- há 2 dias
CRUCÉ la frontera al PAÍS MÁS BOMBARDEADO del mundo
Categoria
🏖
ViagensTranscrição
00:00Today I will cross the border that takes me to one of the least known countries in Southeast Asia.
00:06A place that hides a story that few can imagine.
00:09Come with me to enter the most bombed country in the world.
00:13Yes, even more than Germany.
00:15Here in Laos I am a millionaire.
00:17I'm going to turn around here and I'm literally going to end up, I don't know, in China.
00:21I haven't seen tourists passing by, mythological creatures that you don't really understand what they are.
00:31I just arrived in Odontani, in northwest Thailand, very close to the border with Laos.
00:37And here I'm going to look for a van that will take me right to the border crossing.
00:47Many travelers don't know that right from this city they can take a van and cross overland to Laos.
00:53This van, look, it stays here.
00:55Upon leaving the airport, I was charged approximately $6.
00:58And we're going to see how easy or how complicated it can be.
01:02Chapter with chapter.
01:09I find it incredible how in less than an hour we're going to go from being in one of the most
01:15Thailand, one of the most visited countries in the world.
01:17With over 40 million visitors a year to one of the least visited countries, Laos.
01:29After 45 minutes, the van just dropped me off at this place right where it says Thailand.
01:36I'm going to stamp my exit here, so I'm going to look for where the immigration box is.
01:40And then I have to walk a little bit to get to the Laos side.
01:44Or I don't know if I have to take a van, I'll find that out in just a few minutes, so
01:47come with me.
01:50As you know, Thailand is a fairly safe country, at least on this side of the border, on the side of
01:55Thailand feels very peaceful.
01:57I haven't seen any tourists passing by; the people you see here seem quite local.
02:01Let's hope it's just as safe on the other side.
02:09I thought I could walk after I got my passport and left Thailand until I reached the part of
02:15Laos.
02:15And no, I saw that everyone was taking this bus that costs only one dollar.
02:20Well, if everyone's doing that, let's do it like ants because I'm already stuck on this side
02:25without internet to investigate, to search.
02:27So we trust the process.
02:29Everything is flowing.
02:30Wish me luck, my travelers.
02:39Right now we are crossing the Mekong River, one of the most important rivers in Asia, which makes
02:47border between these countries.
02:54The Mekong is not only one of the most important rivers in Asia, it is a natural boundary that has separated
03:00cultures for centuries.
03:02And right here, as I cross it, I'm entering Laos, a country with a history that the world hardly knows.
03:09account.
03:10Now we're at the box where we're going to get our passports stamped.
03:14I have my visa printed out.
03:16There is an option to get it on arrival, however I preferred to get it online.
03:21It took about three days for them to try it on me, so the process should be much easier.
03:26And when I was researching this country, I was surprised to learn that it is the most bombed country in history.
03:32Yes, even more than Germany.
03:39Officially, my travelers, we are in Laos, my 103rd country.
03:44I was a little nervous but the migration process was very quick.
03:47It didn't take me even five minutes and they were quite friendly.
03:50Well, in fact they didn't even ask me anything.
03:52I just gave them my visa and passport, they stamped it, and here we are.
03:56I just caught this van that's going to take me to my hotel for about $8.
04:02And I don't know if we are far away or close.
04:03What I did was exchange money for local banknotes.
04:07These are kip, and I exchanged 50 US dollars and they gave me more than a million kip.
04:13So, well, we've already started to get to know Laos.
04:16Here in Laos I am a millionaire.
04:25Although everything seems calm today, Laos has a very different past.
04:30Between 1964 and 1973, during the Vietnam War, this country was massively bombed.
04:38More than 2 million tons of bombs were dropped.
04:42That means that for almost nine years a bomb fell every eight minutes.
04:46And the most shocking thing is that many of those bombs never exploded and are still buried here today.
04:58Now, after that long journey, I can officially welcome you to the capital of Laos.
05:06I am in Vientiane, specifically at one of the most emblematic and important monuments in the country.
05:14The Arch of Triumph of Laos.
05:16Also known as Patuxai.
05:18This arch was inspired by the Arc de Triomphe in Paris.
05:22It was built in the 1960s.
05:24And I must tell you that something that caught my attention from the moment I crossed the border until I arrived at my hotel
05:29It was the sheer number of red flags I saw everywhere.
05:33This is a communist country and it emphasizes that on every corner.
05:36In fact, we are here at the Arc de Triomphe.
05:38And notice how it's full of both the Laotian flag and the communist flag.
05:51Patuxai in the Lao language means Gate of Victory.
05:55And this monument was built to commemorate the Laotian soldiers who were defending independence from France.
06:03And although this monument was inspired by the Arc de Triomphe in Paris, it has its own very original aspects.
06:09So I want us to go downstairs because all the decor has Buddhist symbols and mythological things
06:15very beautiful that makes it unique and different.
06:22Although at first glance it resembles the Arc de Triomphe in Paris, this monument has a completely different identity.
06:30Inside it is filled with Buddhist symbols, traditional figures and details that reflect the culture of Laos.
06:37It's like a mix between European history and Asian spirituality.
06:44Wow, look how beautiful my travelers are! I paid one dollar to climb the Arc de Triomphe and get a great view.
06:51beautiful in the whole city.
06:53And now I understand why some travelers call it the vertical runway.
06:57But this name actually comes from a very curious anecdote.
07:00And they say that years ago the United States donated some winged resources precisely to build an airport, a runway
07:08landing.
07:09And they used that cement and those resources to actually build this Arc de Triomphe.
07:14It is also known as the vertical track.
07:17And very vertically because I got tired.
07:23As in many Southeast Asian countries, tuk-tuks are quite famous.
07:28But this one has something special, and that is that here they are electric.
07:33Look at the difference, it has its little screen, how technological, this doesn't make any kind of sound.
07:38Some VIP tuk-tuks.
07:46This is perhaps the most important place of all.
07:50And this great golden stupa that you see behind me, 45 meters high, is the most important religious symbol.
07:57sacred to the entire country.
07:59I've already covered myself up a bit since this is a Buddhist temple.
08:03Let's meet him, his name is Patat Luang.
08:15Wow, it's amazing that all of this is covered in gold.
08:19And at this time of day, with the sun shining directly on it, it looks super radiant, very beautiful.
08:25It's much more imposing up close.
08:27And for the people of Lausanne, this place, more than a monument, is the most important place to come and pray, to
08:34bring offerings, to find their inner peace.
08:37In fact, although there are few people, we see around us how, for example, a lady came with her little basket, soft drinks, bread, some
08:44little things.
08:44She placed them there, opened the bottles, put them on, and said a prayer.
08:54Look, for example, here was a lady sitting, well, kneeling, praying behind those flowers, incense, and refreshments.
09:02And he leaves them all open while obviously making his requests.
09:06He also left money and some fruit.
09:09And it's important that we as travelers, when we come to these kinds of temples, even though it's a
09:14Nice place to take photos and videos, let's also speak quietly and respectfully.
09:18Because let's remember that for many locals they are really coming for a moment of inner peace, faith, and spirituality.
09:29And this is where everything starts to change.
09:32After crossing the border with so much expectation, what you find in Laos is not tension, it's calm.
09:39And the atmosphere is completely different from other Southeast Asian capitals.
09:44Wow, I'm rushing to see if I still have time to sail on the Mekong River.
09:49Before the sun finishes setting, it looks spectacular.
09:53What a lovely welcome Laos has given me.
09:55And that's what surprises me because I had seen so many news reports, so many ads on the internet.
10:00It was one of the least visited countries in the world.
10:03And I think that's changing in recent years, as tourism in Thailand is growing.
10:09Here too, because from a little turn around here, today isn't even the weekend, my travelers.
10:14And that's also full of people who look like foreigners.
10:18Here you can see that there is a small park.
10:20I'm going to hurry and find a small boat and see if we can go sailing.
10:23So, let's go.
10:30Bad news, my travelers.
10:32I walked there looking for where the dock was.
10:36And the sun has completely set, so I'll try again tomorrow.
10:39But today, apparently, there is a lot of life around here.
10:42Many activities and things to discover.
10:44And look, people are quite active.
10:48The Laotians, or Laotians?
10:50Yes, Laotians is the demonym for those born in Laos.
10:55Kind, calm people who live without haste.
10:58When night falls, the city transforms with markets, local food, and a much more relaxed and fun atmosphere.
11:06Dance classes and even a fair with games.
11:08I really wasn't expecting this fair, so let's play a little bit.
11:14You know I'm not very good at aiming, but let's give it a try.
11:24I wasn't prepared for this.
11:29I don't always have good aim.
11:31Can I try more?
11:32Ah, I only paid for three.
11:34No, they told me no.
11:43Good morning, my travelers.
11:45This is how we woke up today.
11:47And yesterday I really wanted to sail on what is the most important river
11:52from Asia.
11:52So today I'll get up very early to achieve it.
11:56And I'm going to do it in a really fun way, you'll see.
11:59Yesterday I thought I had to walk all this way to get there to the river.
12:03But he decides that my friend is going to take me in this tuk-tuk.
12:06So let's go.
12:07Come on, sir.
12:08She told me I have to hold on to here.
12:10That?
12:10It's going to be very extreme, sir.
12:11Hey?
12:12What is this?
12:15Okay.
12:17I feel like I'm literally crossing a border, a trail.
12:23Come on.
12:27We've arrived.
12:29The river is right here.
12:32And how incredible that there, so close, we're also seeing Thailand.
12:36Here are some like stilt houses.
12:38And this is all alone.
12:40There is absolutely no one here at this moment except the gentleman and me.
12:51The most traditional way to navigate this river is in small boats like this one right at sunset.
12:57Yesterday they realized that I didn't have time to arrive.
13:01So today my big ship is going to do this.
13:05Something you may not know is that there is approximately a 12-hour time difference with Latin America.
13:09Nobody knows I'm here and this river has a current.
13:13I'm thinking I'm completely crazy because I'm going to turn around here and I'm literally going to stop, no
13:17I know, in China.
13:19Because this river connects 6 Asian countries.
13:21So wish me luck, my fellow travelers, and witness a new adventure traveling with Vero.
13:27And if you haven't liked it yet, like it and subscribe because we're going to sail the Mekong.
13:45I'm going with the flow, the problem will be getting back.
13:50But I want to see if I can get to the Thailand part.
13:53How incredible, my travelers, that sometimes the border can simply be water, a river like this river, the Mekong.
14:06I think this is the first time I've done something like this.
14:09I have kayaked many times, but it is not such a large and important river.
14:15There are 6 countries in Asia that this river connects, my travelers.
14:20And that it's so calm right now, with so much silence.
14:24It makes me think a lot, connect with things, and also reflect on the entire history of this country.
14:29Although it's not very well known, studying its history has surprised me.
14:35I love having come all the way here.
14:36Today Laos feels like one of the most peaceful countries I have ever visited.
14:41And it's hard to believe that this same place has one of the most intense histories of the last century.
14:46Sometimes the places with the toughest pasts end up being the most peaceful.
14:52I've been browsing for about 30 minutes.
14:56And look, there it is, Thailand is visible nearby.
14:59I imagine that many people here from Laos must pass through there.
15:03It can't be legal, to be honest.
15:05But I don't see any kind of barrier, wall, nothing.
15:09Practically speaking, if I wanted to, I think I could get there and walk.
15:13And now officially in Thailand.
15:16But anyway, I think it's time to go back.
15:18I've moved quite a way from the starting point.
15:21And it was coming with the current in its favor.
15:23So now I have to do the hardest part, which is going against the current.
15:26If you haven't liked it yet, like it and subscribe.
15:28And tell me what you think about these types of less touristy countries.
15:32But with incredible magic.
15:34Would you like to meet them?
15:42Laos has unexpected places like this one, which is only about 25 kilometers from the capital.
15:50It's called Budapark and it's amazing.
15:53I paid about $3 to get in and I'm surprised at how beautiful it is.
15:58It has more than 200 religious images like all these that you are seeing here, which are amazing.
16:04Not only the pictures, but everything has a lot of greenery and some very, very beautiful images that we are going to go
16:12discovering.
16:17For many, this park is like an open-air museum that you walk through and discover.
16:23And also trying to understand each of these figures.
16:26Because at the same time it feels like being in a surreal dream.
16:30With all the figures of gods, demons, mythological creatures that you don't really understand what they are.
16:37This park was built in 1958 and blends some ideas from Buddhism and Hinduism.
16:48Wow! I really think it's absurd to have paid $3 to be here.
16:54It's a magical, amazing place.
16:57Each figure surprises me more than the last, and the photos turn out beautifully.
17:02Having discovered a new country for just $15, which is what I spent to cross the border from
17:08Thailand to Laos seemed like the best decision to me.
17:12I was surprised. At first I was a little scared.
17:15I didn't know what I was going to find.
17:16But I loved being here.
17:18Today I have to go back across that border again to give another 15 dollars.
17:22And arrive in Thailand to pick up my luggage to catch my next flight.
17:26I want to know your comments.
17:27What did you think of Laos?
17:29What did you think of the little bit you saw in this video?
17:31This experience you had with me?
17:33And if you'd like to come.
17:34If you enjoyed this adventure with me, don't forget to like and subscribe—we're already over [number missing]!
17:402,100,000.
17:42And thanks to your support we can continue discovering more places in the world.
17:46Bye, bye!
17:48Laos definitely turned out to be one of the most unexpected countries on this trip.
17:53A peaceful country, but with a history that left a deep mark.
17:56Thank you my fellow travelers for joining me on this journey.
Comentários