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Singapore
and Hong Kong may be First World destinations but these
places are the equivalent of a summer spent with a
cross-stitching fanatic grandma.
A trip
to Laos, on the other hand, is like a sizzling summer
fling—new, exotic and ultimately unforgettable.
Crowned
by globetrotters as the New Queen of Asia, Laos
(pronounced by locals as ‘Lao’) is a neo-hip destination
on the verge of discovery.
Known as
the Land of a Million Elephants, the country is
seemingly untouched by time and globalization. There is
no smoggy metropolis, no skyscrapers, no aggressive
entrepreneurialism, no Starbucks—at least not yet.
The main
attraction of this former French colony is its preserved
natural scenery and culture.
It will
be easy to become enthralled with the abundance of
picturesque rice fields, jagged limestone mountains and
sprawling caves.
A unique
experience is to see the monks, hair shaven and wearing
bright orange robes, placidly walking barefoot on the
road. Travelers can even stop by a Buddhist temple and
hear them chant.
Laos’s
hilltribe people, who still wear their traditional
costumes and about five pounds worth of metal jewelry,
offer a visual feast.
French
influences that intertwine with the Third World charms
of Laos result in quaint architectures and amazing
cuisines. The typical Lao street food is a French
baguette filled with smoked barbecued chicken, fresh
tomato and cucumber topped with cream cheese. Drink a
cup of Lao coffee to wash the meal down.
Many say
that Laos is “one of the last quiet countries on earth.”
But just like lovers on a summer rendezvous, the romance
won’t last forever. So travelers and adventurers must
take the leap (or the plane) and just fall in love with
this beautiful country before it loses its blush.
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