We flew out of Leh on the morning of the 12th of August for Vientiane in Laos via Delhi, Mumbai {where we dashed home - well, not really as the traffic was horrendous - so we could re-pack our bags and shower} then onto Bangkok where we had a 'long', four hour layover before flying onto Vientiane finally landing at noon on the 13th; we were very tired people! It was my birthday and I was looking forward to our road trip from Vientiane to Vang Vieng as soon as we stepped outside the terminal. Vientiane wasn't our final destination, Vang Vieng was and it was a 4-5 hour drive away!
Our driver Mr Phone was a man of few words. He drove slowly and carefully not that you could drive fast on the roads….there seemed to be one village after the next and there are children playing alongside the road also there were animals to watch out for too! The speed limit on the roads in Laos is 40kph in towns & villages and 90kph on open roads {that's doesn't stop the odd crazy driver in their big 4X4's from driving as fast as they possibly can}. The roads are not in perfect condition so reaching 90kph very really happens. Should you find yourself needing a driver from Vientiane to Laung Prabang {this was where we were heading the following morning} I highly recommend him!
One of the very first things that struck me when we hit the road was the 'silence'! No hooting/beeping of hooters/car horns! The people driving on the roads seemed pretty chilled and laid back and that was the experience we had for the duration of our road trip.
The drive was interesting. The housing quite different to what I'd seen before - the closest I guess I'd seen to the housing in Laos was probably in Thailand a number of years back. The Lao people we drove past in rural villages are not wealthy, they live off the land and what livestock they may rear. We passed lots of little stalls along the way; locals selling their fruit and vegetables. {a few photos will follow in the next blog}
A little bit about Laos…..Laos is a landlocked country and it is one of the world's few remaining communist states and one of East Asia's poorest. A French colony until the 1953, the power struggle which ensued between royalists and the communist group Pathet Lao also saw the country caught up in the Vietnam War. Communist forces overthrew the monarchy in 1975, heralding years of isolation. After the fall of the Soviet Union in the 1990s, Laos began opening up to the world. But despite economic reforms, the country remains poor and heavily dependent on foreign aid. Most Laotians live in rural areas, with around 80% working in agriculture mostly growing rice. The state has made no secret of its huge hydropower ambitions and its desire to become the "battery" of Southeast Asia. The government anticipates that by 2025 hydropower will become the country's biggest source of revenue. But neighbours Vietnam, Thailand and Cambodia have raised concerns about the environmental impact of its dam building projects along the Mekong River.
We arrived at our hotel in Vang Vieng in the late afternoon sun where we were to spend the night before hitting the road the following morning. We wondered down the road to a recommended restaurant which over looked the Nam Song River. The food was delicious! We ate our full and then some. After dinner we wondered back to the hotel with full bellies and eyes that could hardly stay open; it had been a very long day!
Up in the air somewhere between Leh and Delhi
Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok, Thailand is full of gorgeous orchids. Trying to take a photo with my iPhone {too lazy and tired to haul my camera out of my hand luggage} just doesn't do the flowers justice!
A few minutes before landing at Wattay International Airport {Vientiane, Laos}
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| 'dropping' through the clouds |
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| the mighty Mekong River on the right {I'm guessing we're currently over Thailand as we come into land - guessing!} |
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| the Mekong River; Thailand on one side and Laos on the other |
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| again, Thailand one side and Laos on the other |
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| the Mekong River |
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| plenty of water around as August is still the wet season {May - late September} |
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| a suburb the outskirts of Vientiane |
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| paddy fields {where rice is grown} |
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| suburbia |
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| Mr Phone, a man of few words {probably 'cause his english was limited} |
Seen from the car
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| a gravesite |
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| another gravesite |
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| and another gravesite |
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| ice creams anyone? |
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| off to the market is my guess with her ducks |
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| and the other use for my 2 wheeler and side-cart is for transporting another 2 wheeler with a side-chair {whilst checking out my mobile phone!} |
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| these are for sale |
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| we saw these a lot! known as a Songthaew; they home made using a small tractor engine with manual handles to steer the vehicle; originally from Thailand and now also found in Laos. |
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| I'm sure he's off to the market to sell his stock of balloons |
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| another songthaew from the back |
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| another photo out of focus…{there seem to be many when I snap pics from a moving vehicle} anyhow, I rather love this lady's smiley face and I think her skirt is fabulous! |
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| children playing from their front porch/balcony |
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| so many cute children on the side of the road playing…. |
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| loaded to the hilt! |
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| this was quite a 'large' house |
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| that's dried fish for sale {hanging up} I have no idea what's been sold on the tables…. |
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| so many people cycled and rode motorcycles holding umbrellas! it hadn't been raining {yet} so must be to keep the harsh sun off their heads |
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| it's hot but yet 'I' feel the need to wear my cardigan/jumper/jersey/pullover and trousers today! and socks with my flip-flops :) |
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| welcome to Vang Vieng |
a few photos from Vang Vieng
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| a view from our hotel room {and the following 3 photos} |
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| a main street in Vang Vieng |
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| a sign of how to dress in Vang Vieng. Vang Vieng draws a large number of back packers and I guess quite a number of them need reminding on how to dress….. |
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| Charlotte is ready to tuck into the freshly caught fish for dinner |
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| it had rained whilst we were out for dinner; I'm rather pleased this lady thought it was still raining….take away the umbrella and I don't think you have a photo! |
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