Laos. Airport.
Problem
Lao - Laos? Which is correct? How do you say it?
Apparently the people are called Lao, the language is called Lao, but the French added the s to the end of the word for the country name. The French, as is their way, did not pronounce the last letter. However, most foreigners do So the polite locals will echo you, and call their country Laos for ease of communication with foreigners and politeness.
Sounds sweet - if confusing. Actually, now I know, it's pretty clear.
Vientiane - quick trip?
We looked at Vientiane, capital of Laos, as a destination in Asia for a short trip at Christmas or Easter. Our research showed a lot of charming temples, plenty of novelty for a weekend trip, but not enough for more than a week, for us.
Longstay Holiday - Vietnam?
If, however, you are going for a longer break of say a week in one place, for example over Christmas and New Year, our preferred option would be a big city with lots of museums and French restaurants such as Hanoi in Vietnam. However, to get away from it all, Laos might be your choice.
Cambodia _ First Choice
I haven't yet been to either, but I have been to Cambodia, which has umpteen temples, each one amazing and different, with huge stone faces staring at you. Stunning. Best place I have ever been to. Tripadvisor also rated Cambodia as tops.
The temple ticket for three days is expensive. However, guesthouse hotels, and trishaw taxis - if you get one for a day instead of taking several in a day, are cheap.
So here's my choice:
First trip to Asia: must include Cambodia's Siem Reap, the temple city. You need a trishaw to take you out of the city centre to the stone temples in lakes and overgrown by trees.
Everybody's popular second or first choice - Thailand, graceful gold-topped temples.
Second choice for a long trip: Vietnam.
Laos - get away from it all.
That's for side trips from Asia. I met Americans doing a four country trip. If you are starting out in life, or don't know how many active years you have left, maybe a multi-centre trip or multi-country.
Exploring the net:
Youtube
Youtube for videos of major landmarks and arial views of mountaintops, places closed this time of year and more places otherwise inaccessible.
Streetview
Streetview for real life views. Streetview will give you time line progressions so you can compare a country you visited five or ten years ago with how it is today and see if it has changed. Has it improved, modernised? Or lost its charm? Is it worthwhile going back to recapture, or see a changed place?
Bargains and For Frankness
Lonely Planet
Rough Guides
Tripadvisor
Umpteen views from the public. Takes a while to read through.
Cambodia
Laos
Thailand
Vietnam
Angela Lansbury
Lao - Laos? Which is correct? How do you say it?
Apparently the people are called Lao, the language is called Lao, but the French added the s to the end of the word for the country name. The French, as is their way, did not pronounce the last letter. However, most foreigners do So the polite locals will echo you, and call their country Laos for ease of communication with foreigners and politeness.
Sounds sweet - if confusing. Actually, now I know, it's pretty clear.
Vientiane - quick trip?
We looked at Vientiane, capital of Laos, as a destination in Asia for a short trip at Christmas or Easter. Our research showed a lot of charming temples, plenty of novelty for a weekend trip, but not enough for more than a week, for us.
Longstay Holiday - Vietnam?
If, however, you are going for a longer break of say a week in one place, for example over Christmas and New Year, our preferred option would be a big city with lots of museums and French restaurants such as Hanoi in Vietnam. However, to get away from it all, Laos might be your choice.
Cambodia _ First Choice
I haven't yet been to either, but I have been to Cambodia, which has umpteen temples, each one amazing and different, with huge stone faces staring at you. Stunning. Best place I have ever been to. Tripadvisor also rated Cambodia as tops.
The temple ticket for three days is expensive. However, guesthouse hotels, and trishaw taxis - if you get one for a day instead of taking several in a day, are cheap.
So here's my choice:
First trip to Asia: must include Cambodia's Siem Reap, the temple city. You need a trishaw to take you out of the city centre to the stone temples in lakes and overgrown by trees.
Everybody's popular second or first choice - Thailand, graceful gold-topped temples.
Second choice for a long trip: Vietnam.
Laos - get away from it all.
That's for side trips from Asia. I met Americans doing a four country trip. If you are starting out in life, or don't know how many active years you have left, maybe a multi-centre trip or multi-country.
Exploring the net:
Youtube
Youtube for videos of major landmarks and arial views of mountaintops, places closed this time of year and more places otherwise inaccessible.
Streetview
Streetview for real life views. Streetview will give you time line progressions so you can compare a country you visited five or ten years ago with how it is today and see if it has changed. Has it improved, modernised? Or lost its charm? Is it worthwhile going back to recapture, or see a changed place?
Bargains and For Frankness
Lonely Planet
Rough Guides
Tripadvisor
Umpteen views from the public. Takes a while to read through.
Cambodia
Laos
Thailand
Vietnam
Angela Lansbury
