Around the World in Many Days, III: South East Asia
It might have been a mistake to visit three Mekong countries (Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos) in one go. By the time we reached Laos, after more than a month in the region, we somewhat have had our fill of temples, tour operators, and tuk-tuk drivers. We therefore ended our tour of the country somewhat earlier than originally planned, after only seeing Vientiane, Vang Vieng, Luang Prabang, and the roads connecting them.
[Laos] Chapter XXXVIII: In which we and the tuk-tuk drivers forsake each other
December 05, 2017
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Luang Prabang, Laos, 5-9 December 2017
It might have been a mistake to visit three Mekong countries (Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos) in one go. By the time we reached Laos, after more than a month in the region, we somewhat have had our fill of temples, tour operators, and tuk-tuk drivers. We therefore ended our tour of the country somewhat earlier than originally planned, after only seeing Vientiane, Vang Vieng, Luang Prabang, and the roads connecting them.
While there are noticeable differences between the three countries, they are also in many respects quite similar. This is perhaps best summarised by the motto which we saw and heard quite a few times during our stay in Laos (e.g. on T-shirts sold in the night market, or from food stall owners when comparing other stalls' fare to theirs): "Same Same".
And while we will certainly miss every single one of the 4,173 tuk-tuk drivers that have approached us, offering to carry us to this, that or the other attraction, we are certainly ready for a country that does not thrive so much on organised tourism. Let's hope our next destination is one such, even if it is not millions of miles away.
As for Luang Prabang itself. It 's a nice enough city, with pretty riverside scenery, and a beautiful waterfall not too far afield, as reflected in N's photographs below. Oh, and a South East Asian film festival that began the night before we left.
Accommodations:
- Moon's House Hotel, Luang Prabang (4 nights; pretty nice, although the neighbour's children can be a bit noisy)
Photo captions: (a-h) Luang Prabang's markets by night and by day; (i-n) along the Mekong river; (o-t) traditional crafts turned into tourist attractions; (u-z) Pak Ou caves; (aa-jj) Kuang Si waterfall; (kk) a flower by the waterfall; (ll-qq) insects by the waterfall
1.
[Singapore] Chapter XXIV: During which N and R cross the Indian Ocean
2.
[Singapore] Chapter XXV: In which a slight glimpse is had of Singapore
3.
[Cambodia] Chapter XXVI: In which N and party travel by remorque
4.
[Cambodia] Chapter XXVII: In which we undergo, at a speed of 15 km/h, a course of Khmer geography
5.
[Cambodia] Chapter XXVIII: In which nobody succeeds in making Cambodia listen to reason
6.
[Vietnam] Chapter XXIX: In which certain incidents are narrated which are only to be met on water
7.
[Vietnam] Chapter XXX: In which Vietnamese soldiers simply do their duty
8.
[Vietnam] Chapter XXXI: In which Hue, the imperial city, considerably sates our urban interests
9.
[Vietnam] Chapter XXXII: In which R engages in a direct struggle with mud
10.
[Vietnam] Chapter XXXIII: In which Hanoi shows itself
11.
[Vietnam] Chapter XXXIV: In which we at last ride a bicycle
12.
[Vietnam] Chapter XXXV: In which we land on Cat Ba island thrice
13.
[Laos] Chapter XXXVI: In which our names are once more on an international flight manifest
14.
[Laos] Chapter XXXVII: In which it is shown that we gained nothing much by our visit to Vang Vieng
15.
[Laos] Chapter XXXVIII: In which we and the tuk-tuk drivers forsake each other
16.
Summary of Part III and Onwards to Part IV
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