Over 60% (some people say it’s even 90%) of people from Laos are followers of Theravada Buddhism.
It is the dominant form of religion in Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Sri Lanka and Thailand;
and it’s also practiced by minority groups in other Asian countries.
About 2/3 of people in Laos are Buddhists and 1/3 are practitioners of Laotian folk religion.
Yesterday, I mentioned that French language is still widely spoken in Laos.
It’s because Laos was kind of French colony,
it was called the French protectorate of Laos,
and it lasted 60 years.
The official language of Laos is Lao, but French is also widely spoken.
In tourist places, you can use basic English.
Apparently, not respecting human rights is still a big issue in Laos…
I only heard about it, but didn’t experience it.
Currently, there are only a few communist states; however some of them are really large.
Laos is one of the communist countries; where the only legal political party is the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party.
So, you can expect to see many of these red flags in laos.
Laos is a landlocked country in Southeast Asia.
Laos is bordered by China, Cambodia, Myanmar (Burma), Vietnam and Thailand.
Welcome in May.
This month is going to be all about Laos, i.e., Lao People’s Democratic Republic.
Have you been to this country or what have you heard about Laos?
Today, I’m showing you the last picture from Ester Island.
How did you like the month on my blog about mysterious Rapa Nui?
If you have a chance, visit Easter Island; it’s a nice and very interesting place!
There was one movie filmed in 1994 on Easter Island about Rapa Nui.
It was produced by Kevin Costner, but the movie didn’t get so famous.
Still, I think it’s nice to watch a movie about a place we’re planning to visit or just visited.
Apparently, there is not so big variety of plants on Easter Island.
I didn’t really think about it while visiting the island; I was just enjoying landscapes and Moai. 🙂
This month, I’m showing you Easter Island, not only the most famous Moai figures,
but in general the landscape.
It’s a very nice island with volcanoes, hills, coast and palm trees.
Volcanoes, calderas etc. – all amazing things you’ll find on Easter Island.
Easter Island has a volcanic origin.
It consists mostly of 3 extinct volcanoes: Terevaka, Poike and Rano Kau.
Easter Island is quite isolated.
The closest continental point in Chile lies over 3500 km away.
There are a few “closer” islands, but its’ still quite a distance.
I could call Chile as a land of avocado, and I’m sure everyone who has been to Chile understands what I mean. 😉
Here, as a proof that Easter Island belongs to chile, a picture of avocado. 😀
(of course, it’s kind of joke, but based on a good reason 😉 )
Polynesia is a region of Oceania consisting of more than 1,000 islands.
Easter island, Hawaii or New Zealand are some of the examples of Polynesian islands.
After I landed on Easter Island, I went immediately to my hostel, and then wanted to visit the island; on foot… But the scale on the map; plus the way from the airport, made me think I should change my stupid plans. 😉 So I rented a bicycle. It was much better choice then walking, however, still not a perfect idea, considering how many sites I wanted to visit. I didn’t think, that “small island” is actually quite hilly volcanic island… So at the end of that day I was very exhausted… I was somewhere, no idea where on Easter Island, walking with my bicycle because didn’t have energy to cycle uphill again and again… And suddenly one big pickup passed me and… stopped and offered to take me to the “city”. They didn’t speak English, I didn’t speak Spanish, but we understood each others and they “save my life”. 😉
It’s not the end of the story…
We’re driving, and we met another girl walking with her bicycle uphill! It was kind of relief for me, I’m not the only one! 😀
Unfortunately, “my pickup” didn’t have more space to take her as well;
hopefully, there was another one who saved her. 🙂
You have many options how to visit Easter Island;
you can rent a car, motobike or kind of of ATV (all-terrain vehicle);
a bicycle is also an option, but keep in mind that the island is quite hilly.
Easter Island is quite remote and there are not so many options how to get there;
you have fly from Santiago, Chile or Tahiti.