Laos
From backpacker to flashpacker: living in luxury in Laos
Somewhere between South America and South East Asia, Eaman and I went from backpackers to flashpackers, which, if you’re not familiar with the term, refers to backpackers who travel with a slightly higher level of comfort. And with that comes nicer accommodation — partly because we had some hostel-fatigue and partly because for almost the … Continue reading
Luang Prabang: temples and waterfalls and bears, oh my!
After visiting so many small towns and sites that most travelers don’t venture to in Laos, it was a little strange to end our time in the most touristed city — Luang Prabang. We were worried that seeing more travelers would somewhat taint what was supposed to be a beautiful, spiritual city, but as we … Continue reading
A note on transportation in Laos: 3 very different bus rides
We bus-ed it pretty much everywhere during our 26 days in Laos — the exception being our flight out of the country to Chiang Mai, Thailand — and the best way to paint the picture of how crazy, mind-boggling and ultimately rewarding overland transport through Laos can be, I’ll give you three very different examples. … Continue reading
The 7 best things about Vientiane, Laos
Everyone we talked to about traveling in Laos glossed over Vientiane, as if it were just a transit stop along the way. We beg to differ. We loved so much about Laos’ capital city during our four-day stay there — seven things in particular. 1. The pace. Everyone calls Vientiane the world’s most chilled-out capital, … Continue reading
Cute kids and a humbling homestay in Ban Kong Lo, Laos
I think some people are cave people. What I mean is, some people get a kick out of exploring caves. I am not one of those people. So when the idea of visiting Kong Lo Cave in central Laos came up, I wasn’t sure if it was worth it. I had my heart set on … Continue reading
A three-day motorbike tour of the Bolaven Plateau: elephant rides and spectacular coffee
The last part of our southern tour of Laos was a three-day motorbike trip around the Bolaven Plateau, a higher elevated chunk of land with cool temps, dramatic waterfalls, coffee plantations and friendly villagers. Touring the region by motorbike is no longer a secret, but it definitely hasn’t reached epic tourist proportions. It’s easy to … Continue reading
Wat Phu, riverside bungalows and a spa day in Champasak, Laos
Of course it was raining. We seem to have a knack for visiting major sights only when it’s a downpour. (See Machu Picchu and Torres del Paine.) But on we went. It’s rainy season, after all, and the best we could ask for was for the rain to stop just as we arrive at the … Continue reading
An (early) open love letter to Laos
Dear Laos, It’s now been two weeks since we arrived in your country, and I have to say, expectations were high. Hong Kong was too busy, Vietnam (and as we’ll probably see in Thailand) too touristy, and Myanmar is still so new to the game that we figured you would be the perfect middle-of-the-road destination, … Continue reading