Laos

From Luang Prabang to Don Det. Laos is still pristine and undiscovered. Ok, Luang Prabang is swept with tourism. But still, it has a special charm... an unbelievable number of Wats, lively markets and bustling river. There is lots to do around, from sightseeing trips to nearby "caves" to amazing waterfalls... And don't forget to try the food specialty, "mekong algae"... eh, crunchy but not really to my taste...

Vang Vieng is a "drunken" backpacker paradise... From watching TV shows to getting drunk on and off the nearby river. Yep, tubing is the main attraction, though i kept away from it. But if you rent a bicycle, you can go and see amazing scenery and villages by yourself... drunken backpackers do not stray far away from the river...

Vientiene is a capital, one of the most laid back capitals i have seen.. Nice to relax, though probably one can get really bored after a few days... But for me, probably the most enchanting place were the 4000 islands down in the south, near the border with Cambodia. Don Det was the place (although with lots of tourist) that still kept some tranquility with the breathtaking sunsets over mekong...

Yep. There is still lots to see in Laos. And it is a safe and friendly country. And if you stray away from the tourist path you will definitely encounter one of the most pristine countries in the world... Definitely still on my list to re-visit it some day... as i haven't seen some places, especially in the north-west of the country...

Link to more photos: http://matty.breg.si/photo/asia/laos/index.html