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28/5/06 First Impressions of Laos |
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 Laos has far exceeded my expectations in terms of its liveability. So far I have only been in the capital city, Vientiane, and I’m told that in some rural areas the living conditions are very poor and basic. But Vientiane itself is quite clean, organised, friendly, and has all the products and services I’ve needed or wanted so far.
The roads are quite good – there are even lines marked and traffic lights, unlike Antananarivo in Madagascar (where I volunteered a few years ago).
Vientiane has developed significantly in recent years, but still retains its quiet, sleepy feel. The people are quite relaxed and friendly, and I feel safe walking around at night or going for my early morning run. I’m quite amazed at how many people have their own motorbike, mobile phone, cable TV and other examples of the latest technology.
The food is very cheap, and good quality. No stomach bugs yet, and I’ve eaten local food at small Laos restaurants about five times, as well as at Western restaurants.
The weather is what you’d expect from the tropics: hot and wet! We’re in the wet season right now, which means we’ve had rain most days, particularly in the afternoon. We haven’t seen too much sun, but that doesn’t mean it hasn’t been hot! I’m told there are a few months around the yearend that have cool nights and dry weather – something to look forward to!
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