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eggbanana travels

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Laos


Laos was our first soiree into motorcycle ownership. After finding one to buy, we toured from central northern to central southern Laos, stopping at multiple mechanics along the way and meeting plenty of other travelers.

It was South East Asia’s high tourism season, and we never found ourselves far from other western travelers. Many of the places we would have liked to visit never happened due to the time limit on our visas, but we managed to get a reasonable feel for the culture – fleeting as it was.

The food is something like a mix of Thai and Vietnamese. Noodle soup is the staple, and it’s rare that we would go a day without eating it at least once. A favourite condiment of ours in Thailand was the pickled chili, which is lacking in Laos. However, they make up for it by supplying a plate crammed with limes, beans, mint, and coriander, and the chilli paste often had a wonderful smoky taste from being prepared on a wood burner. Another staple is khao niu (sticky rice), served with all manner of meaty salads and laabs.

Karaoke is big in Laos, but it seems to be the off cuts and rejects from Thailand. Even the ‘professional’ videos have singers that are horribly out of tune, belting ballads and paying homage to K-pop through haircuts. Singing, although well loved by the locals, is certainly not their strong suit.

The people we’ve met are generally quiet and friendly, and they tend to keep a respectful distance. We read somewhere that, “The Vietnamese plant rice, The Cambodians watch it grow, and The Laotians listen to it grow.”

No idea what that means, but it certainly sounds poignant.

Crossing the bo y border, Laos to Vietnam, Attapeu to Kon Tum

Crossing the Bo Y Border – Attapeu to Kon Tum

Posted onDecember 29, 2015June 19, 20162 Comments

The nervous tale of a quiet border crossing. Read More …

CategoriesLaos, Travel, VietnamTagsattapeu, border crossing, customs, immigration, kon tum, laos, minor bird, motorbike, pho, snails, vietnam

Getting a Single-Entry Visa at the Vietnamese Embassy in Savannakhet

Posted onDecember 27, 2015July 8, 2016

The prices, the address, the instructions! The thrill! The joy! Read More …

CategoriesLaos, TravelTagsASEAN passport, british passport, double banana, laos, mapsme, savannakhet, tips, vietnam, vietnam embassy

waterfalls, christmas, laos, bolaven plateau,

Waterfalls for Christmas

Posted onDecember 27, 2015June 21, 20164 Comments

A novel way to spend December 25th Read More …

CategoriesLaos, TravelTagsbolaven plateau, christmas, family, laos, motorbike, motorcycle, tad faek, tad katamtok, tad saulin, waterfalls

thakhek loop, laos, motorcycle, honda win

Meeting Other Travelers on the Thakhek Loop

Posted onDecember 22, 2015July 8, 2016

A couple of conversations with our fellow travelers. Read More …

CategoriesLaos, TravelTagsban nahin, cave, conspiracy, genocide, hoax, honda win, khmer rouge denier, koh ker, laos, motorcycle, thakhek loop

Motorcycle journey from Luang Prabang to Vientiane, Laos

Visiting Six Mechanics – Luang Prabang to Vientiane

Posted onDecember 19, 2015June 21, 20163 Comments

We’ve met many locals in Laos. 50% of them are mechanics. Read More …

CategoriesLaos, TravelTagsbrakes, break down, cat, cement factory, chains, gears, hona win, kasi, laos, lights, luang prabang, mechanics, motorbike, phya, shift pedal, starter motor, thalat, travel, vang vieng, vientiane

Nam Ngum Reservoir, Laos

Floating on the Nam Ngum Reservoir

Posted onDecember 18, 2015July 8, 2016

A day at the fake beach. Read More …

CategoriesLaos, TravelTagsboat, dam, flooding, hydroelectric, nam ngum, reservoir, thalat

honda win luang prabang

Trying to Find a Motorbike in Luang Prabang

Posted onDecember 4, 2015July 8, 2016

We search high, we search low. We feel like giving up. Read More …

CategoriesLaos, TravelTagsdodgy, honda win, laos, luang prabang, motorbike, motorcycle, touring, UNESCO

Huay Kon border crossing

Crossing the Huay Kon Border – Thailand to Laos

Posted onNovember 28, 2015February 23, 20209 Comments

One of the easiest, hassle-free border crossings we’ve done. Read More …

CategoriesLaos, TravelTagsborder crossing, bus, guide, laos, Muang Ngeun, overtime fee, slow travel, thailand, visa on arrival

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You've found a blog about two people who, for 1.3 million minutes, travelled around Asia learning about its peculiarities. The process was a slow one, and this website is by no means comprehensive. We tried to report the good times, bad times, weird times, and interesting times evenly.

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