So I’ve learned a bit about Laos since I’ve been trekking through its massive cities…
- The capital is super small and relaxed, especially coming from Bangkok. Lots of travelers on visa runs from Thailand hang out by the river.
- The fun and beautiful and remote places to visit are in the north. Luang Prabang is a city in the middle of the country that’s nice too.
- The country is technically Communist, but a local said, “We relaxed about it” (sic).
- The language is in fact called Lao, and it’s pretty similar to Thai, like enough that they understand in Laos some of what they learned in Thailand.
- The currency is kip. Right now, $1 will buy about 8,000 kip. In other words, the cool looking, 500 kip bills aren’t really worth anything.
- Their flag looks like a cross between the American flag (the colors), the Thai flag (the strips), and the Japanese flag (the circle).
- Beerlao might be one of the only Lao products that’s somewhat internationally known. It’s really good but, in the country anyway, ridiculously cheap.
- It used to be a French colony.
- The western border is marked by the mighty Mekong River, which is a great if long way to travel up and down the country.
- In English, it’s pronounced like the bug, even if half the foreigners who visit don’t pronounce it that way.
Oh, and now I know at least one friend in Laos too.
