motor bike, the road was uneven, sandy, rocky, bumpy and up the hill, it was not easy to went on bike, a bit dangerous actually, there were few times, we almost fell (but my friend didn't even know it.) but I was reacted fast, I can't imagine if we fell on that kind of road condition.
Well, when we finally reached the place, we park our bike, paid to go into the waterfall to explore. It is a small waterfall but nice places for relax. When I was there, I saw a boy jumping down from the fall for a swim, I had my swim suit wore inside and I did the same ….wow… the water was cold. (There was no toilet over there, so when you get change, you have to do it openly.)
After spending some time inside the waterfall, we decided to go back to the town. We took the same road back and it was really sandy, my friend behind me keeps on talking non-stop, I was not responding to her and keep on focus on the uneven road way back. When we reach the town, stop by to buy something, when I was talking to my friend face to face looked at her… I laugh loudly (ha..ha…), I asked her to look at the mirror, her mouth and teeth was full of sand stuck inside her teeth, as she was talking on her way back on the sandy road. (Come to think about it now, it still makes me laugh or smile.)
After dinner, we find it still early so we never stop exploring in the evening time, on the road exploring, when I saw the sign "massage", I decided to stop by, we went in for their traditional herb steam bath and massage, it was so relax. When sharing about Laos or thinking about Laos trip, I can never forget this day in Laos, it was so enjoying the whole day.
The next day (27 Dec'2003), we spent the whole day exploring temple after temples. We finally found the temple opposite side from far which we were aim to look for it. We had our lunch at the river side relaxing. That night, we have to packed our bag and get ready to check out the next day.
On the next day (28 Dec'2003), after we had our lunch, we depart Luang Prabang and took a bus to Vientiane.
In Vientiane is a bit model, Vientiane is the capital of Laos, we rent a bike again and explore around. As Vientiane have a lot of temples, I think we had visited most of them, since it was so easy on our own transport. (Don't ask me why not visit church instead of temples again? We don't see any church around.)
On our last night in Laos, I asked my friend to have something great in Laos since we had simple meals everyday and she agreed with me. We did have a great dinner on our last night in Laos; it was eaten in a Laos's restaurant with a stage performance to watch while we had our dinner, it was affordable dinner not expensive.
As we end our Laos trip with good memories…. we carry out our next journey to Chiang Mai in Thailand.
If you need information on VISA to Laos, click on the link attached to help you in planning your trip.
http://www.visit-laos .com/before/visas.htm.
Click next to read on Chiang Mai.
previous travel blog entry
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