incase anyone's wondering what PDR stands for, its "Peoples Democratic Republic" or as its otherwise known "Please Don't Rush".
as i may have mentioned before, i've been spending 6 months a year out here in asia and 6 months back home for 6 years now, so thats 3 years out here. in this time i've been into laos 10 times(you can only get a 30 day visa at a time). the 1st time i went back in late 2000 i fell in love with the place and thats how its been ever since... until this time!
travelling in laos is not the same as travelling in thailand. thailand is a piece of cake compared to laos. but over the last couple of years things have got better, some of the transport has improved and the roads are getting better. but its still bloody hard work if you want to see the real laos.
but along with certain things getting better a lot of things have got a lot worse. guest house and hotel prices have gone through the roof, in some places by 400 or 500%. now, if you're planning to travel there and you're on a budget (which i always am) you'll find it hard to get by. i used to go there to save some money but thats impossible now. and its all down to greed. too many rich tourists (mainly french and american) are turning the laos people into money crazy, money grabbing thieves. where you would be able to get a room for the night for $1 or $2 before, they're now charging upto $10 and in some places $15. and laos is still a 3rd world country. most of the population probably only earn this much a month. is this true communism????
after planning a month of travels in laos i left after 5 days, completely sick of what had happened to a country, that was so beautiful, in such a short time. if you are planning to go, go soon, before its too late.
i know this blog probably makes me sound like a moaning shite who should be happy with what i've got, but fuck it! it really pissed me off and i just wanted to get it out.
thanx for reading it if you did. 'til next time!
yanni
P.S. going back to koh chang soon, need to chill again!!!
-
-
ultrakoichi
- http://www.geocities.com/ultrakoichi/
- 28/02/2006 @ 16:29:41
-
-
-
yanniutah99
- 05/03/2006 @ 11:55:26
back in bangkok now, jeez its hot here!! got 5 weeks left in thailand then its back to the uk, now that sucks!! cold, wet weather and having to work for a living in a real job.
-
-
-
phinebooty
- 07/03/2006 @ 11:30:03
Hi Yanni, it's great that you are alerting us to the dangers and possibly geting swindled. Americans never really care how much they are paying, which is a bit on the moronic side. But jeez! $1 was a real bargain. so you don't think it is worthit paying all that much. I
If it helps, it's not really wet the at moment her, but it might be when you get here
Are you going to post some pics here so we can see all thse wonderful places? -
-
-
yanniutah99
- 10/03/2006 @ 06:58:43
Hi Phine, like I say in this particular blog about my time spent travelling, i'm out here a long time, I have no choice but to be on a budget, I don't know whats around the next corner. It just jars me off when you stay in a place 1 year and its got a certain price but you come back 2 years later, its been taken over by westerers, the accomodation has got older but they decide on a massive price hike.
The average wage in Thailand is something like 200/250 baht per day for 10 hours work if you're lucky enough to get a job in a factory. Now when you consider that its 70 baht to the pound thats not a lot. In Laos the people are even worse off. Sorry, i'm starting to drag on again.
How can people charge so much and still pay their staff average wage??? -
Good journey tales dude, so now you are at Laos? I also use my blog as a whinger stuff! It's normal dude. Koh Chang sounds like my Japanese nick name!