Paul's Country Review: Laos

We arrived in the former capital city of Laos, Luang Prabang on a short flight from Siem Reap with two other people - weird. Anyway, we immediately liked Laos, the country is beautiful and the people are so nice. It's very laid back and (for the most part) walk on the sidewalk and drive on the roads - crazy, I know. 

Overlooking Luang Prabang

We walked around, saw the sights and took a tour to some caves of religious significance. Along the way we stopped at a place called Whiskey Town where, strangely enough, they made whiskey. It was 9:30 am so naturally they wanted us to try it. They explained it was 53% alcohol (about 110 proof; what's rubbing alcohol?) and had a giant scorpion in it. Whiskey Town, like Frog Town, is a very strange place and we refused the offer of potent, scorpion whiskey and continued our sight seeing. 

Whiskey Town's finest

This reminded me of the Town of the Crazies in Gymkata

We then took another short flight to the current capital city, Vientiane, where our opinion changed from liking Laos to just liking Luang Prabang. There really is no reason to go to Vientiane unless you are a diplomat and it's in your job responsibilities. It was unnecessarily expensive, there was little to see (we saw the entire city while looking for a health clinic) and nothing to really eat.

I like the way this looked

That's Vientiane down there

We ate at a Swenson's everyday using a little known, extremely effective ice cream diet (who knew!) and counted down the days until we left for Taiwan.

I smell ice cream...they got Swensens!

They got Mississippi Mud

They got Chocolate Eruption and Super Duper Chocolate Eruption

Luang Prabang, Laos

On June 1, we flew from Siem Reap to Luang Prabang, Laos.

Hello Laos!

Country #11

The next day, we headed out for a day of sightseeing. But we stopped in Whiskey Village first before arriving at the Pak Ou Caves.

I'm not sure you can tell but it was really hot

This is Laotian whiskey - 50% alcohol and no, we did not try it

But we did buy a couple bottles for Westside Tavern to display...to be shipped imminently

Locals making scarves

Laotian boy hanging out

We had to take a boat to the Pak Ou Caves.

See the white staircase? That's the entrance to the caves...

Crossing the Mekong River

Paul looks so serious

It didn't take long to get across

FIGHT!!!

There are over 400 buddha statues in the caves

Here's another photo of the Buddhas

Close up

We made a donation and got some incense - Paul didn't know what to do with it

On our way to the upper cave, we saw this spider

Paul sees another spider

This is the one Paul was looking at...it has captured his lunch

More steps! It's like going on the stair master, except it's a bajillion degrees...

Entrance to the upper cave

Close up of the scrolls

The buddhas are made by the locals and given as offerings - which is why there are so many. The upper cave was really dark.

I think this is the first time I used the flash on my camera

More Buddhas

One of the many failed self portrait attempts

Back on the other side

Chicks just hanging out

Saw some elephants before leaving the area

We then headed to one of the famous waterfalls in the area - Tad Kiang Si (Kouang Si Waterfalls).

Paul is mesmerized by the scenery

We did not have chicken sticks for lunch

Nor did we have a fish stick

Kouang Si Waterfall

Also home to a bear rescue center

Sun bears to be exact

Waterfall terraces

More waterfalls

There were a ton of people swimming around even though it started to pour

Pretty!

These flowers caught my eye

I don't know what they are called though! There should be an app for that...

We walked around the rest of our time in Luang Prabang and had really good Laotian food (more on the food under the Meal Time tab...I will catch up soon, I promise).

We really liked Luang Prabang

Paul found an elephant to harass

We walked by the National Museum

And no, we did not go in...even though we wanted to. It was closed for lunch! 

We walked along the Khan River

Paul made eye contact with this rooster

Bamboo bridge across the Khan River

Back entrance to Phousi Temple/Chomsi Hill

Main entrance to Chomsy Hill

View from the top

A panoramic view

On the way up, we saw these strange flowers, reminded us of Dr. Seuss

I need a flower recognition app...

Although we really enjoyed Luang Prabang, we were exhausted after 3 nights because of the neighborhood roosters crowing at all hours of the day. Here are some photos of those dirty little culprits...we really wanted to strangle them.

Was it this one?

Or maybe this one on the scooter

Perhaps it was one of these two turkeys

I really wish he could drive away