Things You Should Know About Laos

1. Everyone, everyone, everyone I have spoken to wishes they had more time to spend in Laos.
2. Don't be fooled by beautiful photos of the Kuang Si Falls - the photographer has waited for at least 10 minutes to get a shot over the heads of twelve other people at the precise moment that someone conveniently disappeared behind a tree and another crouched down to get an artistic shot.
3. Missing those fish spas that graced the malls in England a few years ago? Head to Kuang Si.
4. There's a curfew that states all businesses must close at 11:30pm.
5. Driving licences are brought. No lessons or tests are required, yet it's the most peaceful driving experience. Everyone weaves around everyone else and just goes with the flow. 
6. Luang Prabang translates to Land Of A Million Elephants.
7. There are currently around 400 elephants left in the wild in Laos, and 400 domesticated, working in logging or tourist attractions. Many of these provide unethical experiences based on what the tourist wants, not what the elephant wants. For a true interaction with elephants in their natural habitat visit MandaLao Conservation; game changers in elephant conservation.
8. From 1964 to 73 the US dropped 260 million cluster bombs on Laos as part of the Laos Secret War. 2.5 million tonnes of munitions. The equivalent of a plane load of bombs being unloaded every 8 minutes, 24 hours a day for 9 years. 7 bombs for every person living in Laos. More than all the bombs dropped on Europe during WWII.
9. A third of the bombs dropped on Laos did not explode. Large areas of land remain unexploited due to the risk of land mines, however over 20,000 people have died since the war ended as a result.
10. There are exactly 200 steps to the top of Mount Phousi, the mountain in the city centre, and 8 down into the cave at the top.