I feel like I'm in my homeland. What a great place with great people. Love the villagers here. Anyone down in Pakse and want to meet up? Probably also going to Vientiane and Luangprabang. Hell yeah, feels good to be back. Lao Pride Worldwide

- Texas Cowboy in Laos

Any night club or lao beer or lao girl?

;D

We need pictures. bad or good acceptable. :D

:applause  Hey Cowboy, we need some pic ? please
So jealous right now.Need to find my way back too.

I have no camera unfortunately. Spent the day learning Lao and teaching English. Lao people really are the kindest and most welcoming in all of Asia.

What are the best books for learning Lao? Help! Should I just formally study Thai?

Both Lao and Thai are tonal languages so no book is as good as learning your Lao language skills from talking with Laotians because Lao is their mother language.

Depending on what you want to learn Lao for, many people find the language irrelevant but it's up to you. English is the language that the "Generation Y" in Laos are so desperate to learn, and it's more important than Lao or Thai.

I have many Lao relatives who are married to westerners and they speak English with each other.

Get yourself a Laos girlfriend  ;)

I'm only 21 so learning the language shouldn't be an issue. I'd get a Lao girlfriend but I have to marry if I want intimacy. Otherwise I have to pay off the police 5000USD which I'm not willing to do. So many Lao girls want me to be their boyfriend.  :D

TexasCowboy, say hello to all the pu sao noy for me nair der!  :)

ba dac wrote on 11^th Dec, 2013 at 11:14am:

Get yourself a Laos girlfriend  ;)

I 100% agree. Is that the way you learned your english. ;D

Half Lao Half Vietnamese girls are the hottest of the hot.

Man wtf is with Lao men cheating on their wives. I know I'm ranting because I'm drunk but admittedly I make most of my posts after drinking 4-5 cold beerlaods. Anyways, the sweet lady running my guesthouse is so obviously being cheated on by her husband. I want to scream it to her but it's not really my business. And then today, I saw a married woman approach another girl who just turned 30 and tell her how her husband is cheating with her. Maybe in cowboy culture we really look down on cheating but this is a goddamn disgrace. In Texas, we'd stomp down anyone involved in a cheating relationship. I'm disappointed in Laos today even though I met the most beautiful girl of my life.

How do you know he is cheating?

She probably already knows he cheats, or suspect he's cheating. Some men in Laos would even go as far as admitting he's cheating and his wife can't do anything about it.

The guesthouse is probably owned by him, in that he is providing the capital for the business so his wife is probably tied up to his playboy lifestyle. In Laos, money makes men treated like a King.

"Disgrace" is an understatement. I know many Lao guys who cheat so your story is not an isolated incident. Laos is a country full of trashy people and I'm not proud to say that but I have to be realistic. Whether it's guys cheating or girls prostituting or corruption, there's many problems that's just too overwhelming to manage.

Now you understand what Laos is like, because you can see it for yourself.

Saovaluck, you sound too much like a man.

TC, just enjoy your staying. Don't worry about what you can't change. If you stir up too much, you might end up in the bottom of the mekong der. Google Sombath Somphone.

No, I'm a Lao girl and I'm angry with the culture of Laos so I may seem strong.

If tourists can see the dirty side of Laos then that really says a lot about this country.

The Sombath Somphone story is a prime example of the issues we have in Laos but it can't be discussed sorry due to the sensitive nature.

A friend who brought me to the guesthouse told me he suspected the husband was involved in an extramarital affair. The lady running the establishment teaches me Lao and asked me if I drink and then complained about how her husband is always away from the family drinking with his work colleagues. I saw him drinking with two other men and three beautiful women in town.

That's the problem with Lao men in this day and age. When there's alcohol involved, generally there's also women involved too.

Married Lao men drinking with other women in Laos is considered normal, and married Lao men sleeping with other women is considered normal. There's really nothing their wives can do about it because they have nowhere to go.

Laos is a country in tatters as you can clearly see in the early stages of your visit. You have already witnessed two cheating Lao men, try living in Laos for a year and you will see much, much more than that.

Alcohol and drugs seem to be the cause of at least half of the visible problems in southeast Asia. Lots of drunk driving accidents,  lots of people cheating on their spouse after drinking, lots  of criminals and drug addicts robbing tourists to fund their bad habits. Laos is relatively safe and the people are generally more welcoming to falang than other SE Asians. What I wonder is if the criminals really believe in the karma cycle because some of them are just downright rotten.

We don't have much of a drug problem in Laos like there are in Thailand.

We do however have lots of driving accidents, people cheating and alcohol problem.

It's true that Laos is safe and we make tourists regardless of their race feel welcome. That's probably the only positive thing about Laos.

nice to know laos mens drinking stories from a cowboy. When I was in Laos, I found no such problem, maybe I was in business mood, no one wanted to show me that way.

As for woman-can-do-nothing-about-it. I think it depends on the education woman has. I know a lady with much higer education and working with a Gov department. She drove me around with her Benz. I was very curious about everything, but I kept my mouth shut. ;D ;D ;D

TexasCowboy wrote on 18^th Dec, 2013 at 1:14pm:

Alcohol and drugs seem to be the cause of at least half of the visible problems in southeast Asia. Lots of drunk driving accidents,  lots of people cheating on their spouse after drinking, lots  of criminals and drug addicts robbing tourists to fund their bad habits. Laos is relatively safe and the people are generally more welcoming to falang than other SE Asians. What I wonder is if the criminals really believe in the karma cycle because some of them are just downright rotten.

I dont know if you have working experiences or not. From what I know here. Drinking alcohol with collegueas or others is a way reaching to the upper ladder. We see it here, in Thailand, in Laos, in Viet, in Malay, in Jap. When I got my first job, drinking was the only way to cuddle up with the others. After 2 years, I quit.  The only way to keep drinking habit away is increase mecial cost, as it happens here.  ;D ;D ;D

peterpan wrote on 18^th Dec, 2013 at 2:12pm:

As for woman-can-do-nothing-about-it. I think it depends on the education woman has. I know a lady with much higer education and working with a Gov department. She drove me around with her Benz.

Education doesn't mean anything in Laos, it's about having the right contacts. If their parents are rich or they work in a high position then their kids will have more advantage.

Some of my relatives work in the Lao government department and they are not exactly smart, they just know people to get there.

If people in Laos drive around in a luxury car then they are wealthy. It doesn't mean they are smart, there's lots of corruption in Laos. Some people may have worked very hard to earn it too.

Admin, you seem really jaded about Laos. It's still one of the best countries in SE Asia and there are lots of really good people here.  Most people here are genuinely good it's just a minority stirring up shit for everyone else. Same situation in Vietnam, Cambodia and even Texas. Although criminals aren't so ballsy in my home state because they can get shot if they step out of line.

And peterpan, my own drinking stories have only beenn positive in Laos.

The locals are nice to you because you are a foreigner bringing in the cash for their business. Let my poor relative in the countryside walk past their guesthouse, they probably won't even look at them in the eye.

I still love Laos but there's many things that I'm not happy with.

Admin Saovaluck wrote on 18^th Dec, 2013 at 5:47pm:

The locals are nice to you because you are a foreigner bringing in the cash for their business. Let my poor relative in the countryside walk past their guesthouse, they probably won't even look at them in the eye.

Saovaluck, sad but you are so right on this!

Heck cowboy you not suppose to be the moral police.
What admin saying is so true. When you have money
Or the main provider , you are the king. It's up to the woman if they wanna stay or leave. I mind my own business and enjoy
Your time there.

I'm not being the moral police here bro. I post about it on LaoPride because it was an observation I made. I'm not trying to police anyone.

TexasCowboy wrote on 19^th Dec, 2013 at 10:49am:

I'm not being the moral police here bro. I post about it on LaoPride because it was an observation I made. I'm not trying to police anyone.

Any interesting stories today?  ;D

A local ethnic person taught me some Vietnamese boxing. Dude was pretty fast when I sparred with him.

Go observe the good food and the pretty girls  ;D

ba dac wrote on 20^th Dec, 2013 at 11:19am:

Go observe the good food and the pretty girls  ;D

The food is decent but doesn't really compare to what you can find in the Kingdom of Cambodia or in Vietnam. The women are hot but I've already had my share of Asian sluts during my glory days a year ago so I mostly feel bored in the presence of beautiful lao girls. Problem is I haven't met a single Lao person who takes an interest in anything intellectual. Which is fine as it isn't in their culture. But I will come out and say I have far more respect for the ethnic minorities and the Vietnamese because they work hard, value education, and take a real interest in historical and cultural topics. This is based on my limited experiences in Laos. Still my favorite country in Asia.

Foods in other neighbouring countries tend to be more fresher and tastier than the foods in Laos.

Like I said in other threads, Lao people are lazy and the Vietnamese work hard so people will never know until they see it in Laos for themselves.

Vietnamese people reminds me of Indian people in that they are not picky when it comes to getting a job. Whether it's cleaning toilets or searching for rubbish on the streets to sell, they are not embarrassed about doing anything as long as it brings in the cash. I do admire their strong work ethic.

The same can't be said about Laotians in general. We are either just plain lazy drinking alcohol or we are too slow to get the job done.

We don't like people talking behind our backs or looking down on us, while the Vietnamese, the Hmongs, the Indians etc have a "don't care" attitude.

Sad but true.Its like that over here too.But alot of the Vietnamese are professional like Dr, and stuff. Here a good
example .Where i work we have like 2 Laos including myself
as a communication specialist .But there like over 10 Viets.
Heck majority of the shop and small business is own by Viets.

You wouldn't see many Vietnamese men drinking alcohol on the streets of Laos, or Vietnamese girls sitting in clubs and bars waiting for their next customer. They are usually doing something productive in Laos.

I know a Lao guy who is married to a Vietnamese girl. She isn't happy that the income isn't flowing in because he is always drinking with his friends and sleeping in too much.

I hope my Laos bro don't beat me up on this.Its true that
we as LAO people love to party and drink.There's a time and place for that.Heck look at the Japanese ,they love to drink.
Their boss take em out drinking during the work week.But
when its time to work .Those peoples know how to work .
How come our people can't do that ?

To be fair on Lao people, the Japanese earn much more income than us. I don't think the Japanese will be working hard if they were paid $100 a month.

Lao people are lazy because we are on low salary and also the drinking culture is harming the country. Anyone who visits Laos and doesn't see a "Beerlao" advertisement on the streets or television then there must be something wrong with their eyes.

Alcohol is sold in every corner of Vientiane. The drinking culture is destroying modern-day Laos and the future of Laos.

Technology is also making Lao people greedy. Access to the internet and telephone makes it easy for them to contact their relatives overseas to ask for money.

Relatives overseas will send money back very often?

My company pays every two weeks salary to Laotian employees as required to meet local socialization. It has been so for 6 years.

But, I love Beerlao. ha ha ha! Again, but, I only drink one tin each time if I have chance. ;D ;D ;D

Admin Saovaluck wrote on 23^rd Dec, 2013 at 7:44am:

To be fair on Lao people, the Japanese earn much more income than us. I don't think the Japanese will be working hard if they were paid $100 a month. Lao people are lazy because we are on low salary and also the drinking culture is harming the country. Anyone who visits Laos and doesn't see a "Beerlao" advertisement on the streets or television then there must be something wrong with their eyes. Alcohol is sold in every corner of Vientiane. The drinking culture is destroying modern-day Laos and the future of Laos. Technology is also making Lao people greedy. Access to the internet and telephone makes it easy for them to contact their relatives overseas to ask for money.

Ok maybe I should've been some clear.Yes they get pay more.
But you just stated that the Viet in Laos working the jobs that
Regular Laos might seem degrading and such. Over here the Mexican work a lot of the low paying jobS,but then a lot of them are illegal.As far for pay wages that should be set up the
Gov. For the drinking issue you can't blame the people that advertise and sell em.it all come down to your own shelf control.if you rather drink all day and not go to schools or work.Well to me It seems you have your priority mess up.
I do agree with ya bout the people over there contacting relatives over here for money. Its way to easier to pick up
The phone and ask for money , then go out and work for it.
Over here we have that system it's call food stamp. That's why
State like California is broke. Don't get me wrong I know a lot
Of Laos are hard working people's .

The reason why the Vietnamese are willing to do anything is because they actually earn more in Laos than they would in Vietnam. Even though Laos is a poor country, the pay is better.

I guess it doesn't matter what country they live, the Vietnamese tend to work very hard wherever they are. I believe the Mexicans in general are always on their feet too.

We not only contact relatives for money but girls also contact their overseas boyfriends, those who are not yet their relative, for money. We are a country full of beggars and it doesn't just stop with Lao citizens. The government is also requesting financial assistance left, right and centre to get things done.

I wouldn't want to say that Laos is a country of beggar. That seem a bit to harsh. If the government wasn't so corrupted and if they were a democracy state. I think they would be able to apply for a loan from the IMF to build infrastructure and such.
The only reason why I think that they wouldn't want to loan money to a country like Laos, is that money gonna line the
Pocket of the commie . I have seen some of the gated house and some of the luxury cars on utube. So I Think there are some that are pretty well off. More then some of us in the US.  ;);)

No it's not harsh, it's reality. We will take anything we can get.

There's never shortage of countries that are willing to give loans to Laos. Even if one source says no, there are other sources that have agreed to provide the Lao government with loans.

Admin are you having a bad day ?  ::)

If you always have your hand out, you'll always consume and never produce. Just look at Cambodia, the Kingdom of NGOs, where millions if not billions are poured into the country every year and all of the money goes towards paying for the luxury cars, big houses, and private tuition of the upper management. Cambodia is truly a beggar nation and the people and their government always find a way to crappity smack up whatever is going good for them. It's like shooting yourself in the foot to buy your mistress expensive perfume. Except in Cambodia, it is happening on a national scale.

Lao people are thankfully not nearly as entitled as their cousins down south. Laziness is part of the culture to some extent and the blaring sun and consequent heat will always remain an obstacle to productivity. Nonetheless, the government should do everything in its power to encourage education. Unless there is a major change in the culture towards emphasizing education, the country will forever remain impoverished.

For a westerner, you seem to understand Southeast Asia very well. Your observation of what's happening in Laos and Cambodia is right.

Laos is corrupt, but Cambodia is even more corrupt, that's how bad the situation is in that country. The Cambodians are aggressive people too and they generally don't have any morals. They tend to think about themselves.

I've spent over a year in Asia and carefully study these issues. I generally travel to a location and spend a few weeks to really get a sense of local life. Cambodians are aggressive people and their culture explains the mass killings that took place under the Khmer Rouge. The main tourist attractions in Phnom Penh are the Tuol Sleng museum and the killing fields on the outskirts of the city. The presentation puts the blame solely on Pol Pot and the upper echelons of his regime. In fact, most of the killings were carried out by ordinary peasants working with the Khmer Rouge. Most tourists are ignorant of Asian history and culture so they accept what they are told at face value.

In contemporary times, you see an idiot politician like Sam Rainsy traveling around the country promising unrealistic wages and blaming the Vietnamse for the problems in Cambodia. After the typhoon hit central Vietnam, the country temporarily suspended agricultural exports to Cambodia because the food had to be allocated to refugees. What was the Cambodian response? I heard it myself. They accused the VN of being evil and causing food prices in Cambodia to go up. Why can't they honestly and objectively look at the state of their country and blame themselves for being so vulnerable and reliant upon other countries? Another example of their culture. In Vietnam, the disabled, the elderly, and children from poor families make a living by selling lottery tickets and other small, cheap items. In Cambodia, these groups walk around with their hands open, doing nothing but asking for everything. If you ignore them, they follow you. If you give them money, they ask for more. There is no sense of appreciation among Cambodians. Only entitlement.

The VN in Cambodia are mostly poor fishermen who work harder than their Khmer cousins. The VN are also more likely to save their meagre earnings and start a business from their savings instead of wasting their money on partying and women. How do the Cambodians react to their success? With anger and hatred. At least in Laos, everyone seems to acknowledge and understand that the Vietnamese are wealthier because they work harder and live more responsibly.

Lao people seem to mostly understand the teachings of their religion. Cambodians seem to mostly follow Buddhism out of fear. They think paying a conman in a robe will absolve them of any wrongdoing.

That is a long story. Well, after reading it, I have to cancel my trip to Cambodia and go to Malaysia for my winter holiday.

Ordinary peasants killed ordinary peasants in that bad part of history. I can understand. Why? not because they had hatred, they were manipulated by the upper echelons.

How is your language study?  ;D ;D ;D

You guys nail it ! Key word was education. I just hope
some day that Laos can  be a productive country and contribute to the world.If only the commies would go away  ;D

building more univresities or building more buildings?

I will build anything with most kick backs


ba dac wrote on 25^th Dec, 2013 at 11:21am:

You guys nail it ! Key word was education. I just hope some day that Laos can  be a productive country and contribute to the world.If only the commies would go away  ;D

peterpan wrote on 25^th Dec, 2013 at 2:42pm:

building more univresities or building more buildings? I will build anything with most kick backs ba dac wrote on 25th Dec, 2013 at 11:21am: You guys nail it ! Key word was education. I just hope some day that Laos can  be a productive country and contribute to the world.If only the commies would go away  ;D

dam Peter you fit right in  ;D

I know it well ;D ;D ;D. If you need it, I tell you free of charge! ;D ;D ;D

:laugh3 :laughing_out_loud :laughing_my_ass_off''

My good Lao friend brought me and a Chinese friend of mine to a brothel and were surprised when we didn't sleep with a girl.Also, the owner of my guesthouse told me while he was drunk that he regularly pays for hookers behind his wife's back confirming what I already knew. Lao people certainly love their whores and it will be fun to observe tonight.

What a miserable night you had!  :laugh4 :laugh4 :laugh4 :laugh4

Wish you have a wonderful 2014 night! :laughing_my_ass_off :laughing_my_ass_off


TexasCowboy wrote on 31^st Dec, 2013 at 10:04am:

:laugh3 :laughing_out_loud :laughing_my_ass_off'' My good Lao friend brought me and a Chinese friend of mine to a brothel and were surprised when we didn't sleep with a girl.Also, the owner of my guesthouse told me while he was drunk that he regularly pays for hookers behind his wife's back confirming what I already knew. Lao people certainly love their whores and it will be fun to observe tonight.

Dude , I'm not suprise one bit.In Thailand that's the norm
that a man suppose to have a girl friend on the side.Plus
they go see working girls regularly

ba dac wrote on 31^st Dec, 2013 at 11:26am:

Dude , I'm not suprise one bit.In Thailand that's the norm that a man suppose to have a girl friend on the side.Plus they go see working girls regularly

How do you know the norm? You still have one so far way in Thailand waiting? ;D

First hand exprince buddy.I was in Bangkok for a month.I
had a good friend .I got the source from a good friend and she was a woman.

Man been cheating on women for thousand of years. All that is pretty much normal everywhere around the world. Not too surprising for me.

Your good friend telling you the story is a Thai woman.  What did you do in BKK for a whole month?
;D ;D ;D


ba dac wrote on 31^st Dec, 2013 at 11:48am:

First hand exprince buddy.I was in Bangkok for a month.I had a good friend .I got the source from a good friend and she was a woman.

Most night i went out and drink .People watch alot in Bangkok.I went down to Phuket and up to Chaing Mai. I think
i spell that wrong.lol  Anyway its the norm for marry guys to
go see a working girl. I was also told they have gic on the side , sort like a girlfriend. No i didn't use any of the working girls service . :D  I thought bout taking a motorcycle ride all over Laos . That will be cool.

You are dreaming a Motorcycle Diaries dream? travelling Laos and ending up being a real revolutionary fighter?  :laugh4 :laugh4 :laugh4




ba dac wrote on 2^nd Jan, 2014 at 12:15pm:

Most night i went out and drink .People watch alot in Bangkok.I went down to Phuket and up to Chaing Mai. I think i spell that wrong.lol  Anyway its the norm for marry guys to go see a working girl. I was also told they have gic on the side , sort like a girlfriend. No i didn't use any of the working girls service . :D  I thought bout taking a motorcycle ride all over Laos . That will be cool.

SO true .lol   getting tired of work . do some soul searching

ba dac wrote on 2^nd Jan, 2014 at 1:42pm:

SO true .lol   getting tired of work . do some soul searching

Finding soul mate?

Too lazy to deal with the drama.I had a girl back in high school. Beside i work too much . Just gonna travel .

Brother man, just make sure you work to live and not live to work. ;)

Beef Cake wrote on 10^th Jan, 2014 at 5:18am:

Brother man, just make sure you work to live and not live to work. ;)

So true bro, I think i'm getting burn out.