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Day 78: Vientiane, Laos
It's important to remember that the region is still littered with UXO, or unexploded ordinance. Much of these can be traced back to the civil wars of the 1960s and 70s although an alarming proportion appear to be a result of the 2000 New Years Eve celebrations. Despite ongoing attempts to clean up the problem, UXO continues to be a very real threat and, as recently as last year, four people were being maimed each day. Interestingly, it was the same four people, determined- if somewhat foolhardy- members of a local bush walking club.
-Phaic Tan
Santo Cilauro, Tom Gleisner & Rob Sitch
2004 Hardie Grant Books
Excellent book that, it's a piss take of the Lonely Planet and Rough Guides etc travel guides, had me in stitches on the long drive from Vang Vieng to Vientiane, on which the bus only broke down once. An American girl besides me asked me what I was laughing about and I passed it to her to read.
It took her 2 hours to work out it wasn't a real travel guide book.
Am in Vientiane at the moment, once again with France's previous colonisation of Laos (and surrounding regions but most prominent here) it is like a Asian Paris, complete with French architecture, Food, even lots of French people. On that note it turns out that Thailand is the only country in Southeast Asia which has never been conquered by a foreign power.
It's important to remember that the region is still littered with UXO, or unexploded ordinance. Much of these can be traced back to the civil wars of the 1960s and 70s although an alarming proportion appear to be a result of the 2000 New Years Eve celebrations. Despite ongoing attempts to clean up the problem, UXO continues to be a very real threat and, as recently as last year, four people were being maimed each day. Interestingly, it was the same four people, determined- if somewhat foolhardy- members of a local bush walking club.
-Phaic Tan
Santo Cilauro, Tom Gleisner & Rob Sitch
2004 Hardie Grant Books
Excellent book that, it's a piss take of the Lonely Planet and Rough Guides etc travel guides, had me in stitches on the long drive from Vang Vieng to Vientiane, on which the bus only broke down once. An American girl besides me asked me what I was laughing about and I passed it to her to read.
It took her 2 hours to work out it wasn't a real travel guide book.
Am in Vientiane at the moment, once again with France's previous colonisation of Laos (and surrounding regions but most prominent here) it is like a Asian Paris, complete with French architecture, Food, even lots of French people. On that note it turns out that Thailand is the only country in Southeast Asia which has never been conquered by a foreign power.
Good for them.
Check out the pictures above, I defy anyone to spot the difference between here and the Montematre region in Paris.
Sacre Bleu!
Check out the pictures above, I defy anyone to spot the difference between here and the Montematre region in Paris.
Sacre Bleu!
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