Popular Post Smurkster Posted June 22, 2015 Popular Post Share Posted June 22, 2015 I am trying to keep things positive! what a better way to do that than make an OP about a place that ALWAYS keeps me positive: Lao! This was an idea someone suggested I tackle because they themselves were interested in hearing some first hand opinions on the country... SO for any Laophiles, please just write about something, anything at all Lao, write in detail if you want, or just the one word. let's make this fun.. I'll start... Nothing like a crunchy baguette with pate and pork to start an afternoon stroll around Vientiane.... 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post willyumiii Posted June 22, 2015 Popular Post Share Posted June 22, 2015 French influence, food, coffee...... and Beer Lao... Also, seems far less xenophobic than Thailand 10 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post craigt3365 Posted June 22, 2015 Popular Post Share Posted June 22, 2015 Beer Lao dark! 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post brewsterbudgen Posted June 22, 2015 Popular Post Share Posted June 22, 2015 My Lao girlfriend and my half-Lao son. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Squeegee Posted June 22, 2015 Popular Post Share Posted June 22, 2015 A more traditional culture as yet less tainted by some of the negative affectations of modernity, example: the ladies wear longer skirts with traditional patterns that seems dignified rather than faked. The fact they knew suffering in living memory, so they lack arrogance whilst still having a laid back nature. A foreigner can be in Laos and not assumed to be a sex tourist. Beer Laos, not the dark version. The bread. It's a country where even in the capital or border towns the primary school kids will come cycling by saying "Hello!" to a foreigner in the same way one can usually only now find in the countryside of Thailand. 9 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nottocus Posted June 23, 2015 Share Posted June 23, 2015 My wife's cat 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
canopus1969 Posted June 23, 2015 Share Posted June 23, 2015 Beer Lao dark! Try the Beer Laos Gold - scrumptious 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Ban Merry Posted June 23, 2015 Popular Post Share Posted June 23, 2015 The best thing about Laos is that the people don't like Thais, unless they have family in Isaan. Well that's my wifes opinion anyway. People overall are a much friendlier and are a happier bunch. Cheap beer and cigarettes. Good western style food from many parts of the world situated in the center of town. There aren't as many fights, scams pretty much unheard of, caddies are much younger and more sexy. Overall just great people to work with. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
willyumiii Posted June 23, 2015 Share Posted June 23, 2015 The best thing about Laos is that the people don't like Thais, unless they have family in Isaan. Well that's my wifes opinion anyway. People overall are a much friendlier and are a happier bunch. Cheap beer and cigarettes. Good western style food from many parts of the world situated in the center of town. There aren't as many fights, scams pretty much unheard of, caddies are much younger and more sexy. Overall just great people to work with. Sounds good to me, and I agree. But , what is a caddie?? I am curious. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
technologybytes Posted June 23, 2015 Share Posted June 23, 2015 Beer Lao, what other reason does a man need... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
technologybytes Posted June 23, 2015 Share Posted June 23, 2015 Good western style food from many parts of the world situated in the center of town. This very much depends on the town! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steelepulse Posted June 23, 2015 Share Posted June 23, 2015 Beer Lao dark! Try the Beer Laos Gold - scrumptious You beat me to it. I concur, beer Lao Gold is great. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChangMaiSausage Posted June 23, 2015 Share Posted June 23, 2015 The best thing about Laos is that the people don't like Thais, unless they have family in Isaan. Well that's my wifes opinion anyway. People overall are a much friendlier and are a happier bunch. Cheap beer and cigarettes. Good western style food from many parts of the world situated in the center of town. There aren't as many fights, scams pretty much unheard of, caddies are much younger and more sexy. Overall just great people to work with. Sounds good to me, and I agree. But , what is a caddie?? I am curious. Golf Caddies a person who assists with your golf clubs when playing golf. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nottocus Posted June 23, 2015 Share Posted June 23, 2015 Last time I played golf in lao with my brother in law, he took the hot caddie and I got the gay guy. I suppose the bro in law was paying so he can call the shots. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ban Merry Posted June 23, 2015 Share Posted June 23, 2015 Good western style food from many parts of the world situated in the center of town. This very much depends on the town! All distances start from the center of Vientiane. Vang Vieng 160km North, Paksan 160km South, Freindship bridge 21km West etc. But this is not what this forum is about anyway. Great sunset overlooking the Mekong to the Thai side. Taking a boat from Thanong up the river and then just floating back down with food and plenty of Beer Lao on board. Beer Lao girls serving beer in restaurants. Going bowling at the bowling center after 12am. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ban Merry Posted June 23, 2015 Share Posted June 23, 2015 Friendship Bridge should be 21km East, my mistake. Having no Mcdonalds in Lao is also great. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oneday Posted June 23, 2015 Share Posted June 23, 2015 I've never been. Anybody got pictures to post? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikiea Posted June 23, 2015 Share Posted June 23, 2015 sounds like i need to pay a visit to "over by there" . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dutchbike Posted June 23, 2015 Share Posted June 23, 2015 Amazing roads and scenery, friendly smiling people. The sight of groups of children walking on their way to school, waving at the "farang" passing on his bike.etc etc Laos and it's people definitly gives me a good feeling. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Sparkles Posted June 23, 2015 Popular Post Share Posted June 23, 2015 To see and enjoy the best of Luang Prabang and Vietinenne you should have gone 15 years ago when things were half the price they are now,having said that the bulk of people have dragged themselves out of poverty and we should not deny them a better life. One thing that stuck me while I was there 15 years ago was the fluency of the English spoken, far better than their counterparts in Thailand. As has been said best sough dough and beer you could find anywhere and generally pleasant people. Luang Prabang is being invaded by Chinese touriss tso if you are going pick their low season 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post jimcarr65 Posted June 23, 2015 Popular Post Share Posted June 23, 2015 (edited) I too noticed the people being less xenophobic, didn't feel like I was being stared at every time I left my room. A nice warm feeling all around. I was there for 3 days and ended up leaving with three new friends who are males, and no I am not gay. I have been in Thailand a year now and have zero Thai male friends. Edited June 23, 2015 by jimcarr65 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hgma Posted June 23, 2015 Share Posted June 23, 2015 Laos is ONE big family, forgiving, natural and innocent. Drugs(Ya baa) however ruin the country from capital all the way down to the poorest villages. But family like for sure. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
islandguy Posted June 23, 2015 Share Posted June 23, 2015 Only just been last month to Luang Prabang, loved it. They even understood my poor Thai better than where I live in Thailand.....partly because they tried. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dotpoom Posted June 23, 2015 Share Posted June 23, 2015 The best thing about Laos is that the people don't like Thais, unless they have family in Isaan. Well that's my wifes opinion anyway. People overall are a much friendlier and are a happier bunch. Cheap beer and cigarettes. Good western style food from many parts of the world situated in the center of town. There aren't as many fights, scams pretty much unheard of, caddies are much younger and more sexy. Overall just great people to work with. Sounds good to me, and I agree. But , what is a caddie?? I am curious. A person who carries (wheels) your golf clubs around the golf course for you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cruisemonkey Posted June 23, 2015 Share Posted June 23, 2015 Renting Honda 250 Bajas in Vientiane and riding west, coming to a collapsed bridge (it's not a good idea to try to drive a 40-ton truck across an 18-ton bridge) just before Xamamkham, heading back to Veng and going north... into the boonies... where most of the villagers had never seen a farang... in monsoon season... mud, mud, mud... and rivers flowing across the (so-called) 'road'. Getting attacked by red ants while riding along the jungle trail to Bee Cave... getting stuck in the buffalo-piss, cow-shit 'mud-hole' in the middle of the jungle trail. Spectacular scenery! Another trip - Riding down to Khammouane Province... the Thakhek 'Loop'... cave alley... the surreal landscape of the flooded forest at the Naki Reservoir... Kong Lor Cave... the 'limestone forest'. ... and of course, noodle soup (kao bia???)... and Beer Lao! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smotherb Posted June 23, 2015 Share Posted June 23, 2015 To see and enjoy the best of Luang Prabang and Vietinenne you should have gone 15 years ago when things were half the price they are now,having said that the bulk of people have dragged themselves out of poverty and we should not deny them a better life. One thing that stuck me while I was there 15 years ago was the fluency of the English spoken, far better than their counterparts in Thailand. As has been said best sough dough and beer you could find anywhere and generally pleasant people. Luang Prabang is being invaded by Chinese touriss tso if you are going pick their low season If you think they were good 15years ago, you should have seen them 48 years ago as I did--Vientiane was a little slice of French Colonial heaven--the local people were so laid back and friendly, nothing could ruffle them; except the company--great food, wine, and other delicacies Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Aforek Posted June 23, 2015 Popular Post Share Posted June 23, 2015 Such a pity Laos doesn't have a retired ( O-A ) visa like Thailand 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bruzzzz Posted June 23, 2015 Share Posted June 23, 2015 Ok. You guys have convinced me. Cruisemonkey. Do you have any route maps? I am up that way in early December and prefer minimal dirt and mud but love mountainous twisted ribbons of bitumen. Are there any issues taking a Thai registered bike into Laos? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bruzzzz Posted June 23, 2015 Share Posted June 23, 2015 Is there a border Visa available? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
willyumiii Posted June 23, 2015 Share Posted June 23, 2015 (edited) To see and enjoy the best of Luang Prabang and Vietinenne you should have gone 15 years ago when things were half the price they are now,having said that the bulk of people have dragged themselves out of poverty and we should not deny them a better life. One thing that stuck me while I was there 15 years ago was the fluency of the English spoken, far better than their counterparts in Thailand. As has been said best sough dough and beer you could find anywhere and generally pleasant people. Luang Prabang is being invaded by Chinese touriss tso if you are going pick their low season If you think they were good 15years ago, you should have seen them 48 years ago as I did--Vientiane was a little slice of French Colonial heaven--the local people were so laid back and friendly, nothing could ruffle them; except the company--great food, wine, and other delicacies Yeah, yeah...when I was a kid, we walked 20 miles to school every day, in the snow and uphill both ways! In 20 years people will be talking about how great whing use to be.....today! " I've never seen a site that didn't look better, looking back!" "I was born under a wandering star" From Paint your Wagon, sung by Lee Marvin! Edited June 23, 2015 by willyumiii Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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