Best & Worst, Laos

Sunset on the Mekong River, Vientiane

It was DUSTY! We got dirty!

Beautiful scenery; limestone mountains filled with caves

Another sunset on the Mekong River, Luang Prabang

Baby booties sold at the Night Market, Luang Prabang

Best

• Blue Lagoon; beautiful swimming hole and caving
• Food; Western with French influence
• Tubing, Vang Vieng
• Scenery; the scenery around Vang Vieng and Luang Prabang was GORGEOUS
• Big Brother Mouse experience; Marisa volunteered one morning at this nonprofit. She was able to speak to 'Novice' Monks about their lives and share about life in California and America. This has been the most rewarding experience of the trip. If anyone is considering making a donation to a worthy organization, please research and consider Big Brother Mouse.
• Flight from Luang Prabang to Chiang Mai; the other travel options were 2 day fast boat trip, 3 day boat trip, or 2 day bus trip. After suffering from our new found prone to motion-sickness and food poisoning, ALL of these options weren't viable options... so we splurged and took a one-hour flight.

Worst

• Marisa got food poisoning, which turned into dysentary... gross! 
• Drunk 'frat guys' in Vang Vieng; Vang Vieng is known for it's partying on the river, so it attracts young(er) 20-something backpackers to show up and get wasted daily and nightly. 
• Haze/smoky air; from "turn and burn" agriculture in the mountainous regions
• Roads; the roads between cities were paved for 50 meters at a time, with a break of unpaved road for an additional 50 meters. They were also incredibly winding, dusty, and lacking road barriers. To drive 155kilometers (~100 miles), took 4 hours by bus. That's right... an average speed of 25 miles per hour!
• 10,000-20,000kip charges for everything (Note: 10,000kip = $1.25USD). Unfortunately, the Lao people have devasting poverty. Often, Westerners are seen as people with money and therefore it is deemed as acceptable to charge for things that locals are excused from. Additionally, Westerners recieve special 'Western prices' which could be double or triple the cost of the local rate. Example of 10,000-20,000kip charges; to enter any and every cave, bridge, waterfall, or Wat.  This may sound insignificant, but when EVERY attraction charges that amount and you double it if there are 2 people, it adds up VERY quickly and discourages people from experiencing the attractions the came to see.
• Road signs; seems to be mystery in Laos. They either indicate to place that doesn't exist, or the signs themselves don't exist.

Memorable Quote
"When you guys leave, I'm going to rent a bike and go on a mish (think: mission) into those mountains over there." -Overheard by a 'frat guy'