Weekly Photo: Cobra Lao-Lao (Whiskey)

Weekly Photo

Posted on | Posted by

Laos Cobra Whiskey (Lao-Lao)Cobra Lao-Lao (Whiskey)

Lao-Lao is the name of the local hooch in Laos. It’s a rice whiskey that nearly everyone drinks. I tried a shot of this from a vendor who also had lao-lao with scorpions and other such creatures. This stuff is strong! I felt it, and I’m not a lightweight. The cobras were once thought to give men vitality, but Laotians rarely drink lao-lao with cobras—it’s just for tourists, like having a worm in your Tequila in Mexico.

A word about a word: the name is actually not the same word repeated twice. The first is said with a rising tone, meaning alcohol, and the second is said with a falling tone, meaning the name of the country, Laos. Therefore, lao-lao literally means Laotian alcohol.

While we’re at it, there are couple spellings for Laos because of the French transliteration. The French named Laos in the plural because there were three kingdoms before they colonized Laos, so name ends with an “s.” Even so, in French the “s” is silent. More and more the name is seen as Lao, without the “s.”

A Visit to Vientiane

Discovery

Posted on | Posted by

Despite being in Southeast Asia several times, and basically living here for over six months, I never made it to Laos. I visited all of the surrounding countries, yet always failed to get inland to Laos. I finally made it to Laos. I needed to renew my visa for Thailand. I get a 30 day visa waiver on entry, but wanted to be able to stay longer, so I decided to get an actual Thai visa in Vientiane. The process … Continue reading →

Weekly Photo: Kuang Si Falls

Weekly Photo

Posted on | Posted by

Kuang Si Falls, Luang Prabang, LaosKuang Si Falls, Luang Prabang, Laos

The Kuang Si Falls just outside Luang Prabang in Laos are really beautiful, even during the dry season when I went. The falls cascade down through the hills leaving small pools behind, created by the calcium in the water (that also gives the water a bright blue color). You might expect the water to be somewhat warm, but its rather bracing, especially when you’re not expecting it!

Getting a Thai Visa in Laos

Experiences

Posted on | Posted by

Getting a Thai visa in Laos isn’t difficult if you know what to do. It’s best to be prepared with the application form, photos, copies, and baht. The visa process is simple, yet there seems to be a lot of confusion because it isn’t explained very well. What is on the Thai consulate website for Vientiane doesn’t tell you everything you’ll need either, so I’ll walk you through the visa process so you can get your Thai visa without issue. … Continue reading →

Weekly Photo: Prayer Flags on the Mekong

Weekly Photo

Posted on | Posted by

Flags on the Mekong, Vientiane, LaosPrayer Flags on the Mekong River, Vientiane, Laos

April in Laos is one of the hottest times to of the year. It’s just before the rainy season and the temperatures get well into the 100s F, exposing large sandbars on dry the Mekong River. For Buddhist New Year in early August, Buddhists build symbolic representations of Mt. Meru, the center of the Buddhist universe, from which to send off their prayers. These flags were beautiful as they blew in the scorching breeze, but they’ll be gone soon when the heavy rains fill the Mekong River once again.