Laos is probably the most unknown country in south east asia, at least as long as I live I had never expected to go, nor heard of anyone visiting there before for tourism.
One week ago I went there with my friends and we had a really good time.
The jouney started from Kuala Lumpur taking a bus to Singapore, and from there, flying to Udon Thani which is the closest thai airport to the frontier of Laos.
Vientiane, its capital, it's a quiet place, not yet invaded by tourists, and still keeps the charm of and old city providing traditional services that is on the way to be restructured to attract foreigners. We could visit there the most important temples and then on the very next day we headed to Van Vieng, along a three hours minibus that drove us up to the mountains.
The views were very nice, surrounded by green fields that remind me of Cameron Highlands in Malaysia. We did some stops on the way and I could see how Laos people lived, usually in wooden houses, a small village in the mountain with very basic services even though some "modern" essentials are not missed - even in a wooden house, there is still satellite tv, and it really reminded of my trip to Cambodia.
They would usually ride motorbikes from one village to another, and those who cannot afford it will simply go walking or by bike. The people in the villages are very peaceful, kind, warm hearted, alike cambodians and thais.
Van Vieng views of the river and mountains were exceptional. We didn't have time to visit the caves as we stayed there for a night only, but the town itself and the night market were nice to see and worth to spend some time shopping.
On the very next day we went to Luang Prabang, after a 5 hours bus ride. There are a lot of temples to be seen there and the boat along Mekong river for a sunset shot is very nice. We could see monks, ride on a tuk-tuk all the way long and even go to massage places. Worth to visit!!
The trip was quite packed and I wish I had more time to visit Van Vieng and Luang Prabang, but all in all it was a worth experience and very good to know how different asian countries are, since it was my dream to visit and get to know part of the culture and lifestyle.
The other day I realized that since I am in Malaysia I have been travelling for almost all south east asian countries. Only Philippines and Myanmar left to visit before I go back to Spain at the end of the month, and these two countries I will be visiting in short.
It is amazing that I could do so many trips during this year in spite of my few days off at work (8+4). Yet it seems that I came to Malaysia to travel and not to work!! haha :):)
One thing that will keep in my mind about this trip is how I entered to Singapore from Malaysia and also how we entered in Laos from Thailand. In both situations, the countries are connected by a bridge.
The bus from Kuala Lumpur to Singapore takes around 5 hours to reach, and on the way you have to stop to check your belongings and passport control. Then go back to the bus, cross the bridge and reach Singaporean's immigration.
Finally you are in Singapore.
Similar thing happens in Udon Thani, you have to take a bus or van to go to the frontier, issue your visa, then take a local bus that goes through a bridge and then at the end into Laos itself.
In the past, certainly rivers divided countries and the only way to go through was building up a bridge. The problem of finding a way to visit all places connected by bridges passing just once for each bridge with no way back, was also the origin of the theory of graphs and multiple applications nowadays make use of the famous theory of Euler and Königsberg bridges to be solved in computer science.
When I passed these bridges to go to Singapore and Laos, I reminded of it. Each bridge is leading you to a new place, a new step that is still unknown at first.
Not only as a part of traveling, but we are also travelers in life. What will happen in the future is often uncertain and it strongly depends on our lifestyle.
Some people likes to settle down and lead a comfortable life, some others challenge to change their life for what they really wish to accomplish.
Whatever type of person, each of us has a path to be discovered and achievements to be done. Nobody's great, nobody's wrong. From the simple family living in a wooden house in Laos to the most rich man in the world, all we share a wish to live and do things and enjoy whatever we want to do.
Our lives since we are born are alike a place which is connected to some others by bridges, where bridges are the choices we have, and each of them we decide to take will lead us to another part or experience in life. Sometimes the steps will be short, sometimes high, sometimes we may not want to try.
Not all the places can be seen, but most of them we will experience through trying different options and directions. And it is by trying that our life will be enriched. If we are lucky, we will find people along the same bridge that will accompany us in the path of life. Some others will be just traveling around and it will be nice to see and share even for a while.
I wish I could pass through all bridges, visit all places and connect and experience every single destination that each bridge is leading me to. The choices are always there. Different worlds, different experiences, different views of the same reality. It all depends on where we are, how we get there and in what timing.
Bridges may be wooden made, strong as steel or even irreal. Destinations maybe great, just nice or the worst of all. However, whatever direction we take, there will be always a way to go back, start off again wisely with the gained experience and keep trying. Thats the cycle of life.
The gates at KLIA airport will open soon for me. I will be checking in and leaving Malaysia in less than 48 hours. My destination this time, after being in all south east asia for a year, will be Spain, my hometown, my family, my friends.
