Northern Laos or Southern Laos?

Laos may be small but this landlocked nation is richly diverse. Its modest population of 6.5 million people is one of the most ethnically diverse in Southeast Asia, with 86 living languages and 49 official ethnicities. The geography also varies greatly, from the open plains and plateaus of the south, through to the north, with its impenetrably high mountain ranges; the capital city Vientiane acts as the dividing hub in the centre.

Though the distances you might wish to travel in Laos can seem small, don’t underestimate the amount of time needed to travel from point A to point B. We’ve seen proposed itineraries that go from Luang Prabang to Pakse by road in a day (tip: do NOT use Google Maps when calculating travel time) or one week plans that include trekking in Nong Kiaow, tubing in Vang Vieng and some downtime in the 4,000 Islands. Unless you can teleport, it’s impossible. If you only have two weeks or less, we recommend you pick either northern Laos or southern Laos. So which is right for you?

In a hurry? You’re in the wrong country.

Northern Laos has been cemented into the “Banana Pancake Trail”, the well-trodden backpacker circuit that includes Huay Xai to Luang Prabang by slow boat and Vang Vieng. While the two-day boat journey will give you an appreciation for just how undeveloped and remote the country is, a sacred unexplored passage it is not.

In the north, the ethnic minorities are actually the majority population. If you’re interested in learning about ethnic tribes like the Hmong, Akha and Tai Dam, head to Luang Nam Tha, the most ethnically diverse province in Laos, with 19 different tribes steadfastly holding onto their traditions. It’s only 2.5 hours on excellent roads from Huay Xai at the Thai border, yet it’s often skipped as most travellers choose the slow boat to Luang Prabang.

Taking a walk in the woods.

There’s a reason people flock to Luang Prabang. A UNESCO World Heritage Centre since 1995, the town has 34 wats and a special mix of French colonial and Lao architecture that oozes with charm. It’s a living museum and your visit is an immersion. It’s a fantastic spot to experience cultural events like the boat racing festival, the boat lantern festival and wild Lao New Year Pi Mai celebrations. Not to be missed are the turquoise waters of Kuang Si waterfall, just 45 minutes from town and often ranking as a top highlight of people’s entire trips.

Cool off.

Before you dismiss Luang Prabang as too touristy, remember that more visitors means better tourist infrastructure: museums, guides, educational activities and transportation, from local bus to tourist vans. The town boasts guesthouses and hotels to suit everyone’s taste and budget, from $5 hostels to five-star hotels.

Vang Vieng is a playground. Once infamous for drink-and-drug fuelled debauchery while tubing down the river, the town has cleaned up its act considerably and now tries to lure more refined travellers. Visitors appreciate Vang Vieng these days it for its stunning natural beauty – easily one of the most spectacular vistas in the entire country. There’s a range of good value places to stay and activities such as kayaking, rock climbing and blue lagoons. Backpackers don’t fret: tubing, banana pancakes and endless episodes of Friends are still a Vang Vieng mainstay.

Not a happy pizza in sight.

Those craving remoteness need time and willpower to get there. A loop through the northeast near the Vietnamese border is a journey through both ancient and recent history. Phonsavan is home to the mysterious megalithic Plain of Jars, and it was one of the most heavily bombed areas in Laos during the Secret War. Visit the caves in Vieng Xai, the headquarters of the Pathet Lao and where 20,000 people survived in a hidden city.

Oh Vieng Xai.

Southern Laos requires an adventurous and independent streak. Far fewer travellers venture here and you may encounter only a handful of foreigners along the way. Transportation is mainly local bus or shared songthaew. Service can be erratic, connections difficult. The best way to explore the region is by motorbike. The good news is that the roads are flatter and in far better condition than the treacherous roads of the north.

Southern Laos is Shangri-La for outdoor enthusiasts: Jet eight kilometres on a subterranean river through Konglor Cave, a highlight on the popular Tha Khaek Loop. Zip-line through forest canopy. Motorbike the Bolaven Plateau, home to coffee plantations and waterfalls galore: Tad Lo, Tad Yuang and Tad Fane, to name a few.

Into the cave we go.

Wat Phu, eight kilometres from Champasak, is a UNESCO-protected complex of pre-Angkorian and Khmer Empire ruins from the fifth to 15th century. Pre-dating Angkor Wat, it was once an important imperial and religious centre. You will need a guide or do your own reading to appreciate the early and classic Khmer architecture, the symbolic layout and the Hindu motifs found throughout.

Wat Phu views.

In need of a backpacker haven? Don Dhet near the southern border with Cambodia has the requisite reggae bar and cheap bungalows. This is as close to island life as it gets in Laos – and as far away from the real Laos. The most popular activity is zoning out in a hammock. Snap out of it and you may realise you were supposed to leave a week ago. The 4,000 Islands are for rest and relaxation. There really isn’t much to do except chew the fat with other backpackers while you wait for the food you ordered three hours ago.

4,000 islands: It pays to get out of the hammock.

Not to be forgotten in the middle, Vientiane is a capital city going through unprecedented changes and rapid growth. Travellers often dismiss it as boring and try to skip it. Hang around though and you’ll discover galleries, iconic monuments and a great wine-and-dine scene: hip cafes, vibrant bars and an array of excellent local and international restaurants. Vientiane represents what Laos aspires to be.

The wheels on the bus go round and round…

While you really should explore the country top to tip, we know it may not be feasible. North or south, expect stunning natural beauty and a traditional way of life that revolves around the village, religion and rice fields. It also wouldn’t be a trip to Laos if you didn’t spend some time on a river; The Mekong and waterways are the lifeblood of the entire country.

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Some photos'll make you re-evaluate your life

They say a picture is worth a thousand words. In this case, you may be right. A picture can capture the essence of something powerful than any writer or poet. A picture is simple; It is right in front of you, completely unfiltered. The words can be lost in translation out of context; its confusing and misunderstood sense. The images are not only a mixture of colors captured on paper. They are something that can shake and evoke raw emotions in us.

There are examples of the importance of standard images. According to the Pew Research Center, an Internet user is 7.4 times more likely to click on the content, if an image is attached to it. branding and marketing experts carefully using combinations of colors and images to persuade us to buy certain products. But why are we drawn to these images? How have too much power over us?

Psychologists explain that the images help you easily spend four key stimulants: expectations, emotion, motivation and culture. The four course are of great importance in daily life and exploiting innate ID. Visual images and also cause projections of the observer. If you put a picture of a boy and his dog in front of you and me and another ten, this probably means something different to everyone who sees it. Perhaps one of the groups recently lost his dog, maybe someone had a bad childhood experience with a dog. In all cases, the reaction of each person in the image can be based on previous experiences and opinions. Subjectivity take over and dictate the emotions you feel when presented with this picture.

n this sense, the images are not only a snapshot of isolating a single moment. Are deep memories good and bad memories. They are catalysts for emotional reactions.

They are powerful to something greater than oneself and which are visual representations of their deepest fears and desires of the connections.

In explaining the reasoning makes sense intellectually. You understand that A causes B. But, after all, there is a reason why I say that seeing is believing. No collection of words, or a sequence of sentences can match the impact of a powerful image. Buy something, be it a horrible picture of war or an inspiring example of humanity, instantly becomes real. He does all traceable to a comfortable level.

I am a writer; I like words. But I can admit that in this digital age, a picture of a loved one means more to me than a text message. Images can be succinctly represented in this world that complicated prose.

Look at these pictures and all they represent. Conflicting ideologies of power and love seen in heavily armed police rejected peaceful demonstrators. True happiness lies in a elderly couple making faces and kissing when the camera takes. Hope for a better world when you come across a picture of 100,000 monks gathered to pray. A reminder that everything is possible, as you watch the Beatles playing in an almost empty room the club a year before the Beatles. All these images have no explanation, since the content of the photos speak for themselves.

"I've never read. I just look at the pictures," said Andy Warhol once.

And why not? The images are very complex in its simplicity; A picture can tell a story.

To paraphrase Gandhi, has two eyes and one mouth for a reason.

 

 

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Top 20 most beautiful world living spaces

If you surf the Internet ideas for interior decoration and renovation tips, you are at right place. In today's article we are reaping the 20 most beautiful living spaces in the world. I'm sure you hate your apartment after the departure of the images below. Switzerland, across America and even Australia, there is a better project within that we have collected and united in the gallery below. We hope you enjoy:

The Heinz Julen Penthouse in Zermatt, Switzerland

The Clock Tower Apartment in Brooklyn, NY

The Yellowstone Club in Big Sky, Montana

The Firefly in Zermatt, Switzerland

St. Lucia with resort

 

Chalet Brickell in Rhone-Alpes, France

Converted cathedral

The Over Water Bungalow at Le Meridien in Bora Bora

 

The Igloo Village in Kakslauttanen, Finland

The Ladera Resort in St. Lucia Resort

The Underwater bedroom in the Maldives

The Garden House in Brazil

 

The Pretty Beach House on the Bouddi Peninsula in Australia

Jade Mountain in St. Lucia

The Southern Ocean Lodge on Kangaroo Island in Australia

The Tree House in Costa Rica

The Redwood grove cabin in California

The Royal Loft Suite aboard the Oasis of the Seas

The Chalet Zermatt Peak in Switzerland

The One Room Glass Iglo House

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Organic Berlin

Where To Eat

“The point isn’t to be a vegan restaurant, it’s to be a very good restaurant” says Ilhami Terzi, the charming Turkish-German owner of Kopps.  The dishes that stunned me was pumpkin-seed crusted kohlrabi on a bed of pearl barley cooked with red wine and garnished with truffled black salsify. Be sure to order a glass of wine from the all-organic list of mostly German vintages.
Linienstrasse 94, Berlin; kopps-berlin.de 

Lucky Leek is gourmet vegan restaurant in the hip Prenzlauerberg district, where it was founded three years ago by a team that originally trained at La Mano Verde. The kitchen has since won a serious reputation for dishes like mushrooms stuffed with smoked sweet potato and green-pea-and-nori filet with horseradish, caper vinaigrette, and a braised cucumber mash.
Kollwitzstrasse 54, Berlin; lucky-leek.de

At La Mano Verde, Jean-Christian Jury, a French chef who set up shop in Berlin in 2011 after cooking in London and living in some 32 other countries, presides over some of the most fashionable tables in Berlin for vegans and omnivores alike. Two of Jury’s most popular signature dishes are spaghetti de la mer, gluten-free rice-flour spaghetti cooked with wakame and Passe-Pierre seaweed, sundried tomatoes, and sesame, chili, and coriander-garlic oil; and a decadent plum-and-walnut cheesecake, where a custardy base of coconut oil and cashews replaces the usual dairy component of the dessert.
Uhlandstrasse 181-183, Berlin; lamanoverdeberlin.com

Berlin’s headliner vegan chef, Bjorn Moschinski, has been vegan since he was 15. At his new restaurant Mio Matto in the trendy Friedrichshain district of Berlin, he offers dishes like   a soup of “duck” (astonishingly luscious textured soy protein), red cabbage and orange with a toasty sesame seed garnish.
Warschauerstrasse 33, Berlin; miomatto.de

Occupying the former premises of an Irish pub, this all-vegan fair-trade organic produce restaurant is run by chef Steffen Weigel, who formerly worked at La Mano Verde. Viasko’s menu changes regularly but runs to dish like fennel bulb risotto with preserved tomatoes and pepper stuffed with rice, mushrooms and soy protein with rosemary potatoes and herb cream.
Erkelenzdamm 49, Berlin; viasko.de

Where To Stay

The Almodovar Hotel is afriendly, well-designed newly built sixty-room stay in the trendy Friedrichshain district. It’s also  100 percent organic and environmentally sustainable. The hotel’s Bardot restaurant serves an organic vegetarian menu. Bed linens and other textiles used at the hotel are made from organically farmed fibers, all cleaning products at the hotel are organic, and recycled and recyclable materials are used whenever possible. Bicycle rentals are available on site, and there’s also a small spa, including a sauna with views of the city. Boxhagener Strasse 83, Berlin; almodovarhotel.de

Source : rodalesorganiclife[dot]com

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Phuket for kids

With dozens of beaches, a wide choice of hotels and a good mix of cultural and natural attractions, Phuket is one of the most child-friendly places to travel in Thailand.

At the beaches, larger stretches of sand like Kata, Kamala, Bang Tao and Patong beaches have shallow waters and plenty of space to build a sand castle. Snorkelling is also possible at most beaches, with the smaller Ya Nui and Ao Sane beaches offering some of the best underwater sights.

Ya Nui is just one of many kid-friendly beaches on Phuket.

More snorkelling sites are found in the waters and islands around Phuket, and families could arrange day or overnight trips to Coral Island, Ko Raya, Ko Phi Phi, the Similans or other nearby islands in the region. For older children, learning to dive is easy to arrange on Phuket, with plenty of dive shops offering PADI and CMAS courses.

Phang Nga Bay is busy but still a magical place to paddle.

A day trip to Phang Nga Bay, either aboard a longtail boat or joining a sea kayak trip, is sure to be a highlight for kids, or if you’re just looking to paddle around there are kayaks for rent at Ya Nui and other beaches around Phuket. If doing any boat trips, we recommend bringing along life jackets for the children, since some operators may not have child-sized jackets on hand.

Active kids of all ages will love the chance to try standup paddle (SUP) or surfing lessons. Though beach activities have been limited since the 2014 Thai army beach encroachment clearouts, it’s still possible to hire boards and arrange for lessons at some beaches, including Kata and Bang Tao. If sea conditions are not ideal, kids could go for a wakeboarding or flowboarding session. Another popular on-the-water activity is sailing, with children’s dinghy sailing courses held regularly at the Ao Chalong Yacht Club.

Dinghy yachts are ideal for novice sailors learning the ropes.

Phuket isn’t known as a big hiking destination but it does have some trails for kids to explore. Kathu waterfall is a small park with pools to cool down in and a short trail. Within Khao Phra Thaeo national park on Phuket’s northern interior are Bang Pae and Tonsai waterfalls, both with hiking trails that kids can navigate safely.

Lots to discover along Bang Pae waterfall’s jungle path.

The Gibbon Rehabilitation Project, found near Bang Pae waterfall, offers an excellent chance for children to observe and learn about this endangered ape. Families who wish to learn more about local animal welfare efforts could also visit Soi Dog Foundation near Mai Khao beach, a charity that shelters and rehomes Phuket’s abused and abandoned dogs and cats and offers daily tours of its facilities. The Phuket Aquarium in Cape Panwa is small but it’s worth a stop especially for kids interested in marine life who might be too young or timid to snorkel.

Phuket’s two wake parks offer some splashy skill-building away from the beach.

Phuket is home to several more animal attractions, but with concerns over the treatment of the animals, not to mention the safety of visitors, we’re reluctant to recommend any elephant riding, animal show or tiger petting attractions here. A number of well-regarded, global tour operators have stopped booking animal activities in Thailand for the same reasons.

If you’re keen for your kids to experience an animal encounter, we’d recommend doing some research before visiting any local attraction. As well, we’ll just lay it out here: in our opinion, forcing animals to perform for human entertainment is possibly harmful to the animal and offers little chance for children to learn anything about wildlife. A better option, if you have time to travel around the region, might be to make a journey up to Khao Sok national park, where kids could join guided nature walks and night safaris.

Plenty of food and a festive atmosphere at Lard Yai market.

If needing a break from the beach, Phuket’s municipal parks including Saphan Hin in Phuket Town and the lake near Nai Harn beach are good places to relax with the family. Another inland activity fun for kids is mini-golf, with two locations in Phuket: the Jurassic-themed Dino Park in Karon beach and Phuket Adventure Mini Golf, found on the road leading to Bang Tao beach.

With its beaches stealing all the limelight, Phuket’s cultural sights are often overlooked, but its history and food especially are worth exploring if the kids are up for it. Most of the island’s cultural attractions are in Phuket Town, home to the historic Old Town streets, the Thai Hua museum, Baan Chinpracha mansion and the Lard Yai Sunday street market.

Those with more time to travel around the island could go visit the Phuket Mining Museum in Kathu or the Thalang National Museum near the Heroines’ Monument. Though museums in Phuket are small and sometimes lacking in information, they offer some insight into Phuket’s heritage and history. Phuket’s Wat Chalong and the Big Buddha are also lively spots to bring the kids and introduce them to Phuket’s Buddhist traditions. For a more in-depth cultural experience, we’d highly recommend the Phuket Heritage Trails tour.

Silly fun with photos at the Trickeye Museum.

On the food front, Phuket is well developed to appeal to kids with all tastes, with choices from the usual fast-food brands to burger and pizza shops to hotel buffets. But you’ll want to introduce your kids to some local food, which is cheap and delicious.

The best local eats are found in Phuket Town, while most every beach resort area has a local market where you can pick up such kids’ favourites as fried chicken with sticky rice, corn on the cob and roti pancakes. The more adventurous might enjoy selecting live seafood from the Moken sea gypsy market on Rawai beach, where their pickings will be cooked and served on the spot.

If it’s raining, or if the kids need a break from the tropical heat, they could spend some time at one of the indoor play parks in the malls, go bowling or see a movie. Most of our Phuket rainy-day activity suggestions will also appeal to children. The Trickeye Museum in Phuket Town is another indoor option, a quirky place for taking silly photographs that make you appear to be part of a large trompe-l’oeil scene.

The Karon beach Centara Grand resort’s swimming hole and water slides are a hit with kids.

Phuket has many child-friendly resorts and hotels, too many to list here, but among the best large resorts we’ve seen for kids are the Holiday Inn Patong plus the newer Holiday Inn on Mai Khao beach, Angsana Laguna Resort on Bang Tao beach, DoubleTree Resort by Hilton at Surin Beach, Centara Grand Beach Resort on Karon beach (especially for its lazy river and water slides), and Centara Grand West Sands Resort on Mai Khao, which offers free entry for its guests at the Splash Jungle Water Park next to the resort.

Smaller resorts with pools and sea views that are good for children include Serenity Resort and Friendship Resort in Rawai and Aochalong Villa Resort. Or for a more rustic beachside place try Yanui Bungalows or Ao Sane Bungalows — just a few suggestions.

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