Mekong River
After learning that our phone doesn't work outside of Thailand, Angela and I walked to the edge of the Mekong where we could see Thai mobile phone towers just across the river. I checked in with the bossman at International House and watched the murky river that forms the Thai-Laos border at Vientiane. Serving a diversity of economic and transportation purposes, this mighty chocolate milk shake is the geographic heart and soul of Laos and, for that matter, a host of other Asian peoples too.
To enter Laos, Angela and I crossed the Asian Old Muddy at the Laos-Thai Friendship Bridge. We filled out some applications, donated some passport-sized photos, paid some fees, and were eventually allowed to enter a Laos-bound shuttle bus ("No, you cannot walk across the Friendship Bridge" says everyone). Even from behind bus windows, the Mekong was awe-inspiring and totally sweet, especially considering the weight of history along its path. All the pedestrians who were somehow awarded Asian-native (or counterfit-Levi-smuggler) bridge-crossing priveleges seemed impressed too. Everyone stopped at the bridge's peak to lean over the railing and catch a glimpse of the chocolate flow.
In Vientiane, a handful of cool cafes sit along the river. Despite being slightly tourist-targeted, I highly recommend this area for people-watching, loafing, and soaking up the vibes. I also recommend cafe lao, a coffee concoction which appears to be a silty iced pint of the Mekong itself. At night, all the city's life-lovers gather by the river to drink beer, eat curries, and parlay in impromptu outdoor cafes. One night while we were in Vientiane, a group of 50 or so women, all dressed in spandex and sweatpants, gathered in a large, riverside pagoda to do aerobic leg lifts while American pop songs blasted through a PA. Lao teens with nothing to do leaned on motorbikes to watch the weirdness. Angela and I did the same, sans motorbike.
Dear Mekong River,
You are very cool and your vibes are quite righteous.
Love,
Mike
Footnote:
When the shuttle bus arrived on the Laos bank, its wheels were immediately hosed off by little men hiding in Chernobyl-style rubber suits. 'Sup with that?
After learning that our phone doesn't work outside of Thailand, Angela and I walked to the edge of the Mekong where we could see Thai mobile phone towers just across the river. I checked in with the bossman at International House and watched the murky river that forms the Thai-Laos border at Vientiane. Serving a diversity of economic and transportation purposes, this mighty chocolate milk shake is the geographic heart and soul of Laos and, for that matter, a host of other Asian peoples too.
To enter Laos, Angela and I crossed the Asian Old Muddy at the Laos-Thai Friendship Bridge. We filled out some applications, donated some passport-sized photos, paid some fees, and were eventually allowed to enter a Laos-bound shuttle bus ("No, you cannot walk across the Friendship Bridge" says everyone). Even from behind bus windows, the Mekong was awe-inspiring and totally sweet, especially considering the weight of history along its path. All the pedestrians who were somehow awarded Asian-native (or counterfit-Levi-smuggler) bridge-crossing priveleges seemed impressed too. Everyone stopped at the bridge's peak to lean over the railing and catch a glimpse of the chocolate flow.
In Vientiane, a handful of cool cafes sit along the river. Despite being slightly tourist-targeted, I highly recommend this area for people-watching, loafing, and soaking up the vibes. I also recommend cafe lao, a coffee concoction which appears to be a silty iced pint of the Mekong itself. At night, all the city's life-lovers gather by the river to drink beer, eat curries, and parlay in impromptu outdoor cafes. One night while we were in Vientiane, a group of 50 or so women, all dressed in spandex and sweatpants, gathered in a large, riverside pagoda to do aerobic leg lifts while American pop songs blasted through a PA. Lao teens with nothing to do leaned on motorbikes to watch the weirdness. Angela and I did the same, sans motorbike.
Dear Mekong River,
You are very cool and your vibes are quite righteous.
Love,
Mike
Footnote:
When the shuttle bus arrived on the Laos bank, its wheels were immediately hosed off by little men hiding in Chernobyl-style rubber suits. 'Sup with that?
posted by mike at 12:13 AM
1 Comments:
i thought your blog was cool and i think you may like this cool Website. now just Click Here
Post a Comment
<< Home