BASICS - The Rough Guide to Laos - page 89

Time zone
Ignoring daylight-saving time abroad, Laos is 7 hours ahead of London, 15 hours ahead of
Vancouver, 12 hours ahead of New York, 3 hours behind Sydney and 5 hours behind Auck-
land.
Toilets
Squat toilets are the norm throughout Laos, although almost all hotels and guesthouses have
Western-style porcelain thrones. Public toilets are not common in Laos, though you'll find
them at airports and most bus stations; at the latter a small fee is usually collected. Not all
toilets will have toilet paper, so it's worth carrying some with you. Most squat toilets require
manual flushing - you'll find a bucket of water with a scoop floating on the surface for this
purpose. In some small, rural villages people tend to take to the woods because of a lack
of plumbing. On long road trips this is also a perfectly acceptable way to relieve yourself,
though keep in mind that many parts of Laos have UXO , so it's not wise to wade too far into
the bush when the bus stops for a bathroom break.
Travellers with disabilities
For anyone with limited mobility, Laos is a difficult country to explore. Even in the big tourist
cities of Luang Prabang and Vientiane, you will find uneven pavements, which lack ramps,
and small sets of stairs leading into most restaurants and guesthouses. In smaller towns the
situation is even worse - there are often no pavements and most of the roads are dirt tracks.
However, a handful of the newer hotels in Laos (especially in cities) have been built with
some regard for disabled guests. The best places have ramps at the front of the building, lifts
to all floors of the hotel, and wider doorways that at least allow wheelchair users to pass from
one part of the building to another. That said, your chances of getting a room that's been spe-
cially adapted for a wheelchair user, complete with grab-rails and a roll-in shower, are close
to zero.
Hotels that do make specific allowances for disabled guests include the 3 Nagas in Luang
Prabang and the Lao Plaza in Vientiane.
The best way to alleviate transport difficulties is to take internal flights and hire a private
minibus with a driver. You should also consider hiring a local tour guide to accompany you
on sightseeing trips - a Lao speaker can facilitate access to temples and museums. Flying an
international carrier whose planes are suited to your needs is also helpful. Keep in mind that
airline companies can cope better if they are expecting you, with a wheelchair provided at
airports and staff primed to help.
When preparing for your trip, it's a good idea to pack spares of any clothing or equipment
that might be hard to find. If you use a wheelchair, you should have it serviced before you go