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Kuang Si Falls
Your vacation in Laos should include a trip to Kuang Si Falls, located about 29 kilometers (18 miles) south of Luang Prabang in Laos. Even though there is a small fee for entry to this piece of paradise, (these funds are used to maintain the property in and around the attraction) it will be well worth it. You are welcome to bring your Swim suit and enjoy any of the blue pools which collect the water from the falls. For the adventure seekers, hikers are allowed to climb to the top of the falls.
Patuxai
If you have ever been to Paris and visited the Arc de Triomphe you will immediately see a resemblance here at Patuxai. Considering the fact that Patuxai means, in Laotian, "Gate of Triumph", the resemblance should not surprise you. In fact the plan by this former French Colony was to commemorate their independence with this monument. Even though the appearance of the monument is similar to that of the Arc de Triomphe, on closer inspection, an obvious Buddhist inspiration is quite evident. You may ascend to the top of the monument after a small fee, where the view will be well worth it.
Buddha Park
Located on the Mekong River shore, Buddha Park can be reached by taxi or by accessing the #14 bus from the main terminal in Vientiane. With operating hours between 8am and 6pm, there will be time enough to see everything. Considering the fact that one of the biggest sculptures here is a Buddha, one should never forget its name. You could spend most of the your day in the sculptures garden, (I know I would) just slowly enjoying the history of it all. This is a great opportunity to learn about the culture and history of Laos.
Luang Prabang:
Located more than four-hundred kilometers north of Vientiane, on the Mekong riverside, is Luang Prabang. Much smaller and closer than other towns in Laos, this town can be reached by air, or by a five hour bus ride. Because of the fact that everything is so close together, getting around this town will be a piece of cake. Much of the downtown area in Luang Prabang, was constructed around a low hill called Phou Si and it is there where you will experience views of the river and the town which will make your trip worthwhile.
Vientiane's Promenade
Most promenades, by their very name, suggest a bevvy of possibilities and Vientiane's Promenade is no different. The atmosphere and ambiance will make this venue, a perfect place to meet and greet others, or just sample some of the local cuisine. At sunset, you should make your way to the center of the promenade, where everything comes together, along with food stalls and a sunset that will make you wish you could stay forever.
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Many travelers, vacationers or retirees have the erroneous belief that if they come to Thailand they'll have to fork out thousands of dollars a month to experience an ideal Thai lifestyle. However, they'd be mistaken. In actual fact you can live a great Thai lifestyle for a lot less than that...
For starters, pretty much everything in Thailand will cost you a LOT less than a similar lifestyle in Europe or USA might cost. But don't just take my word for it. Let these examples (in US$) prove it to you:
o You can enjoy superb high speed Internet (broadband) for under $30 a month.
o You can rent a lovely, 2 story home with huge garden for around about $150 a month (depending where you live of course. Some areas more expensive, and some a lot less!)
o You can go out at night and tantalize your taste buds with a 3 or 4 course Thai dinner for about $15 (depending what you eat of course!)
o Alternatively you can 'eat in' and still eat really well (feel full to the brim after) for a mere $3 (and that's pushing it!)
o You can buy your own zippy little 115 cc Honda or Yamaha automatic motorbike (scooter) for about $1000 - or snap up a used bike for half that. (If you want to brave motorcycle taxis - it'll be anywhere from $1-$15 per trip).
o And as for general living costs, you'd stay right on top of things for about $6-10 a day...
Anyway, I'm sure you get the idea. As you can see, you can live a pretty comfortable Thai lifestyle for a lot less than $600 a month. Even more so if you budget your expenses carefully. Of course, you could just as easily fork out $6000 or $60,000 a month too, if you felt so inclined! So what are you waiting for?
