Laos - Country Sum Up
I like to
be positive about things, I like to see the good side of things, I like to say
yeah man rip into it you will love it.
Every place
has its shiny side and not so shiny side and my perspective of Laos is from a
Motorcycle Adventure Traveler with a bit of 3rd world experience
from yesteryear travels.
If you are
simply taking the train from top to bottom on smooth straight rails with no
drivers then Laos is great, go to the few terroruist spots and enjoy your G
& T…which we did for 4 days on our mid break.
Luang
Probang is mint and if you ask about Laos that is the least dirty place here.
Some countries
it is harder to finding that shining light and you have to look a little deeper .... here I would have to say it was
more of a power cut.
The state
of their main roads is beyond normality given this is how the whole country and
neighbouring countries move their goods around, there is no dispute there is money
here but it disappears in communistic corruption and on a commercial scale this
must be costing their economy millions in lost time and fucked suspension, tires
as quick as that....just to start with.
While we
have enjoyed most of our stay there were (quite a few) days when we nearly got
cleaned out (within inches) from retarded X ray vision drivers who should be
shot, other places surprised us, not because of the stunning display of cesspit
rubbish and accompanying awesome smell but the people who made it nice.
The people,
ok, for the most very nice, language barriers got in the way a little but google
translate and a smile always sorted it out, as long as they don’t get in a car
they are nice.
Whitefacetax,
on our last day arriving at the border town of Boten we found a place for lunch,
we asked how much as there is very rarely a price, the guy had a quick yarn and
when the lady looked up and saw me she came over, both Ellen and I handed our
phones over at the same time one to each of them so they could tap in the
price, pretty common.
She tapped
in $60000.00 kip into my phone and he tapped $50000.00 kip in Ellens phone. We
looked at each other and I showed the guy the $60000.00 tag….he looked awkward
for second then they started to have a brief yelling match as we laughed at
them and said forget it we will go elsewhere where we can trust them and no it
was not for two different dishes so it was clear what was asked, this sort of
thing happens nearly on a daily basis, it seriously dampens my enthusiasm for
Laos and it infuriates me so I say fuck you I will take my money elsewhere…you
lose.
All in all
we have ticked that box per se… and we are not box tickers, not with the lust
of moto travel we normally find in countries own uniqueness and again this is
from a moto travelers perspective, this lack of lust starts right back at the bureaucratic
excellence of VISA and vehicle timing, the BS of NOT even having us in the
system which in an accident or Police event would have been a total disaster, the X ray drivers who can see around corners and the whitefacetax engineers.
While Laos
is poor, very 3rd world for the most, a lot of this is by corruption
(Communism at its finest) but there are a lot of new cars everywhere, biggest
disappointment here is the cesspit of rubbish, you can be poor and have a
little stick house with a new Ford Ranger or Toyota Hilux parked outside but to
just throw shit everywhere starting from right outside your very own window,
car, house or wherever, they treat the entire country like a rubbish tip which is
shitty.
The open disrespect
they show their own country is disappointing, there is a difference between
poor and fucken lazy (Laosy).
Tomorrow we cross back to China and to be fair I am happy to be out, I just asked Ellen her feelings, she said "I am pleased we came and did it but I am very pleased we are heading back to China"….never thought I would hear her say that, there your go…..downhill both ways LOL.
Our last part
of Laos.
Goodbye to Laos.
