Phonsavan, Laos
February 10-13, 2014
We decided to get off the tourist track and began heading further south in Laos to a dusty dusty and chilly town called Phonsavan. Though at first glance some may wonder what in the world a place like Phonsavan has to offer, we discovered there's quite a bit of history here including an interesting site known as theThe Plain of Jars and a sad story of the effects of over 2 million tonnes of bombs that were dropped on Laos during the Vietnam War. We came away with a much better understanding about the area and the country.
Our Accommodation - Lie Upi Mixay Guesthouse
We were happy to find a hotel called Lie Upi Mixay Guesthouse. It was located only a few minutes stroll from the busy main street and the concentration of other hostels. We felt it was a nice option that was clean and quiet.
Meeting Other Travellers
We shared our minivan from Luang Prabang to Phonsavan with a mix of great people from Britian, France, Belgium and Nepal. So after a long bus ride, we all met up for some dinner and drinks.
The Town of Phonsavan
During the Vietnam war, the USA conducted one of the longest sustained aerial bomb rades dropping 2 million tonnes of bombs on Laos. This left the country littered with unexploded bombs and has since created an appaling legacy when innocent men, women and children are killed or maimed when they come across these bombs and accidentally set them off. A group here in Phonsavan is working hard at clearing these sites to make it safer.
The Plain of Jars
Scattered across the fields are thousands of megalithic jars dating back to the stone age and known as The Plain of Jars. Its still a mystery as to how they got there or their exact purpose but the theory is they were used as burial jars. We rented bicycles and rode to the site 15km out of town. The photo of Doug standing in a large pit is a bomb crater.
Bomb Safety Markers
Here's an example of staying between the lines...These white markers show where its safe to walk because the
site has been cleared of unexploded bombs.