Laos - Living and Working

[sierradelta]

Hi Guys,

I've been off the radar for a while. Work has been insane.

Well, I’ve now been here in Laos ~8 weeks (fcuk it feels like ~8 years)

It’s an absolute blast, the job is great, the country is great and the people are fantastic.

I’m all over the place for work at the moment, working from either 2 x mine sites are from our HQ in Vientiane

Love working in Vientiane…but it can be a bit “dangerous” for an "single" expat. Let’s just say that the “nightlife” is very much alive and well in Vientiane.

Have I just been here too long or are the Lao women BEAUTIFUL (not all, but most of the ones I get to see)

You just need to remember the following simple “universal” suggestions:
• Be smart…not stupid.
• If you go out to get “pissed” take a friend.
• The Lao Police’s tolerance factor for idiots is only 5% (max).
• 20,000 Kip is not ($20.00) and it is not a lot of money to tip someone for good service etc.
• 1,000 – 5,000 kip notes just clogg up your wallet and are only good for lighting fires with. (Or to buy sweets with for the village workers children).
• Remember the midnight curfew in the most areas.
• After midnight the Tuk Tuks double in price (triple if you have a girl - they try it on re: the whole “Cheap Charlie” thing.
• Genuine Lao food will make your A “burn” in the morning.
• The French Patisseries are great for a sugar fix.
• BeerLao is great…BeerLao Dark is better…The BeerLao Girls are even better still.
• Whisky is cheap enough to wash your motorbike with.
• Look down when walking on the footpath at night (the Lao steal the sewerage cover grates for scrap steel and it is a 6 foot drop)
• Don’t ride a motorbike without a license or helmet during the day.
• Don’t ride a motorbike with your GF on the back during the day.
• The above 2 do not apply after dark (except maybe the license if you hit a check point).
• Do not buy a motorbike over 250cc (you can…but don’t)
• It takes far too much time to cross the Friendship Bridge in you own car to go to NK or OT…take the bus.
• Be “discrete” with the girls in public view.
• Be polite and courteous.
• Little things do matter.
• Have a good time as the Lao certainly do…

I went back to Tasmania (Australia) during my last 2 weeks roster…talk about “bitter”, the longer I stayed there the more pissed off I became.

Does any other FIFO expats experience that? Or maybe I’m just getting old and bitter?

I’m not going “home” this break, I’m off to the North of Laos to check out the country and also I’m off down to Cambodia for a look.

I’m trying to get into Patong for maybe 4 nights just before I return to Laos for a quick feel of sand and salt water between the toes (Geez…these border locked countries sure do SUCK!).

That’ll do for now…I hope to catch up last week Sept at the MTB

Cheers

SD

[fun2have]

great update SD, maybe we can have a border dispute some time in nong khai

[M & M]

Glad to hear that you are having a blast in Vientiane, the job is good and you are enjoying Laos.

Be Sure you get up to Luang Prabang on your break SD...it's a blast of a little town...a real step back in time...so laid back and quiet...only 60,000 people in the whole area and there's some great tours and sites to see around there...

A good one is the river cruise up to Pa Ku Caves...and the highlight is lunch at the Pa Ku Village...had a fish laab there to die for and a fantastic fish Tom Yum...fantastic spot...

We didn't spend enough time in Luang Prabang and will have to get back there one day.

Marcia

[LivinLOS]

I had a LT thing with a Lao girls for a while.. Great chick but curfews kinda put me off vientiane a bit..

[Crustasian]

Good to hear that you have settled in and are getting around.

Good list for advice for any future visits.

[Tyfon]

Glad to hear you are enjoying Laos.

If there is a midnight curfew, how can the tuk-tuks charge anything, let alone double, after midnight?

[sierradelta]

Originally Posted by Tyfon

Glad to hear you are enjoying Laos.

If there is a midnight curfew, how can the tuk-tuks charge anything, let alone double, after midnight?

Quite Simple...Because they know you are desperate to get home "under the radar" ASAP.