The cheapest place I've found in the world

With the economy as the lead story in news (along with of course, the Vice Presidential debates, but there's no shortage of bloggers discussing that topic), this week let me introduce you to the cheapest place that I've ever stayed and a lovely little spot in the world.

Consider for a future vacation a trip to Muang Ngoi, Nong Khiew (map) and Muang Ngoi Neua in Laos (rhymes with cow, sounds like l-ow, no 's'). But be ready to sit back and relax on a hard piece of wood for many hours to get there.

Muang Ngoi/Nong Khiew is accessible by boat or truck from the city of Luang Prabang (map). If you take the truck, you'll likely be riding with a rooster and depending on how full the truck is hanging off the back of it. The boat however, is extremely scenic, though it will take about nine hours to get there. And you may have to get out and push along the way when the water gets too shallow. Or if you need a break from sitting, the driver will stop a few times along the way and everyone will jump out of the boat for a bit of swim. All along the way, kids play in the water and squeal as when a boat approaches and then all wave frantically as the boat passes. I don't think the local fishermen appreciate the boatloads of loud tourists and roaring engines. Check out the map link above - this place is quite remote, but it's still on the backpacker trail and there are plenty of people around to meet and visit with from around the world.

The next town, Muang Ngoi Neua, is up the river and only accessible by boat. It was here in 2005 that I found my cheapest guesthouse in the world - $1.00 per room, or if you share, only 50 cents a person. (There have been those nights I've spent in parks, train stations and other free locations - but that's for another post) Every guesthouse and restaurant is frequented by local children who are often the translators with the tourists. They are extremely inquisitive and think nothing on sitting in your lap and checking out the random mementos that might be tied onto one's wrist or backpack and demanding they be taken off (in my case - it was a rubber chicken).Even here, there is still a strip of restaurants that serve food to the backpackers in town. One thing about small towns though, is that they are reliant on a generator and candles, so if the generator goes out, there goes all hope for a cold beverage. If the generator is working - drink up! While enjoying a meal in one of the restaurants you may notice a with drawings of UXO's or unexploded ordinances. This is a sobering reminder of the land mines that are still found in this area and a reminder to make a mental note to stay on marked paths.

The best part about a visit to these cities is all of the hammock time, the time wandering the (marked) trails, sitting out by river and just relaxing. Remove the bustling markets of Bangkok, the traffic, the large population and suddenly the world is a lot quieter. The sounds here are mostly of the children. Splashing around the water. Giggling at a picture of themselves taken by a tourist with a digital camera. A little girl proud of the tiny fish she caught.

If you have the patience, and a tough derriere, traveling is easy here.

Life is slower. There's often only one option of how to get from here to there, so there are less decisions. Buses don't often doesn't show up when they are scheduled. When that happens, sit back, relax and hope that the bus will come tomorrow. And it might or it might not. If not, there's still a beautiful land, laughing children and plenty of people to talk to. And maybe, if you're lucky, a cold beverage at the end of the day.