Blog begins

Friends/Family...welcome to the Pat and Alex in Laos blog - the purpose of which is to keep you all updated on our thoughts, pictures and experiences as we move from NYC to Vientiane, Laos.  As most of you know, Alex has transferred there to work in their UN office.  She'll be working for the Unexploded Ordinance Program, which is essentially the international initiative to help rid the country of the millions of land mines and unexploded bombs scattered throughout the country by...yup, the good old USA.  I will be continuing with my master's program (which will be done online) and doing volunteer work and/or teaching English.

Here's some basic info on the program that is bringing us to Laos for the next two years.


Some FYI on Laos as most people aren't familiar with it:

• Official name of country is Laos PDR (People's Democratic Republic) - which is, ironically, a communist country
• It is landlocked -  Burma and China to the north, Vientnam to the east, Cambodia to the south and Thailand to the west.   

• Total population 6 million, of which 750,000 live in the capital, Vientiane.
• Climate - tropical.  Rainy season from May to November.  Dry season December to April.  Locals say there are three seasons - rainy, hot and slightly less hot.
• Laos is a very poor country.  80% of its people are subsistence farmers. Economy has opened up over the last several years due mainly to foreign investment.  Tourism is now starting to be its first real economic driver.
• Country is known for its very relaxed style (Laos PDR jokingly referred to as 'please don't rush').  It has been untouched by the Western world until recently.  No urban development, no McDonalds.  What you see is what its always been.

• Few roads, nearly no cars.  Boating on the Mekong River still the most common way to travel.
• Most Laotian people are Buddhists.  The country is essential a giant, beautiful buddhist shrine.
• Apparently the food is awesome.  Similar to Thai food.  

Our Travel Route:
Since we are taking Buddy with us, we decided to break up the trip there by first traveling to Vienna, Austria.  Alex will take buddy with her on 10/6/12.  That will give her time to get some travel paperwork for buddy completed while I stay with my family for one last week before heading out on the 13th.

On the 17th, Alex, Buddy and I will fly from Vienna to Bangkok, arriving on the morning of the 18th, which just happens to be Alex's birthday.  Sucks for her, but we are splurging on a night at the Conrad Hotel (click for hotel website).

The next day, the three of us are renting a car and driving to Vientiane.  Where in Vientiane is still to be determined.  We still don't have our temporary housing set up.  Short term rentals are not figured out for two weeks prior to move in date.

Anyway, I think that's enough for now.  Keep this site bookmarked to see what we're up to!