Lao Top Five Experiences List

I was in Lao for just under a month and saw a fair bit of the country, but can only really gather a top five experience list this time instead of the usual top ten. Many of my Lao highlight experiences revolved around the people I met, both locals and other backpackers, and in turn I concentrated less on sights and activities. I think Lao has a little less in the ‘sights to see’ and ‘things to do’ categories when compared to Thailand and Vietnam, but this has been a developing trend during my recent travels: sweet sights and random adventures are great, but meeting various interesting and friendly people has become more meaningful and has facilitated my personal development as a traveler.

Going solo has made it easy to meet lots of people and then spend time with the most interesting ones. In addition to gaining new perspective and learning from people with different backgrounds, there’s a distinct sense of honesty and genuineness (or Guinness) that surrounds these interactions. When meeting people while traveling, there are no consequences to what you say, so there’s no reason to be anything but brutally honest. Don’t like what someone says or get embarrassed about revealing something? You never have to see that person again if you don’t want to. That’s a freedom that invites an incredible openness in conversations. Quite refreshing.

Nonetheless, here’s the Top 5 Lao Experience List:

5) Cruising around the World Heritage sites in Luang Prabang. Although the mess of the mass tour groups got old pretty fast.
4) Running with the Hash House Harriers in Vientiane. (For those of you who still don’t know what hash running is, check it out.)3) Climbing in Vang Vieng. Climbing is sweet to begin with, but the climbing here was excellent quality with new routes being bolted each day and not crowded in the least. Learning lead climbing was scary as hell, but I'm pretty psyched I didn't die.2) Slow boating down the Nam Ou and taking it easy in the villages of Muang Khua and Nong Khiaw - because with excellent scenery, no electricity or vehicles, and limited access, there’s really no other way to take it.
1) As stated in the intro, the Lao people are the best experience Lao has to offer. They’re laid back, friendly, and often eager to practice their English with you over some lao lao. The backpackers I met in Lao were also more friendly and interesting than usual. Lao doesn’t provide the best sights in the region (compared to neighboring countries) and the culture is not incredibly distinct (much infused from neighbors), yet it’s a refreshing and enjoyable place to travel. I’m sure I’ll be back one day.

As for now, I’ve crossed the border into Cambodia (Cambodians call it ‘Cambodge’), spent a few days in Stung Treng, and after a triple breakdown bus ride I am now in the capital city Phnom Penh. Cambodia has been interesting so far – it sort of has an old style Wild West feel to it. Except the dudes walk around with AK-47s instead of shiny little pistols. Hum…
Lao Picture set now complete.