I have always been attracted to exotic and indigenous places.That is one of the reasons why I decided to make a round trip through the countries of Indochina. Moreover, as I didn’t know much about the wars that were waged there during the 60s and 70s, I thought it very interesting to learn more about the history of this part of Asia. What do Europeans know about the “secret war” that was going on in the “Land of a Million Elephants” in those times?
I was shocked by the reality of the poor villages along the Mekong river, but I was also struck by the beautiful nature and the friendly people. Life goes in a totally different pace here. No one is in a rush.
Most of the 6 million Laotians live in the Mekong valley. Dozens of national minorities live along the river and many of them are still untouched by civilization.Although most villages have got electricity and water pumps, poverty is obvious. The population often lives in primitive bamboo huts, there are no roads and I could see many women carrying heavy loads on their back. Are there schools? Yes! Most families have at least 5-6 children and it was really nice to see them playing in the school yard. It struck me most of all that they looked so happy with their old-fashioned and primitive toys.
Along the Mekong river i also visited the Pac Ou Caves, a Buddhist pilgrimage site. Spread over two caves, i found more than 4000 Buddha statues, left there by pilgrims to celebrate the new year.
Finally I arrived in Luang Prabang, the cultural center of the country. This place is among the most interesting UNESCO heritage sites in the region, with its amazing French colonial architecture and many unique temples.
I enjoyed the typical Laotian food, visited a traditional dance performance and made an excursion to the wonderful Kuang Si waterfalls.
But most impressive was the monks’ alm giving ceremony. Just imagine, every morning at sunrise the monks come out of their temples and walk through the main streets collecting alms from the local residents for their only daily meal. I had to get up very early for this experience, but I am glad I didn’t miss this ceremony!
My last stay was in Vientiane, sometimes called “the most laid-back capital city in Southeast Asia”. Vientiane is also developing very fast and the traffic – with thousands of scooters on the streets – is quite chaotic. The city itself is a mix of French colonial buildings and Buddhist temples. As the town center is small, U could visit many tourist attractions on foot, but for a visit of the gold-covered That Luang, the Great Sacred Stupa, I had to hire a tuk-tuk, the most popular means of transportation in Laos.
Through the impressive mountains and green jungles of Laos, I continued my journey to Vietnam. It’s true, Laos is a country off the beaten track, but it is fascinating to visit, as it has retained its culture and authenticity, traditional village life and beautiful countryside..