Luang Prabang/ຫລວງພະບາງ, Laos (11/24/2016 - 11/28/2016)

Laos is an often overlooked or 'last' country in most travelers' Southeast Asia itineraries, and I am sad to say that I am no exception to this.  It doesn't feature prominently in the international press with its natural scenery, culture, or architecture, and there aren't many famous Lao people who could act as cultural ambassadors and draw tourists.  To rule Laos out based on this, however, would be a real pity.

It is a landlocked country roughly following the shape of Vietnam to the east, with a similar land area, but only 7.4% of its population!  Part of this may be due to the fact that it was the world's most heavily bombed country per capita (during the Vietnam War, the Americans carpet bombed the country to attack Viet Cong supply lines), and the other in that it's largely agrarian.

For 400 years it was Southeast Asia's largest empire, but now it is one of the poorest countries in the world - how things do change!  A series of devastating wars and revolutions in the past, and up until today, rampant corruption and low levels of education. can be thanked for this.

Despite the hardship and poverty, Laos is gifted with natural beauty, abundant resources, and a kind, relaxed, and deeply spiritual people - so much so that Lao families send all of their boys for 'national service' in monasteries for years at a time.

Luang Prabang itself is a sleepy ex-French colonial city of 55,000, resting on the banks of the Mekong river. It is a UNESCO World Heritage site, and has recently been made more accessible by direct flights to Singapore, Malaysia and China. It feels like a slower more relaxed version of a Northern Thai city - in part helped by the similarities of Lao and Thai language and culture, and that the Lao cuisine is like a spicier version of Isaan.

The slow pace of life, great food, and nice scenery make Laos the perfect place to turn off the cell phone, shut the laptop and unplug for a bit, and I only hope that through increased contact with tourists and the global economy, the country will improve for the better, but keep its rustic charm and identity.  Time will only tell.