I did a study of Laos for an international communication class, which was supposed to include various accounts by travelers.

I came across a fascinating pair of travel accounts. Both described nearly the exact same route (Luang Prubang, typical tourist river route, etc). Both hit almost all the same details—smell of city, description of boat and other passengers, food, even the same building at one point. The curious thing was that one of the travelers saw wonder and beauty everywbere (without being entirely blinded to certain realities), and the other thought the whole trip basically sucked (his language matched his attitude).

Interesting, huh?

I came out of the exercise really wanting to visit Laos; the Plain of Jars is of particular interest.