There are many images that come to mind when thinking about Southeast Asia: dust, bright colors, motorbikes, smiles, water, rice paddies, animals, frenzy, heat etc. Laos has all these things, but different.
First, the water: We spent 4 days on Don Det, an island smack in the middle of the Mekong. The Mekong is different from other water we've swam in so far because it's opaque and murky, really wide, and dotted with Waterfalls. We spent some time tubing down (3 hours to go 4 km?) and eventually got used to the fact that we couldn't see our limbs one inch beneath the water. Plus, some guy on a boat followed us and sold us beer as we went, so what could be better than that?
Second, the colors: While other southeast asian countries we've traveled in bring to mind a mishmash of different colors all mixed together, Laos is green. SO very green. Green and brown. Allllll shades of green - emerald and lime, kelly green and all the rest. Other colors get muted by the green. It's wonderful.
Third, frenzy....wait, what Frenzy??? I've never been so relaxed EVER...Laos is distinctly live and let live, slow-paced (we regularly wait 1 hour for food in restaurants, you'd think we'd learn...) and we love it.
Fourth, heat: So not hot. Remember Hanoi? Borneo? Yeah, Laos isn't even close to hot like that. We just spent 3 days motorbiking around the Bolaven Plateau in the South...I even had to wear a sweater. A sweater!!!
Five, the animals: There are as many animals as people here...and they are, well, happy! Plus, its piglet season on the Bolaven Plateau.
Six, the smiles: There are so many. EVERY child we passed on our motorbike waved and yelled a hearty "Sabaidee!" and we yelled back and waved until our arms hurt.
Seven, the motorbikes: One difference here...in other countries, Matt pilots the bike - here, I do :) For part of the time at least.
Off to Vientiane tonight and then Northward from there....Myanmar in 9 days!
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