Viangchan

Sometimes I can't believe it. Green Discovery presents itself as an Eco-Tourism Company. You might believe that ecologic tourism endeavors to an environment friendly or at least environment acceptable organization of traveling.

A helicopter flight is the less ecologic way of transport. But in order to reach the elephant festival in Pak Lay in Sayaboury any means of transport are welcome, even for an eco-tourism company. This "eco"-buzzword obviously only serves to attract a certain kind of c... Read more

I don't want to blame the places I traveled to and the people I met. But for me it is nice to be back to place with hot showers, laundry service and internet access (no access for nearly 4 weeks). Even the restaurants are adapted to the taste of falang-tourists. I don't have to eate sticky rice every day.
I will update this travel blog in the following days.... Read more

Now it is 9 days I rent a urban bicycle from a local shop. Normally they suppose the tourists bring back the bike at the evening. I didn't say how long I were going to rent the bike, because I did not know. But I left my ID card as security for them.

Yesterday I was standing next to a Volleyball court and one medicine student asked me "Do you recognize me?". I was puzzled because I did not. He said: "I am the one who you rent the bike from." Did he chase me until here to get its bike back? B... Read more

My bicycle (lot thip) transports me anywhere in Vientiane. It is a quite small bike, but they don't have larger ones, only mountain bike for 3 dollar a day.

You can transport a second person on the comfortable back seat with foot steps, which is quite unthinkable in Europe where this is forbidden.

My bike has an "embarrassing basket" at the handle bar as Lonely Planet described it. In fact this basket is very convenient when you buy some tiny bananas (mak gu-ai) or mandarins (mak ki-a) o... Read more

I think I got stuck in Vientiane.

I got stuck between the great fried macaroni with curry, vegetables and tofu, volleyball and basketball playing in the late afternoon, later I visit some medicine, pharmacy and dentistry students in their apartment and get some home made food.

Food is always served on a mat located on the floor. You get sticks and a spoon.
It is true that Laotians eat the sticky rice by hand. When I did it with my sticks I got called "Chinese"... ... Read more

Probably you are a smart person and you now that the Laotian Buddhism celebrates its New Year in April.

But nevertheless the Lao people enjoy to celebrate the New Year of the Gregorian Calendar.

I got invited to a students apartment 15 people were present, a barbecue installed, drinks prepared, plates and food is placed on a mat which rests on the floor. People who want eat sit on the floor and serve themselves. They was no official dinner, so there were never more than 5 people eating at ... Read more

When I visited a Wat in Vientiane a young monks spoke to me. I was surprised. He asked the usual question (Where do you come from? etc.) Later he asked I could come and help him preparing for his English exam. I promised to come back and today was the day of helping the monks.

In fact he is not a monk but a thirteen-year old novice who has been living in the wat for 3 years now. His name is Loem. On the photo you can see him with a 22-year-old monk.

The English test examples are in some w... Read more

Attention. This is an old entry, I changed the provider because Tigo did only work in Vientiane. Now I have a NEW NUMBER : +856-20-6930428. The new provider is M-Phone and the Sim-card costs 50000 Kip (4 Euros).
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Today I bought a SIM card from a Lao company. Yes, you got it, I am in Laos, a country that is considered to be one the poorest in world and mobile phone are right everywhere.
My SIM-card costs just 20.000 Kip that correspond to 1.8 Euros. I t... Read more

Vientiane is a really calm city.
When you enter the border from Thailand you feel like somebody had slowed down the time.

I rented a bicycle to go around a little bit and it works fine so far.... Read more