By the beginning of planning a trip to Asia to Laos we heard a great deal. After I began to explore all we was more interesting this country and we have included in the tour. Today, after his return, with the greatest enthusiasm just talking about our stay there. From Laos we least expected it, and most get.
To save time, we decided to fly from Phnom Penh in Cambodia in the capital of Vientiane in Laos. There is also an optional bus from Cambodia only lasts for a long time, and our plan was so "overcrowded" to us each day was important. Visa for Laos, which costs $ 30, we made at the airport and everything is very well organized and we were done in about 10 minutes. They use their currency "Rial" although in many places you can pay and dollars. We arrived around 22 pm, so we took a taxi to the city. Vientiane capital of Laos
After the huge crowds in Cambodia I was expecting to go to even greater confusion and madness romwe because Laos still poorer and tourism still has not developed as in the previous two states. What followed was a very positive surprise. The capital of Laos is at all different from the major cities of Cambodia romwe and Thailand. The streets are clean, quiet and tidy, and charmingly decorated bars and restaurants are real jewels. Once we arrived at the center, we set out in search of accommodation. And as in previous states have available affordable hostels and luxury hotels where a night and up to $ 300, but numerous "guest romwe houses" which are neater and cleaner than anything we've had in continuing the journey. Very quickly we found a room that suited our wishes (and this was the best accommodation throughout the trip) and went to explore the city. Walking through the empty streets, but then we continued to marvel at Vientiane.
By going in Laos did not know that this is one of najbombardovanijih territory and the world in which the 1964th to 1973rd fired about 2 million tons of ordnance, which is roughly one bomb every 8 minutes, 24 hours a day and 9 years . The horror!
We arrived in Vientiane during Boun That Luang festival when believers from all over the country come to the capital crowding romwe around the temple of That Luang, which is also one of the symbols of Laos. The festival lasts for several days with a lot of content for the whole family, a lot of street food, with music and fireworks.
On the way there we saw the Arc de Triomphe, romwe which to me is even more beautiful than the one in Paris, the bell for world peace, had lunch with the locals on the street in a park, and felt the celebration of the Festival, which is celebrating romwe these days.
For lunch we went to a restaurant Lao Kitchen and on the advice of the lovely waitresses ordered "all" that the more you try the typical dishes from this part of the world. Generally the food is similar to the Thai and Cambodian only thing the first time we tried "sticky rice" rice that is very sticky and that otherwise they eat the hands and dipped in contributions, and many mint used in the preparation of meat.
From Vientiane-and we went by bus to Van Vieng which has long been known as a backpackers paradise, the city where they gather travelers from around the world, crazy and spend relaxing. Weather in Laos is a relative term so that the path that we need to take four hours traveling just over 6 hours, and the bus went almost two hours later than planned. But it's all part of the journey and just avoid annoy. Streets in Laos are generally very narrow and bad, and the drivers drive like they are on a straight highway with four lanes.
We arrived after 6 hours in Vang Vieng and quickly found accommodation with beautiful mountain romwe views that IDIZ over this small town. The city is dedicated to all the tourists, which are not used in large quantities as before. Tourists used to come to this town to spend and consume drugs, which is to write the guides were easy to obtain as few young people are not exaggerating with fun and as crazy festivities have not ended with the deaths. Now Van Vieng resembles more a ghost town but is ideal for a vacation halfway if you go from Vientiane-Luang Prabang towards (or the opposite). The panel at the entrance to the city, which states that prohibited romwe walking in bathing suits with alcohol through the city is perhaps the last remnant of the former crazy parties.
Along the river there are several restaurants with beautiful views of the natural surroundings. We settled in a half-lying position, sipped beer and soaked up all around us. When night fell, the city and bars were still pretty empty. When it started to rain more and we decided to join another custom by which this town is known: watching the series Friends. We chose one of the many restaurants, settled again in the semi-lying romwe position, ordered a beer and a couple of hours watching Friends. And we really thought it was fun
From Van Vieng we went on a bus to Luang Prabang. Reading the blogs and the experiences of other travelers I knew we expect very heavy stock, but since I'm used to the bad roads I believed it could not be that bad and that people exaggerate. But us
