The sharper edge to traveling in Asia

Archive for the 'Laos' Category

Chiang Mai area: Golden Triangle and Points North

Aside from trekking opportunities, many visitors make the northern run to Chiang Rai and the Golden Triangle, to visit the Mekong area and Burma.  There is very little to see in the ancient capital of Chiang Rai, as ancient buildings have been plowed-under.  A few minutes north, in the Golden Triangle area, where Thailand, Laos, […]

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WoWasis Book review: Harold Stephens’ Tales from the Pacific Rim

Harold Stephens is a well-regarded expat writer and sailor who has written a number of interesting books on Asian themes, and we’ve found his Tales from the Pacific Rim: The Man Who Wanted to Buy a Wife and Other Stories (2007, ISBN 0-9786951-0-0) to be a compelling read.  There are twenty short stories in this […]

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Touring the untraveled Wat Phu Champasak in Western Laos

The temple of Wat Phu Champasak is located on an unspoiled hillside setting, and its original structures date from approximately the 7th century ACE. Arranged on three levels, Champasak’s upper-level sanctuary provides a stunning view of the countryside, including the remaining baray (pond). Wat Phu Champasak boasts wonderful lintel carvings, bas-relief apsaras (dancers), and is […]

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WoWasis Recommended books on Laos: The Lao Bookshelf

Laos is as under-reported in literature as it is in the Press, so there are relatively few books particular to the country, compared to those pertaining to its neighbors in Thailand and Vietnam.  Here are a few that we at WoWasis recommend as worthy of your attention.  Non-Fiction Kay Danes’ prose is a bit twisted […]

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Top 5 travel sites in Laos

Tour Luang Prabang or tour Vientiane now! The ancient kingdom of Lan Xang is transforming itself into a country that has increasing amenities for the traveler, yet boasts delights that are still relatively untraveled.  Although increasingly popular, the royal capital of Luang Prabang remains one of the most beautiful towns in Southeast Asia, and an […]

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Spas in Laos: Discovering Laos’ Extraordinary Health Experiences

Laos has been a bit slow on the spa uptake, with fewer choices than neighboring Cambodia.  Spas are beginning to appear, limited at this time to Day Spas in Vientiane and Resort/Hotel Spas in Luang Prabang. Here’s what we’ve found:  Resort/hotel spas in Luang Prabang Angsana Spa at Maison Souvannaphoum Hotel Rue Chao Fa Ngum […]

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Morlam music: an Isaan pastiche of city and country

Morlam music, an infectious, riotous urban music originally from the Isaan northeast, is one of the predominant Thai musical genres you’ll find in Bangkok today. With its raging organ ostinados, high-flying guitar riffs, and rap-like vocal phrasing, morlam can be heard in street stalls, Thai bars, and taxi radios and VCD (video CD) players. A […]

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