Random Laos observations

Imagine buying cigarettes from a 6 year old little Laos girl who doesn't speak a word of English.

You don't need a permit to build something here. As long as you have the time and money start building :)

Imagine a barber shop, 2x2m, three walls and a roof. One seat in the middle. Nothing more. It looks more like an abandoned trash dump.

Imagine bars at the river just selling all kinds of thee, pancakes, and fruitshakes with opium , mushrooms or marihuana.

Imagine on top of that there are severe jail punishments when you get caught consuming any of it. Or of course, you just pay :)

Imagine that when you actually go to jail, no one knows how long you are going to stay there. No one will even know you ARE there.

Imagine that in Laos jail you don't get any food. It's up to your family to provide you with food. If not, you just die.

Imagine that when something bad happens like an accident, people will run away instead of helping you. Just to avoid any responsibility.

Imagine the police is not here to help you at all. They're only here to get your money or put you in jail. Or just to make your life miserable :) Even if you didn't do anything wrong.

Imagine the average monthly wage in Laos is about 100 US dollars.

Imagine this country is like 80 % jungle with wild tigers, bears, elephants, leopards, monkeys and much more wildlife.

Imagine there are approximately 6,5 million people in Laos and more than 10 million unexploded landmines.

Imagine that subsistence agriculture still accounts for half of the GDP and provides 80% of total employment in Laos.

Imagine that approximately 77% of Lao farm households are self-sufficient in rice.

Imagine that this is the land of a million elephants.

Now imagine yourself traveling here, alone. Priceless :)