Mystery and secrets in Laos
Even on my way to Phonsavan I wasn’t sure if it would be worth the trip. But that’s the thing about traveling, if you take a chance, at times you’re rewarded with unique experiences you never expected to have. Phonsavan is the capital of the most bombarded province in the…
Two days as Jane in Laos
Our guide Lo started awkwardly introducing himself on the ride to Paksong. He sounded a bit like a robot, coming through in pieces, as if I had a bad Skype connection. As it turned out, this was just his style of talking and had nothing to do with nerves. He…
King Kong Lor, king of caves
Being in Laos seems like such a long time ago. So much has happened since. I’m working on my photo album and all these memories come back. Like the time I took a bus to Kong Lor cave. It took me a day to get there and a day to…
A busy day in Nong Khiaw
On our last morning in Muang Ngoy we had a buffet breakfast on a corner restaurant, with pancakes, waffels, banana pastries, tea, fruit, muesli and lots more. It was a really a feast. After eating way too much we walked down to the boat ramp and waited for the ferries…
Cycling around Don Khon
The main mode of transportation on Don Det is the bicycle. Most of the ‘roads’ are small dirt tracks with lots of sharp rocks. I decided to rent a bike at my bungalow, 10.000KIP for the day, a bargain, and make my way across the bridge to the bigger island…
Into the fields in Tad Lo
Tad Lo is a tiny town in southern Laos that can be reached by bus from Pakse. It is also a popular spot on the motorbike loop around the Bolaven plateau. The nature in this area is incredible and in season there are many waterfalls. Tad Lo actually has three waterfalls, but the furthest one is…
Four more injections, four more hospitals
I got bitten by a dog while exploring Savannakhet in Laos. I went to the hospital there straight away for the rabies shot. Unfortunately a series of 5 shots is necessary. So my hospital adventures continued… I’m in Pakse, just south of Savannakhet when it’s time for my second rabies…
That time I got bitten by a dog in Asia
South East Asia has a lot of stray cats and dogs. I’ve seen them in all the countries I’ve travelled through. In some they looked worse than in others. Especially in Myanmar and Laos, they just scared me. I got into several situations where aggressive dogs made me change my…
A new way to recycle; beading in Laos!
There was one more thing I really wanted to do in Luang Prabang. Online I’d found a workshop to make your own paper jewellery with a local. It seemed like an incredibly fun thing to do and a nice change from all the walking, temples and museums. So I signed…
A walk around Savannakhet
Savannakhet, or Savan as it’s mostly called, is a sleepy, provincial capital city without any famous attractions. Yet it’s the third largest city in Laos. It’s bizarre, because it seems so quiet. Arriving by bus, I see some big companies, like the Nikon Laos headquarters. I guess the location is strategic, not…