RE: Side-Trip: Laos - Why I'll never return to Laos
This is one thing I don't like about some travelers sometimes, why do they always expect that people should be friendly to them, just because they heard the land of smiles or something. People are people everywhere, unfortunately, some people don't have to expect being treated like kings and queens especially in countries in South America or SE Asia. There are just countries designed not to make other people comfortable. We are not special, and some people have legitimate worries out there (food, getting by, work, etc) than to just please the tourists. They are free not to be friendly or act according to how the guidebooks, media and other travelers portrayed them.
About the trash and all that littering, it is very bad as we all know. But think of yourself being born in a Lao Village, your parents, the environment will mold you to think that throwing is ok. You will think it just normal for you, however bad it looks to the others. Yes, education has not reached some parts of the word yet. When the kids were born, they didn't know anything. It was the culture and environment that shaped the way people think and behave right now. Just think about those crazier things that are happening in the US right now. I don't see any difference, the people too were shaped by the environment.
While the rest can expect to meet severe unfriendliness or arrogance when traveling to US, Europe etc., Hmmmm. And they don't complain especially when the streets are paved with gold.
I've also experienced unfriendliness in these countries but it is not 99% most of the time. I also almost got pounded by a hammer in Brazil but it does not mean I will not go back there. It is still my favorite country. I accept that I'm a dust in the universe and that people don't exist to live up to my expectations nor live up to mine. Just don't kill me lol.
Sorry about my comment, I hope you won't take it personally lol. But thanks for sharing your other view of Laos. :)
It's not so much expecting people to be friendly. It's knowing, for a fact, that there are 3 countries right next door that are substantially more friendly. I choose to invest my time and money in places that are friendly. Other people may be turned off by too much cheerfulness or false friendliness, Laos could be a great match for them. It wasn't a great match for me.
I understand that a lot of my post is nit-picky. If I had only gone to Laos, I wouldn't have posted this. If I had the same bad experiences all over SEA, I wouldn't have posted this because it would be evidence that I'm just being an entitled little bitch. But that's not what happened. I had great times in 3 of the 4 SEAsian countries that I went to. I understood what the local definitions of "customer service" were and accepted them. Even in Laos. I get it, you have to get up to pay your bill, no biggie.
I wasn't expecting everyone to cater to me or treat me like royalty. I didn't go to any of those countries hoping for a miniature America or luxury accommodations. I simply prefer spending my money on businesses where people are happy that I've come, instead of looking put-off because I interrupted whatever they were doing on their phone. Too many places in Laos treated me like they were doing me a favor by selling me a meal. It was all teeth sucking and sighing because my patronage meant getting back to work.
Laos was just 1 country out of 26 that I visited on my 2-year trip. Maybe Laos was the only country that wouldn't put up with my demanding, snooty, luxurious and extravagant backpacker way of traveling. I'm good with that.
For me, the world is too full of amazing places to waste time and money in places that I don't enjoy. For my personality type and travel style, I found Laos to be less enjoyable than its neighbors.
When I was in Laos, I got the strong impression that the Laotians didn't want me in their country. I'm happy to oblige them.
Not at all :) I wanted an excuse to try and explain why I think I'm not being a whiny little bitch right now. But I'm probably just making myself look whinier than ever :D
This is what actually most people feel and have to go through all their lives being in other countries....But having food is good.