I am writing this from the picturesque mountain town of Nong Khiaw, in Northern Laos.
It’s beautiful here, with multiple massive limestone peaks alongside the Nam Ou river, its classic south east asia.
It’s not so much off the beaten path as it used to be, but in the coming days I will dive deeper and deeper into this scarred country.
You may or may not know, Laos is the most bombed place on earth.
The Secret War on Laos or operation Barrel Roll between 1964 and 1973, largely unknown to the US public, resulted in 280 million bombs dropped on a country the size of Oregon. This was done to largely decimate the Ho Chi Minh Trail, which ran through neutral Laos.
Over 80 million of these bombs still lay in the Laotian countryside, and the province I am in was one of the most hit. One person every 3 weeks is blown up by these cluster bombs, which takes a village’s whole economy to help them recover, usually kids or father’s working in the field
This one of the many reasons why Laos lacks so far behind economically than it’s peer countries
This place has been both amazing and difficult for me, seeing paraplegics roaming the streets, the constant bomb warning signs and the immense poverty here is enough to make me feel ashamed of my countries anti- communism policies during this era, and it frankly is one of the saddest things I have ever seen
The Laotian people still treat me with immense kindness, even given my American accent. But only here would these people have the gratitude and kindness to treat me as their guest given the impact my country has had on theirs.
I am writing this to put some perspective on my travels, travel, I have realised isn’t always easy or fun, I have seen real life here for better or for worse and I hope I can use this experience to be more cognizant of our country’s history and how to treat people.
I am safe, like I said this place is touristic and trails are clearly marked as safe.
Laos, while increasing in tourism, is still behind Thailand and Vietnam, please, especially if you are American, please go here. It is a history we cannot forget.
This place will challenge the patriotism we have been educated in most of our lives, but it will also remind you of how grateful we must be, coming from the Western World
