There must have been places like that back in the previous centuries but I was glad to have the chance to visit one still existing. For a short time I left my world behind, stepped back in time and visited the northern neighbour of my adopted home country, Laos. Officially known as Lao PDR (Lao Please Don't Rush, as often referred to).
As my experience was so short (too short) I can't offer an insight on the real life of people living in this fantastically beautiful country, I have no idea on their feelings or thinking. But I have an idea of how it seems, of how it feels. Laos didn't seem to be like anything I've experienced before, it seemed like time had stopped there a long time ago. It feeled like from another world.
The people had smiles on their faces. They smiled through their daily tasks, chatting freely with each other, playing with their children. Along the way from Vang vieng to Luang Prabang (about 10 hours on a bus) we passed by countless little villages, where dogs were lazying around, children playing, aduls going in and out to the little wooden houses, chilis drying on the roofs.
The capital Vientiane, situated on Mekong River, is lacking almost every sign of a capital in Western sense of the word. No sky scrabers in sight and rush hour is an unknown term (if you don't count 10 tuk tuks and 5 bicycles on a row). But despite the sympathetic tempels and lively markets, it's slowly getting there. At least it's no sleepy small town anymore, although that feeling is still at some spots present.
Unfortunately, there is no paradise that western tourists wouldn't want to ruin. Vang vieng is the Laos example. The limestone mountains, with the lovely river streaming through the beautiful setting and various caves and caverns have attracted too many tourists. Mainly backpackers I would say, inspired by cheap drugs and crazy fun on the river banks. The main attraction on the river, tubing, would seem to me more relaxing and enjoyable if one didn't have to pass the dozens of night club - look a like bars along the way. There are always snakes in the paradise.
Passing through Vang vieng is still worth it because at the end, after 10 hours on a bus through breath taking scenery, the world cultural heritage town Luang Prabang can be reached. And not only that, bu the ride there itself deserves its own story! I wouldn't have thought it being possible, to sit on a bus an entire day, just watching the landscape. It is possible. There was no way I could have slept, even blinking my eyes seemed a waste of time, the landscape is that amazingly beautiful. No words could ever describe. Stunning, fascinating in every aspect.
Luang Prabang is a cute little town, well taken care of. The world cultural heritage site and for a reason. Cruising on Mekong and climbing up the waterfall were the absolute highlights on the holiday. Besides the bus ride, but it belongs to its own category.
As along the roads, the life of the locals can also be observed from the river. The little authentic local villages don't need to be visited, they can't be avoided. They are right there were you would anyways be, by the road, on the river banks. No reality tv offers this much insight on people's lifes.
One broken bus (but somehow on the spot fixed), one flat tire on a moped (fixed at a near by village), two bruised toes and countless mosquito bites later I returned to my own world. To the world I love despite its weaknesses. Thankful for finding a place I can run a way to if I wish to stop my watch.
