Sa Bai Dee

Sa Bai Dee!!!
*It's Laotian for HELLO*

I think Laos is truly South East Asia's most laid-back country...it's totally a "relak-one-korner-lah-brudder" country! I experienced a sense of serenity & calmness as we walked/drove around Vientiane...i think it's becos of the lack of the modern urban life; not like countries like Spore or HongKong where becos of the smothering city life, u don't even have time to gasp for air. Laos used to be called Lane Xang, the Land of Million Elephants...now it's called Laos PDR *PDR = People's Democratic Republic*. Some ppl jokingly said the PDR actually means "Please Don't Rush"...hahaha

For the uninitiated Indochina traveller, the first visit to Laos is highly unforgettable. I think the inactivity, lack of urban development & the easy-going lifestyle would be culture shock to most farangs *foreigners*.

Some say it's the Laotians that are resisting the change....trying desperately to preserve their way of life...

Anyways, I didn't really see much on my 3day2nite trip to Vientiane...spent most of my time in meetings or if not in meetings, I'm in a car, going from one office to another...meals at chinese restaurants then back to hotel room.....pretty uneventful...my trip report is so boring that I think I dozed off writing it...

Here's some photos...


they're building a bank or something...


What's that in front?


The famous Parisian monument, Arc de Triomphe, in Laos?!?!?!?! It can't be!


Such an Awesome sight...
From wikipedia: Patuxai (Victory Gate). A local rendition of Paris' Arc de Triomphe. Besides the elaborate Buddhist embellishment, it differs from the original in having four gates instead of two and being just a bit higher (to spite the French). Reasonably impressive from afar, a surprisingly frank English sign inside the monument labels it a "monster of concrete" when seen up close — and the concrete in question was donated by the US, although it was supposed to go towards a new airport instead. The monument itself aside, the palm tree-lined park around it complete with fountains is quite pleasant, and you can climb up to the 7th story (stairs only) for a view of downtown Vientiane.


Cool temple gate / fence thingy...

Main gate to Pha That Luang aka Great Golden Stupa.


Jap Dude taking photo; zoomed photo of Pha That Luang (we only had time for a little stopover, no time to explore the temple).
From wikipedia: Pha That Luang. (2 km east from Patuxai). The national symbol and most important religious monument, That Luang is a three-layered gilded stupa that bears more than little resemblance to a missile silo. The current version dates from 1566, although it has been ransacked and renovated numerous times since then. Closed Mondays.

That's my boss & the 2 charming Laotian ladies that drove us around. I edited the photos to protect his identity & my lousy job....and the ladies are not that kind of ladies, ok....the short one works for our business partner, the taller & slimmer one is the director's daughter...she's quite cute...


As we were driving away from Pha That Luang, the ladies told us that the locals use the large plot of large infront to learn driving...hehe...


a white stupa?


Thong Khan Kham Market - alot of consumer goods etc sold here...


Another market, EVENING Market aka China Market - see the little China flag infront of the market? alot of Chinamans & Chinawomans selling cheap-ass fake electrical applicances here...


PORNCHAI STATIONERY CO. - hehehe....


Wait, what's that infront??!?!? Is that...it couldn't be...shit...it is!!!!


NAGA!!!NAGA!!!NAGA!!!NAGA!!!NAGA!!!NAGA!!!NAGA!!!
Kickass "Naga protecting Buddha" gate!!! Woo Hoo!!! In GOLD!!!


Laos International Trade Exhibition Convention Center - lots of ppl just walking around etc.
I saw a cute chick inside, then i caught the chick checking me out....after we walked passed her, our frens told us that she's like a famous Laotian tv star....that totally made my day, hehehe, I got checked out by a Laotian superstar!!!


Giggling school kids leaving the convention center, the girls have to wear black Laotian skirts, compulsory...


Errr....arrrr....land....nothing...


Bandanas, anyone?


View from hotel room. We stayed at DonChan Palace, pretty luxurious hotel built on the banks of the MEKONG river....Yup, that's the mighty MEKONG River...over the otherside of the river is Thailand....i kid u not, it's that close...i could have swimmed across.... not really, i'm quite a pussy actually...


At the end of the day, when ur work is done & there's pretty much nothing else to do - head to one of those restaurants along the MEKONG River & kickback with ice cold Beerlao....best Asian beer ever - cheap, smooth & clean taste....Tiger Beer my ass...it's no match for the Beerlao! Drank so much that I forgot to take photos of the actual beer, hence the "borrowed" photos...


It was a pretty cool trip - finally saw Laos (ok, not real Laos but Vientiane), loved the laid-back lifestyle, dranks lots of Beerlao & I definitely must return to checkout the Plain of Jars....