Last year we were in Puglia in Italy and got talking to a couple

They said they were going cycling in Vietnam this year

Having been to Vietnam, I knew that would be great

I asked “being as you’re going all the way to Vietnam, have you thought about tagging on a trip to Cambodia and Laos?”

She answered “my daughter has been to Laos and Cambodia and there is nothing there”

“Really?” I thought

Rule 1 of travel, take people’s advice but do your own research

Laos, is a beautiful country, there are a number of reasons to go

Apart from the people and the food, (very much like Thai, which is my favourite)

The culture is like half, or maybe a third the speed we have in the west

It’s a great way to slow down

You can also tell the office there is no mobile signal there

There is, but everybody in the office will believe you

Laos is a Buddhist country, with Buddhist culture and morals

Don’t step on spiders or swat flies, it could be your reincarnated ancestor

The custom is that the first-born male is given to the Buddhist faith 

And becomes a monk

In Luang Prabang, Laos, the monks are only allowed to eat what they are given

Every morning (early), the Monks come out of the monastery, with their bowls

Locals and tourists’ knee in respect

(Buddhist monks are a higher order than you and me) 

As they walk by, we take food out of our containers and put them into the monks containers

(Of course, local sellers are on hand to sell you food for the occasion)

It makes for a great experience and photo opportunity

There was a funny situation where some cheapskate tourist put some cheap chocolate bar into a Monks bowl

The monk scoffed and said in perfect English

“If you are going to give me chocolate, you can do better than that”

The monk tossed the cheapo chocolate bar back at the tourist

Travel opens your eyes, not just to new places, but to different ways of living, thinking, and being

What one person dismisses as "nothing there" might, to another, be a life-changing journey of simplicity, generosity, and wonder

Laos may not have the glitz of some destinations, but it offers something far richer: a slower pace, deep cultural traditions, and unexpected moment: like a cheeky monk with a sweet tooth and a sense of humour

So, take advice, sure, but don’t let it be your final word

The world has a funny way of surprising you, especially when you go looking for what others say isn’t there