Laos — Cats of Bandung

A Travelogue

Wandering and wondering.

A mission not to have a mission. A goal to have time and space to connect and heal.

Do you have heritage?

Posted July 11

This post is about traveling from Cambodia to Laos, which actually was boring because it went very smoothly. So I examine a question posited to a fellow traveler I met on my last day in Siem Reap.

Pakse, Laos

Posted July 13

Pakse is a town in southern Laos that is an important commercial and transportation hub. It is also the jumping-off point for tourists doing the Pakse Loop and visiting Wat Phu

Wat Phu (or Vat Phou)

Posted July 14

Wat Phu is an ancient Hindu temple complex about 30km south of Pakse. It predates Angkor Wat by half a millennium or so, and was once the endpoint of a road that during the Khmer Empire connected Wat Phu to Angkor Wat

The Bolaven Plateau

Posted July 15

The Bolaven Plateau is a region of southern Laos east of the town of Pakse. It hosts a number of rivers that eventually feed into the Mekong, either directly or through tributaries. That gives rise to almost an uncountable number of waterfalls as the rivers make their way off the plateau to the rivers below. A motorcycle journey is the best way to see the beauty of the plateau.

Traveling to Vientiane

Posted July 16

After my adventures in Pakse, it was time to fly to Vientiane. The flight was quick and Lao Airlines came through again with a seamless flight.

I arrived in Vientiane in time to explore their famous night market, and found it to be the largest night market I’ve seen so far.

Vientiane

Posted July 17

Vientiane is a great city and a nice glimpse into urban life in Laos. Much busier than Pakse but it never felt overwhelming or chaotic. There’s great food, lots and lots of temples, and warm-hearted people more than willing to help a foreigner navigate the ins-and-outs of Vientiane.

Warning: There’s a lot of snarky thoughts in my post. You wouldn’t want it any different, right?

Traveling to Vang Vieng, Laos

Posted July 20

Back to the countryside and the infamous Vang Vieng. The trip on the new high-speed train was smooth and comfortable. My first impressions of Vang Vieng are that it has utterly spectacular scenery. It’s even hard to describe in words how beautiful the backdrop is for this little town.

Vang Vieng, Laos

Posted July 22

Vang Vieng is a far cry from the headquarters of debauchery that it used to be. The beauty of the landscape and the outdoor activities are still great draws and a wonderful break from the big city vibe of Vientiane.

Cats of Laos

Posted July 22

In Laos, like Cambodia, there are far more dogs than cats in the streets. The ones that are present seem pretty content until I show up and take pictures.

Food in Laos

Posted July 22

It’s been a while since I posted about food here in SE Asia. Here’s a sampling of what’s been going into my stomach here in Laos. I still have over a week left before going to Vietnam, so there’s possibly some follow up info on food to come.

Luang Prabang Alms Ceremony

Posted July 23

Even though the monastery is not the common choice it has been for young boys to get an education, monks in SE Asia are still respected and treated with deference. In Luang Prabang, there’s a morning ritual of providing food to monks in a religious ceremony.

Luang Prabang, so far.

Posted July 25

I’m about halfway through my stay in Luang Prabang, and it’s been a quiet, peaceful stop. Of course the landscape is beautiful, as is all of Laos, but the way the city is laid out and operates adds to the serenity.

Luang Prabang, Part 2.

Posted July 27

As I spend my last couple of days in Luang Prabang and get ready for the chaos of Hanoi, I look back with fondness on this little town and the beautiful, friendly, and delicious stop that it has been on my journey.

The Creepy Cat Guy

Posted July 28

I’ve started bribing cats to take pictures of them. The rumors are starting to spread throughout Luang Prabang. I don’t know if the authorities have been alerted yet, but I think I’ll be deported to Vietnam tomorrow.