Laos Background

The Mekong River forms Laos's main thoroughfare and feeds the fertile lowlands of the Mekong valley. Two decades of civil war followed independence from France in 1953, and Laos was bombed heavily during the Vietnam War. The communist Lao People's Revolutionary Party (LPRP) has held power since 1975. Market-oriented reforms began to be introduced in 1986. A transfer of power to a younger generation within the LPRP took place during the 1990s.

Source: Lonely Planet

Laos' isolation from foreign influence offers travellers an unparalleled glimpse of traditional South-East Asian life. From the fertile lowlands of the Mekong River valley to the rugged Annamite highlands, Laos is the highlight of South-East Asia.

This is the least developed and most enigmatic of the three former French Indochinese states. A ruinous sequence of colonial domination, internecine conflict and dogmatic socialism finally brought the country to its knees in the 1970s, and almost 10% of the population left.

Now, after two decades of isolation from the outside world, this landlocked, sparsely populated country is enjoying peace, stabilising its political and economic structures, and admitting foreign visitors - albeit in limited numbers due to a general lack of infrastructure.

Warning

Although travel in Laos is generally hassle-free, travellers should be aware of the risk of rural banditry, unexploded ordnance and sporadic violence in and around Vientiane. Travellers have been inadvertently targeted in several attacks on buses travelling to and from the capital.

Ask around in Vientiane or Luang Prabang to check security before travelling the western portion of Rte 7 in Xieng Khuang Province, between Muang Phu Khun and Phonsavan, or Rte 13 between Vangviang north to Muang Phu Khun through to south of Luang Prabang.

Small bombings and attempted bombings in Vientiane continue sporadically. The Saisombun Special Zone, considered a 'troubled' area, is definitely not safe. Permits, required for all visits to the zone, are not being issued.

OFFICIAL NAME: Lao People's Democratic Republic

DATE OF FORMATION: 1953

POPULATION: 5.7 million

DENSITY: 64 people per square mile

LANGUAGES: Lao, Mon-Khmer, Yao, Vietnamese, Chinese, French

RELIGIONS: Buddhist 85%, Other (including animist) 15%

ETHNIC MIX: Lao Loum 66%, Lao Theung 30%, Other 2%, Lao Soung 2%

GOVERNMENT: No multiparty elections

CURRENCY: New kip

Another Journey

My lastest trip teams me up with my long-time friend, former college roommate, and somewhat rookie traveler. Polish (Chris) and I are going to grab a flight to Bangkok this February and do a little traveling through Laos and Burma before meeting his Sister-in-law on the beaches in early March. Should be an interesting experience.

We're leaving Feb 18th and will return March 14th, 2004. The photolog will be updated very shorty.

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Laos: Basic Facts

Laos' isolation from foreign influence offers travellers an unparalleled glimpse of traditional South-East Asian life. From the fertile lowlands of the Mekong River valley to the rugged Annamite highlands, Laos is the highlight of South-East Asia.

This is the least developed and most enigmatic of the three former French Indochinese states. A ruinous sequence of colonial domination, internecine conflict and dogmatic socialism finally brought the country to its knees in the 1970s, and almost 10% of the population left.

Now, after two decades of isolation from the outside world, this landlocked, sparsely populated country is enjoying peace, stabilising its political and economic structures, and admitting foreign visitors - albeit in limited numbers due to a general lack of infrastructure.

Warning
Although travel in Laos is generally hassle-free, travellers should be aware of the risk of rural banditry, unexploded ordnance and sporadic violence in and around Vientiane. Travellers have been inadvertently targeted in several attacks on buses travelling to and from the capital.

Ask around in Vientiane or Luang Prabang to check security before travelling the western portion of Rte 7 in Xieng Khuang Province, between Muang Phu Khun and Phonsavan, or Rte 13 between Vangviang north to Muang Phu Khun through to south of Luang Prabang.

Small bombings and attempted bombings in Vientiane continue sporadically. The Saisombun Special Zone, considered a 'troubled' area, is definitely not safe. Permits, required for all visits to the zone, are not being issued.

Full country name: Lao People's Democratic Republic
Area: 236,000 sq km
Population: 5.5 million
People: 50% Lao Loum (lowland Lao), 30% Lao Theung (lower-mountain dwellers of mostly proto-Malay or Mon-Khmer descent), 10-20% Lao Sung (Hmong or Mien high-altitude hill tribes) and 10-20% tribal Thais
Languge: Lao, French, English
Religion: 60% Buddhist, 40% animist and spirit cults
Government: Socialist republic
Head of State: President Khamtai Siphandon
Head of Government: Prime Minister Boungnang Vorachith

GDP: US$9.7 billion
GDP per capita: US$1,700
Annual Growth: 4%
Inflation: 6%
Major Industries: Rice, tobacco, coffee, tin mining, timber, and opium
Major Trading Partners: Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, Japan

Myanmar (Burma): Basic Facts

Since 1988 Myanmar has been under the military rule of the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) - formerly known as Slorc - an abominable military junta. Prospective travellers should monitor events in Myanmar and weigh up the arguments in support of and opposition to travel.

Dissent is suppressed, and political prisoners are jailed for expressing their opinions. Nobel Peace Prize Laureate and National League for Democracy (NLD) leader Aung San Suu Kyi advocates boycotting all forms of travel to the country as a means of isolating the government and forcing reform.

Inside Myanmar, there are a number of people who support her stance. This pro-boycott group argues that much of the money from tourism goes directly and indirectly into the pockets of the very generals who continue to deny Burmese citizens the most-basic civil rights. However, others involved with Burmese politics, including many current or former members of the NLD, feel that a travel boycott of Myanmar is counterproductive. They maintain that tourism is not only economically helpful, but vital to the pro-democracy movement for the two-way flow of information it provides.

Warning
Should you go to Myanmar?

The decision as to whether or not to travel to Myanmar is best made after an appraisal of the pros and cons of such a visit.

Reasons Not to Go

International tourism can be seen to give a stamp of approval to the SPDC
Aung San Suu Kyi and the NLD have called on the international community to boycott travel to Myanmar until the candidates elected in 1990 are allowed to form a government
The government keeps travellers away from areas where forced labour or repression of minorities is occurring
It is difficult to avoid some government-owned businesses, tourism sites and transport, and impossible to avoid the mandatory purchase of US$200 worth of FECs
Forced labour has been used to construct some of the country's tourism infrastructure

Reasons to Go

Tourism remains one of the few industries to which ordinary Burmese have access. Any reduction in tourism means a reduction in local income-earning opportunities
It is becoming increasingly possible to travel in Myanmar without staying in government-owned hotels, using government-owned transport etc
Many pro-democracy activists within Myanmar itself argue that sanctions are counter-productive, and that economic development can lead to political liberalisation
Keeping the Burmese isolated from international witnesses to internal oppression may only cement the government's control

If You Decide to Go

In order to maximise the positive effects of a visit among the general populace, while minimising support of the government, follow these simple tactics:

Stay at private, locally owned hotels and guesthouses
Avoid package tours connected with Myanmar Travel and Tours
Avoid MTT-sponsored modes of transport, such as the Yangon-Mandalay Express trains, the MTT ferry between Mandalay and Bagan, and Myanma Airways (MA) flights
Buy handicrafts directly from the artisans, rather than from government shops
Avoid patronising companies involved with the military-owned Myanmar Economic Holdings. Companies with solid links to the Tatmadaw (armed forces) are often called Myawadi or Myawaddy
Write to the Myanmar government and to the Myanmar embassy in your country expressing your views about the human-rights situation there

Full country name: Union of Myanmar (Burma became Myanmar in 1989 after the State Law and Order Restoration Council decided that the old name implied the dominance of Burmese culture; the Burmese are just one of the many ethnic groups in the country)
Area: 671,000 sq km
Population: 45 million
People: 65% Burmese, 10% Shan, 7% Karen, 4% Rakhine and Chin, Kachin, Mon, Chinese, Indian and Assamese minorities
Languge: Burmese, Karen, Shan, Kachin
Religion: 87% Theravada Buddhist, 5% Christian, 4% Muslim, 3% animist
Government: Military council
Head of State: Chairman of the State Peace and Development Council General Than Shwe

GDP: US$67 billion
GDP per capita: US$1,500
Annual Growth: 1.1%
Inflation: 30%
Major Industries: teak, rice, jute and illegal opium poppies
Major Trading Partners: Singapore, Thailand, China, Japan, India

Nepal: Basic Facts

Draped along the greatest heights of the Himalaya, Nepal is a land of sublime scenery, time-worn temples, and some of the best walking trails on earth. It's a poor country, but it is rich in scenic splendour and cultural treasures. The kingdom has long exerted a pull on the Western imagination.

It's the kind of country that lingers in your dreams long after you leave it. This is why so many travellers are drawn back to Nepal, armed the second time round with a greater appreciation of its natural and cultural complexity, a stout pair of walking boots and a desire for sculpted calf muscles.

Warning
The unstable political situation poses a potential threat to travellers, particularly trekkers venturing into the remote regions of Nepal. Maoist rebels are waging a long-term campaign against the Nepalese monarchy that intensified following the breakdown of a ceasefire lasting most of 2003.

A Maoist 'people's war' was declared in 1996 in response to government corruption. A ceasefire temporarily halted hostilities, but negotiations faltered and on August 27, 2003, the ceasefire was called off. Bombings, including several on the same day, have hit Kathmandu and the surrounding valley.

There's an unofficial curfew in Kathmandu, including Thamel, and an increasing amount of official curfews, often declared at short notice, in towns throughout the Kathmandu valley. Army and police checkpoints can slow travel, and there are reports that rebels threatening violence - and bandits posing as rebels using actual violence - are sporadically targeting travellers for revenue-raising purposes. The districts of Banke, Dang, Syangja, Surkhet, Rukum, Kalikot, Jajarkot, Rolpa, Salyan and Gorkha are considered especially dangerous.

Full country name: Kingdom of Nepal
Area: 140,800 sq km
Population: 26.46 million
People: Newars, Thakalis, Tibetans, Gurungs, Magars, Tamangs, Bhotias, Rais, Limbus, Sherpas, Bahuns, Chhetris, Tharus.
Languge: Nepali, English
Religion: 90% Hindu, 5% Buddhist, 3% Muslim, 2% other
Government: Parliamentary democracy
Head of State: King Gyanendra Bir Bikram Shah Deva
Head of Government: Prime Minister Surya Bahadur Thapa

GDP: US$27.4 billion
GDP per capita: US$1,100
Annual Growth: 6%
Inflation: 2.1%
Major Industries: Tourism, carpet, textile, small rice, jute, sugar, oilseed mills, cigarettes, cement and brick production, rice, corn, wheat, sugarcane, root crops, milk, water buffalo meat
Major Trading Partners: India, US, Germany, UK, Singapore, Japan

What is this place?

This website was built to chronical a short journey through South East Asia, starting in December 2002, ending in February 2003. We started in Singapore, traveled to Borneo, made our way up through Malaysia into Thailand. From there we moved on through Cambodia and up the coast of Vietnam before returning to the beaches of Thailand.

This was an amazing experience. Something that I plan on doing again sometime really soon.

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Gearing Up Again

It's been nearly 11 months since I have been anywhere near an airplane. Work has forced me not to travel and vacation has not been on my calendar since I started working for someone else. This is far too long. My body says it's time to go again. I wonder if I have a chemical imbalance that forces me to take long trips at 30,000 feet? Whatever it is, I'm getting geared up to take another short trip to Asia.

The plan is just starting to come together, but I thought it would be worth posting out here in case anyone had some advice for me.

My friend Chris (Polish) and I are planning to take 3 weeks off in Feb/March to go to Burma/Laos/Thailand. I've not been to Burma or Laos yet and I guess my conversations about Thailand were too much for him to pass up on.