Lonely Planet Laos
Page 60
Our Readers
Many thanks to the travellers who used the last edition and wrote to us with helpful hints, useful advice and interesting anecdotes:
Adrien Be, Aileen Gerloff, Alex Vrees, Allan Wood, Amy Larkins, Faith Kramer, Friederike Haberstroh, George Crook, Goedele Dupont, Hans Ohrt, Julia Henke, Katherine Shea, Lewis Levine, Lotte Clemminck, Madeline Oliver, Marie-Aline de Lavau, Marjolaine & Hanael Sfez, Mark Fisher, Max Pit, Montserrat Aguilera, Philip Worrall, Pieter Verckist, Tessa Godfrey, Thomas Wiser, Tim Greene, Torben Retboll, Werner Bruyninx, William Murray-Smith, Yvonne Wei
Writer Thanks
Tim Brewer
A hearty kòrp jąi to the many people along the way who answered my incessant questions or helped me out in other ways during this update. In particular, Nicolas Papon-Phalaphanh, Latanakone Keokhamphoui, Yves Verlaine, Khun Buasone and Prapaporn Sompakdee provided great assistance, while Laura, Nick, Rich and the rest of the Lonely Planet team were a pleasure to work with, as always. Finally, a special thanks to my wife, Suttawan, for help on this book and much more.
Nick Ray
A huge and heartfelt thanks to the people of Laos, whose warmth and humour, stoicism and spirit make it a happy yet humbling place to be. Biggest thanks are reserved for my wife, Kulikar Sotho, as without her support and encouragement the adventures would not be possible. And to our children, Julian and Belle, for signing up for some family adventures in new-look Vang Vieng.
Thanks to fellow travellers and residents, friends and contacts in Laos who have helped shaped my knowledge and experience in this country. Thanks also to my co-authors for going the extra mile to ensure this is a worthy new edition.
Finally, thanks to the Lonely Planet team who have worked on this title. The author may be the public face, but a huge amount of work goes into making this a better book behind the scenes, so thanks to everyone for their hard work.
Richard Waters
My special thanks to Elizabeth Vongsa, Adri Berger, Ivan Schulte, Harp, Saly Phimpinith, Dennis Ulstrup, Annabel and Josef, Agnes, Mr Vongdavone and Marco. Also thanks as usual to my extended family, the Lao people, from whom I seem to learn something every trip. Finally, special thanks to Laura Crawford, my long suffering Destination Editor, who keeps stoic when my technical skills fail to join the 21st century.
Acknowledgements
Climate map data adapted from Peel MC, Finlayson BL & McMahon TA (2007) ‘Updated World Map of the Köppen-Geiger Climate Classification’, Hydrology and Earth System Sciences, 11, 163344.
Cover photograph: Monks at Wat In Paeng,Vientiane, Travel Pix Collection/AWL©
This Book
This 9th edition of Lonely Planet’s Laos guidebook was researched and written by Tim Bewer, Nick Ray and Richard Waters, and was curated by Kate Morgan. The previous edition was written by Nick Ray, Greg Bloom and Richard Waters. This guidebook was produced by the following:
Destination Editor Laura Crawford
Product Editor Jenna Myers
Book Designer Mazzy Prinsep
Assisting Editors Nigel Chin, Victoria Harrison, Gabrielle Innes, Lauren O’Connell, Charlotte Orr
Cartographers MichaelGarrett, Diana Von Holdt
Cover Researcher Naomi Parker
Thanks to Bruce Evans, Jane Grisman, Liz Heynes, Catherine Naghten, Anthony Phelan, Martine Power, Vicky Smith, Professor Martin Stuart-Fox
Ebook thanks to Andrew Bigger, Ruth Cosgrove, Julie Dodkins, Blazej Hadzik, Craig Kilburn, Chris Love, Wayne Murphy, Jacqui Saunders, John Taufa, Glenn van der Knijff, Yanxiang Wang, Juan Winata.
Our Story
A beat-up old car, a few dollars in the pocket and a sense of adventure. In 1972 that’s all Tony and Maureen Wheeler needed for the trip of a lifetime – across Europe and Asia overland to Australia. It took several months, and at the end – broke but inspired – they sat at their kitchen table writing and stapling together their first travel guide, Across Asia on the Cheap. Within a week they’d sold 1500 copies. Lonely Planet was born.
Today, Lonely Planet has offices in Franklin, London, Melbourne, Oakland, Beijing and Delhi, with more than 600 staff and writers. We share Tony’s belief that ‘a great guidebook should do three things: inform, educate and amuse’.
Our Writers
Kate Morgan
Having worked for Lonely Planet for over a decade now, Kate has been fortunate enough to cover plenty of ground working as a travel writer on destinations such as Shanghai, Japan, India, Zimbabwe, the Philippines and Phuket. She has done stints living in London, Paris and Osaka, but these days is based in one of her favourite regions in the world – Victoria, Australia. In between travelling the world and writing about it, Kate enjoys spending time at home working as a freelance editor.
Tim Bewer
Southern Laos After university Tim worked as a legislative assistant before quitting capitol life to backpack around West Africa. It was during this trip that the idea of becoming a travel writer and photographer was hatched, and he’s been at it ever since. He has visited over 80 countries, including most in Southeast Asia. His first journey to Laos was in 1997, before the highway from Vientiane to the south was paved, and he’s returned nearly a dozen times since. He lives in Khon Kaen, Thailand.
Nick Ray
Vientiane, Vang Vieng & Around, Central Laos A Londoner of sorts, Nick comes from Watford, the sort of town that makes you want to travel. He currently lives in Phnom Penh and has written for countless guidebooks on the Mekong region, including Lonely Planet’s Cambodia and Vietnam books, as well as Southeast Asia on a Shoestring. When not writing, he is often out exploring the remote parts of the region as a location scout or line producer for the world of television and film, including anything from Top Gear Vietnam to Tomb Raider. Laos is one of his favourite countries on earth and he was thrilled to finally ride the Loop and explore the caves of Tha Khaek.
Richard Waters
Luang Prabang & Around, Northern Laos, Environment, People & Culture Richard is based in the Cotswolds, close enough to get to London and, more importantly, only two hours from Devon’s surf. For the last 12 years he’s worked for Lonely Planet and The Daily Telegraph, Sunday Times, Independent and more as a travel writer and author. He sometimes shoots photos for his stories and is drawn toward wildlife and out of the way places.
Stay in Touch
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Published by Lonely Planet Publications Pty Ltd
ABN 36 005 607 983
9 edition - Jun 2017
ISBN 9781787010611
© Lonely Planet 2017 Photographs © as indicated 2017
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