Job Discussion Forums

YakTamer · Joined: 29 Mar 2004 Posts: 86 Location: Warszawa, Polska

I've always been fascinated by this country, despite or perhaps because of never having been there. However, I'm going to get the chance to see it this year - as a tourist.

I see virtually nothing about Laos anywhere (ok, I'm not shocked) but it would be nice to hear from any ESLCafe bods who have been there or even worked there.

Feel free to PM me if you wish.
Thanks.

Steiner · Joined: 21 Apr 2003 Posts: 573 Location: Hunan China

I was there for a couple days. In Vientiane. It was beautiful. It was laid-back. It was peaceful. It was relaxing. Then I saw three motorcycle accidents in a ten-minute span during rush hour. The third one was head-on, one guy laying motionless, the other crawling blindly around the middle of the road, blood gushing from his head, while everyone watched, stunned. Then some people ran out, flagged down two tuktuks, picked up the guys, threw them in, and sent them off to the hospital. It kind of colored the rest of my stay.

I was only in Vientiane. If you stay off the motorcycles, it seems like a great place to live.

gugelhupf · Joined: 24 Jan 2004 Posts: 575 Location: Jabotabek

YakTamer · Joined: 29 Mar 2004 Posts: 86 Location: Warszawa, Polska

Hmmm...well I was thinking of doing some motorbiking in North Vietnam, may think twice about doing it in Laos though! Shocked

khmerhit · Posted: Sat Apr 17, 2004 7:37 pm Post subject:

The main cause of death and injury for foreigners in Cambodia is motorcycle and car accidents.

daily chai · Joined: 16 Nov 2003 Posts: 150 Location: Brussels

Probably so in Taiwan too, Khmerhit. YakTamer, wear a REAL helmet (you might have to buy one in Thailand)--not the goofy baseball hat kind. Those aren't real protection for your head, and they frequently slide back anyway; leaving your forehead exposed. Wear the kind with a built in chin guard and a face visor that flips up. It might be a drag to strap on to your backpack and lug into Laos, but once you have a bike you can lock it to it. Remember, preventable brain injury is much more of a drag.

I wear that kind in Taipei with no prob, even in 40 degree weather. Just inch the visor up to allow more air. At slow speeds in hot weather you might get hot, but it's worth it. I also wear bike gloves on my hands, because your hands are the first thing your body braces with. In the 40s here I even wear a denim jacket (loose enough to flop in the wind) to avoid road rash. That DOES get hot, but I take it off the moment I dismount and have no problems with getting sweaty. Yeah, I've been in three bicycle accidents so I am safety conscious at higher speeds! Take these steps to protect yourself.

Sheep-Goats · Joined: 16 Apr 2004 Posts: 527

gugelhupf · Joined: 24 Jan 2004 Posts: 575 Location: Jabotabek

I plan to buy a motorbike when I get to Indonesia, and have been researching safety gear appropriate for hot climates. For general use, a decent helmet, gloves and denim jacket as suggested by the previous post are probably the best bet. A good full-face helmet with a removable, washable liner is tops - even a flip-front helmet if you can afford a decent one. I would never ride a bike without gloves and there are some good ones on the market that have lots of ventilation.

For extra protection on bigger bikes, an Aussie company markets jeanswear with kevlar reinforcements www.draginjeans.com while Belstaff make a jacket called Air Extreme which is made of a heavy mesh with armour in the shoulders, elbows and back. Otherwise, European bike gear is just too sweaty in the tropics. I know a couple who biked across Africa and they swear by washable helmet liners and cotton denim jeans as the greatest inventions since the wheel.

Worst thing about biking in Indonesia for me is the 200cc engine limit. I am 6ft 2ins and quite heavy and I'm used to having 900cc's propelling my great bulk around.

As the previous poster implied - those stoopid Tupperware crash hats that you can buy all over SE Asia are only useful for keeping the rain off. Riding a bike in flip-flops, Thai style, is only for those not fond of their feet.

Kitegirl · Joined: 02 Jan 2004 Posts: 101 Location: Lugdunum Batavorum

A lovely book to read before you go is Dervla Murphy's "One Foot in Laos". She has a traffic accident in the first days of her trip but continues her trip anyway (thus the title). Entertaining and informative in the best way.
Biking gear, hmmm. Absolutely gloves - it's no fun picking gravel out of fingers (assuming you get to keep them). When touring Israel by bike I wore shorts, t-shirt, helmet and gloves. I don't think I'd be that rash again.
I have the Draggin' Jeans - they are great, but didn't stop me from doing some permanent damage to my kneecap when I got side-swiped by a typical crap New Zealand driver (where I come from). No matter how good you may be (I don't think I am) you're always at the mercy of the other idiots. Draggin Jeans also does jackets, though I think I'd rather sweat that wee bit more and have padding.
Why am I blabbing away like this - even in the temperate climes of New Zealand where it never really goes above 25, I still sweat like hell in Kevlar jeans. I imagine it's infinitely worse in Laos, so whether you sweat like a horse, or like a pig, you may as well go for padded equipment.
Sorry for the lecture - but I've had a couple of rough days as the humidity makes my knee injury play up, and I don't wish that upon anyone.