MANILA, Philippines - Getting to Laos is easy from Manila. Our group of 22 people?one man and 21 women, led by culture stalwart John Silva?was brought together by our love of culture, travel and the arts. We did an overnight stay in Bangkok to get in some good shopping and eating.
The cost of our five-day stay in Laos including airfare (Manila-Bangkok-Luang Prabang-Vientiane-Manila on Philippine Airlines, Bangkok Airways, Lao Airlines and Thai Airways) and hotels was P61,000.
Only our Bangkok hotel was not included in the package. It was well worth it. Laos is such a charming country, and not so far away.
Luang Prabang: Arriving in Luang Prabang is a bit like landing in Baguio?s Loakan airport. It?s got a wooden terminal with a rustic feel and friendly officers, who welcomed us with sweeping, open arms. ?Ah, Filipino! Please come in!?
Accommodations: The Grand Luang Prabang or The Villa Santi. For more adventurous travelers, there are less grand but no less charming colonial-era guest houses downtown overlooking the night market.
Must sees: The Royal Palace; Wat Mai Temple; textile market; night market; Ock Pop Tok, a shop with superb offerings in silk scarves, pillow covers and accessories, as well as a fabric museum showcasing a collection of astoundingly beautiful tribal costumes.
A trip to Luang Prabang would not be complete without a boat trip up the Mekong River to the Buddhist caves, where you may light candles and incense and connect with the universe in prayer.
Recommended eatery: Dine al fresco in the Restaurant Lao des 3 Nagas, which serves a tasty buffalo and dill stew and spicy pork salad. Or opt for one of the food stalls frequented by expats in the night market.
Side trip to Vientiane
A SHORT FLIGHT FROM LUANG Prabang, Vientiane is the capital of Laos.
Recommended accommodations: Green Park Boutique Hotel. Try its invigorating traditional Lao massage.
Must-sees: Vat Sisaket, the oldest temple in Vientiane, and the gilded Stupa Phat Luang. Purchase a pair of caged maya birds only to set them free when you make a wish inside the grounds of the Stupa Phat Luang.
For bargains and unique finds, comb the aisles of the textiles and silver markets. For exquisite silk scarves and shawls, visit Carol Cassidy Lao Textiles, named for the expat lady credited with helping local weavers earn a living while preserving their traditions. Items are pricey at US$50-$100 for a scarf, but they are of the highest quality and done in the most precious colors. To close the day, watch the sunset in the outdoor cafs by the Mekong, serenaded by musicians.
Recommended eatery: Le Silapa, a French restaurant where we sampled a slice of pate de foie gras sprinkled with rock salt, served with freshly baked gingerbread and a mound of hot, sugared pineapple. Heaven!
