Exploring Southeast Asia

For itinerant travelers, exploring Southeast Asia has always been a sort of a rite of passage into that vaunted list of people who have dared to cross the norm of general tourism. Laos is one such small country, whose name is often dwarfed by its more popular neighbors - China, Cambodia, and Thailand. But, slowly, Laos is also emerging as a popular tourist destination, as the many treasures it has to offer its visitors are discovered. A vibrant history that draws from its own culture, which is predominantly Buddhist, and later colonial heritage, has been a huge factor in increasing its popularity. Despite the intermingling of these, Laos retains aspects of an 'Asian' culture that have been lost in the neighboring countries due to rampant commercialization and urbanization. Thus, extending my sojourn in Southeast Asia, I decided to head to Laos after my stay in Thailand. Laos has numerous cities that offer many worthwhile and fun experiences. Here I have listed some of the most memorable ones during my stay in Laos.

In Chiang Khong, Thailand, I took a boat down the Mekong River, which took me to Laos. Beautiful scenery on either side of the river, calm and relaxing waters lulled me to sleep, no matter how much I tried to stay awake, I ended up taking almost 20 naps as we floated into Laos. The journey was in a way a prelude to the country that awaited me, full of tranquility and absent of all the stress of a daily humdrum life. On the undulating river, meandering through majestic mountains and deep gorges was a journey that has left an indelible imprint on my mind.

Nevertheless, being Southeast Asia, Laos is not just a serene alcove but full of adventures. In Vang Vieng, the Nam Song River is a place where water sports like ...

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...l. After being given comfortable, baggy clothes to wear for the massage, you'll be led to a room that you will share with other people (with perhaps a sheet separating all of you from each other), you will be given what can only be described as quite an interactive massage as your legs are bent up over your head while your body is pounded upon. Not really relaxing, but invigorating as they really do give your muscles quite a workout.

My journey sadly came to a premature conclusion at the Royal Palace Museum, a great place to explore the history of Laos. Having run out of time, I was forced to cut my trip short. In the end, Laos, despite being a small country, has many big surprises waiting for those who visit. Apart from the places I mentioned, there are other, more fascinating places that Laos has to offer. Laos is definitely not a country to be overlooked!