Smartpunters.com - Blog the Earth

 I'm in Luang Prabang in Laos now.  It's much more beautiful and relaxed than what I’ve seen Vietnam so I'm looking forward to walking today and looking at all the temples.  The one fly in the soup is all the self-consciously hippy types walking around wearing hemp and multiple body piercings - they're all wearing the same thing!  In an attempt to be different they are complete conformists.... 

On further reflection, however, the French handicraft enthusiasts annoy me more.  It’s a sad fact that tourists always hate other tourists.  We all want to be special – the only ones who have discovered a place.  We also want our money’s worth and the crowds of fat westerners really ruin the ambience we flew thousands of miles to see.  So, I try to stifle my annoyance in the recognition that tourist-hatred is inherent to traveling.   

Nevertheless, I have to complain about the handicraft enthusiasts on the grounds that they must be the reason for the ridiculous prices here.  The handicraft enthusiasts add an entirely different element to the tourist scene.  If it weren’t for them, the only tourists would be cheap backpacker types like myself.  But, instead, there are crowds of middle-aged, affluent French (and Japanese) people buying $500 rugs and hand-woven silk.  I can certainly understand why they come – the crafts are amazing.  The women here have a long tradition of weaving and they make incredibly beautiful fabrics on hand looms.    

Anyway, when the main attraction of a place to some tourists is shopping, rather than a ‘cultural experience,’ you can bet the prices are going to go up.  But, I feel guilty complaining about the prices.  Things are still very inexpensive and, God knows, the people here need a few extra dollars a lot more than I do.