Anthony Bourdain: Laos, for most outsiders looking in, is an empty page. Until recently one of the least visited countries in South-East Asia, the least industrialized, one of the poorest with the Communist Government that has kept it isolated. Having been entirely skipped over by western changes and commercial interests, it has slowly and quietly become a sort after a exotic travel destination. It is and it has been for a very long time a country shrouded in mystery. This place makes Cambodia looking does realized, and of course it's beautiful.
Here a 100 miles east of Vientiane surrounded by mountains on a plateau of rolling hills and grasslands, is the town of Phongsali. I meet up with Samia (ph) a local inn keeper. He shows me the commercial hub, the daily market teaming with vendors. So far this town is described as the Wild West of Laos.
Samia: Yes of course, Laos is like a cross-road. This is a buffalo skin, they like to grill it and you can chew it. This is ant's egg.
Anthony Bourdain: Ant egg? What you do. You make soup or --
Samia: We make soup. We can make an omelet with this.
Anthony Bourdain: Is it good?
Samia: Very nice.
Anthony Bourdain: And of course noodles.
Samia: Here is the little kitchen of the market. This is where the local people have their breakfast.
Anthony Bourdain: You want to have some?
Samia: You can taste.
Anthony Bourdain-- Yes, let's have a bowl.
Samia: Have a seat.
Anthony Bourdain: This is Kalpia, a steaming bowl of goodness with chicken, duck and pork.
Samia: This is for you.
Anthony Bourdain: Oh, yeah, that looks pretty.
Samia: If you like sweets you can put some sugar but this is ginger paste, chilly paste, this is salt, fish sauce --
Anthony Bourdain: Oh yeah, I like fish sauce.
Samia: We have some lemon, pepper
Anthony Bourdain: A lot of condiments, a lot of stuff on the side.
Samia: A lot of, yes.
Anthony Bourdain: The noodles are a Vietnamese thing but the condiments, pure Lao. This is the perfect breakfast for me.
Samia: Is it good? She is asking you.
Anthony Bourdain: Very, very -- Saplai.
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