Attractiveness wise, how do Lao women compare to Thai women?

On average slightly less attractive because the country is poorer and women can't afford nice clothes/haircuts/makeup but the top 5% is probably comparable to Thailand's to 5%.

i actually much prefer lao women

nice work on the blog so far, btw

In Thailand, many teaching jobs can be easily had for 30,000-40,000 baht per month for 12-20 hrs of work per week. In other parts of Asia, you can make much more.

Does any type of similar options exist in Laos? If so, how many hours do they work and what do they get paid?

Do farangs teach private lessons (english, math, science, ect) for a decent wage there, and if so, is it legal?

Always nice to have a backup!

You can easily get a job teaching English for anything between $5-15/hr. If you have a lot of experience and good connections you can probably get a decent-paying job teaching English to Ministry xyz or NGO abc. Every teacher wants private lessons but these are hard to get and jealously guarded. Some places will get you a work visa, some are just under the table.

Really good article about China and Vietnam competing for influence in Laos.

I found a great grinding spot called the Spirit House by the Mekong with relatively fast wifi. They also have good deals on German beer but the place fills up with middle-aged NGO types when it starts getting dark.

I also just found a great internet cafe that's cheap, fast, and has 22" LCD monitors and comfy chairs. It's hard to describe the location, if you're interested, PM me and I'll draw you a map or something.

Hey Norwegian guy who commented on my blog, I really appreciate the comment but I had to delete it because it mentioned 2+2. I don't want the site to mention anything about 2+2 or any other stuff that could link to my real identity. With a government this crazy, it's probably better to be paranoid. I saved your post but I don't have the option to delete the 2+2 part:
Feel free to repost, just say "the other site" or something. Newteabag is a backgammon fanatic, PM him for info about any games in Thailand. I'd be happy to meet up with you when you get here, pm me or send an email to laosblog@gmail.com

My site is now at www.LivingLaos.com. In a week or so I'll put up a redesigned site with a lot more content, so visit then. If you leave a comment, please don't mention 2+2 or anything else that could link me to my real identity.

Hi, it's me again, sry i did not link the risk involved mentioning ur identity with ur blog. Sent u an email, but im posting here as well. We're heading for Se Asia around october 14. after i've played the Japan Open BG-tourney in Tokyo 10.-13.

Then we either go to Koh Phangan first or directly to Laos and we're in any case looking for the best possible ways to optimalize our journey in SE A (3-4 mnths), and VNT seems to be a place we can not miss out on, after reading this thread

When do you reckon its the most suitable time to head to Laos v Thailand? I mean Thailand - oct, Laos - nov, or the other way around? For how long will u be there? And where can i find this newteabag-character?

Sincerly urs, zordan oslo norway

cool thread. wish I'd found it before I'd left Laos. oh well.

going crazy trying to find reliable internet. think ive tried 4 diff. companies in the last 10months. please advise anyone if you have experiences. any1 know if a thai mobile w 3g or something would be an option? there is coverage here for the thai networks right?

edit; also if any1 knows of internet shops w unusually high speeds (for downloading) lemme know pls

Have you tried Planet's new unlimited plan? I read 3G is coming next month. People visiting have found Thai phone networks extremely unreliable unless they're next to the Mekong. I found an internet cafe in a mobile phone shop that's pretty fast but the connection cuts out sometimes. Wouldn't suggest it for poker. It's at the X here:

Hey Roamer, do you know of any well-stocked pharmacies that don't give a ****? You can PM me if you want.

PS, Spirit House, the place I recommended above, actually sucks most most of the time unless you like 50-something German NGO-types.

I am flying into Vientiane on the 13th Nov, going to be there for a few weeks before I head back to Macau for another month. If anyone want to meet up/show me around, shoot me a pm. I could return the favor in Macau, if there interested.

Send me a PM when you get here or right before you get here. There might be two other guys from 2+2 here as well.

Can we hang out if i make a visa run to Laos?

Sure, you into leather?

We'll find out together

sup sup, be in Vientiane for about 12 hours on Monday as part of a visa run. Anything I have to see, or is sitting outside my hotel getting drunk a decent way to spend my time if I only have 12 hours?

I would just wander around (the main part of the city is fairly small) and drink some Beerlao by the mekong.

None of the pharmacies I went to even knew what adderall or ritalin were. You could probably get regular amphetamines if you looked around enough. The chinese-owned pharmacies definitely would sell some to you because they just don't give a ****. Unfortunately they don't speak English so you'd probably need to find out the chinese character for amphetamines. Trying to bring these back to Thailand would be beyond ******ed though.

yeah, I made a list of everything I was interested in (including non-fun stuff) like:
Ritalin (methylphenidate)
Xanax (alprazolam)
Rhinocort (budesenide)

Most places haven't even heard of a lot of common drugs.

I'll be in Vientiane for a night 17-18 this month, where are the hookers?

Bor Pen Nyang/Samlo/Don Chan Palace. Unless you're the guy I met Friday night who thinks his hooker friends aren't hookers and obvious ladyboys aren't ladyboys.

Cool thanks
any local pricing infos? And yeah i'm definitely going to find real non hookers gf in a night just because i'm awesome imo.

How about short time hotels? any clean ones available? I suppose the girls know them but just in case...