The Do's and Don'ts of Laos

When in Laos - The Do's and Dont's

DO eat as much suprisingly delicious local Laos food as possible.
DO stay in cheaper guesthouses ($6-10/nt) so you can afford daily massages ($6-10/hr)
DON'T expect the "VIP" bus to be VIP.
DON'T drink the Lao Lao snake whiskey (without expecting to get alcohold poisoning).
DO go 100% all-in for the Laos backpacker right of passage - tubing in Vang Vien.
DON'T touch your face after handling Laos kip (currency).
DO use hand sanitizer before eating with your hands.
DON'T expect the roosters to crow only in the morning.
DON'T swim in the mighty Mekong River.
DO try the Oreo, Coffee, Mixfruit shakes (but maybe not all in combination - eg. Coffeebanana)
DO choose the Laap Laos (google it)
DON'T try eating sticky rice with chopsticks.
DO swim in as many waterfalls as possible (even if the water is freezing).
DO make friends with your tuk tuk driver.
DON'T haggle over 1000kip (it'sonly 13cents!)
DON'T expect 'western' safety standards for ANYTHING (eg 3rd story balcony's with no railings is not uncommon)
DO eat street food (it's the cheapest and the best)
DO try the traditional Laos sauna
DON'T spend more than 10minutes in it.
DO wake up at dawn to observe the novice monks collecting alms from the locals.
DO sneak photo's of them under their umbrella's (respectfully of course).
DO try a "sindad" (Laos style BBQ)
DO have BeerLaos at sunset by the river.
DO carry toilet paper with you at all times.
DO stop to watch the miriad of butterflies, dragonflies and waterfalls.
DO slow down and observe the beauty of the simple life.

Time Out THAILAND!

Following the up's and down's of our journey through Vietnam we hit Thailand with a big fat open heart and were pleasantly met with equal love and enthusiasm by the Thai's aboard our flight from Hanoi and beyond.  The Thai people are so warm and cheeky (much like the Balinese) and it was a refreshing change from our underwhelming experience in our final days in Hanoi.

After a marathon journey (think: 12hr overnight train - 2hr flight - 3hr layover - 2hr flight - 1hr bus ride) we finally arrived in Krabi.  To recharge the system, naturally we hit up the night markets and had our first Pad Thai and spicy (insert extra Kah-Pow here!) curry.  And so began the theme for the next 10days - The Day(s) of Eating starring Christi, John, Jenni and Simon.  And what better a country to try on some of the best food anywhere.  Among our faves was Green curry (we even befriended a chef and convinced him to let us into his kitchen to watch him cook it for us), Massaman curry, PaNANG (with extra spice!) - and the dessert that saved my life: Banana in Coconut Milk.  Heaven in a bowl - double complete rainbow - you seriously haven't lived until you've tried this.  (To be followed shortly thereafter by the end of the day of eating due to utter and double complete fullness.)

After hitting up Koh Lanta, Koh Phi Phi and Bankok, our highlites included - scootering galore, snorkelling at Koh Ha (black tip reef shark sighting!), getting invited to the local Sea Gypsy village celebration (where even our Thai host couldn't speak the local dialect!), full moon celebration, hammocking (and purchasing), double complete jungle hiking on Phi Phi followed by Relax Bay relaxing.  Longtail boat rides, MBK, Koh San Road, whisky buckets, grilled fish that's burn your face off, "interactive" ping pong, a touch of constipation, full body rashes and a trip to the 5 star Bangkok hospital that has a valet (seriously - Canada can take a tip or ten from Thailand about hospitals). And in true Ko fashion, you can't leave the Koh's without a surprise engagement!  Congratulations Jenni and Simon!

Which brings us to some interesting hoop jumping at Laos border immigration.. a touch of bed bugs (thanks Andy for the safety net!) and now we're in full on Laos PDR effect (PLEASE DON"T RUSH)... The patisseries in Laos are out of this world so the Days of Food theme may stay alive yet... don't expect us to come home skinny.. then again - we still have India ahead of us..