LOCAL PEOPLE WORK TOGETHER FOR THE BIRDS AT NONG NOK

Vientiane province's Thoulakhom District has a new attraction for nature lovers under an hour’s drive from the capital’s city centre. Nong Nok Lake at Sivilay village provides a safe haven for over one hundred species of birds. Large populations of whistling ducks, egrets and herons converge in the area early in the morning for feeding and return again in the late afternoon to roost. Some of the species are resident at the lake all year round while others stop off during migration due to the abundance of food. The villagers, who are keen to promote ecotourism in the area, protect the lake and its winged inhabitants from the menace of poachers and the Vientiane province Women's Union are assisting by constructing a bird watching tower for the convenience of visitors. Not only can visitors to Nong Nok see the birds but also witness how the local people are working together to protect a unique natural area and its wildlife. Nong Nok is located 54km from Vientiane and takes around 45 minutes to reach by road. For more information contact laos@exotissimo.com

Royal Phnom Penh Airways will begin operating a new twice-weekly Vientiane – Siem Reap service as from 25^th March on Thursdays and Sundays. Exotissimo Laos will be one of only three sales agents in Laos. Cost and exact timing are still to be confirmed. The connection will help to promote the ever more popular Laos-Cambodia programme combinations. Once Pakse’s airport gains international status passengers will be able to board the plane in Pakse after finishing their Laos programme in the south of the country and connect to Siem Reap without having to return to Vientiane. The provisional schedule is as follows:

Siem Reap - Vientiane = every Thursday and Sunday (departure: 08:30 / arrival: 10:30)

Vientiane - Siem Reap = every Thursday and Sunday (departure: 11:30 / arrival: 13:30)

EXOTISSIMO LAOS OPENS DIRECT SALES DEPARTMENT

Exotissimo Laos will open a direct sales department on the 1^st March. Located at the Vientiane office on Khouneboulom Street - Ban Anou, the direct sales department will supply a personalized travel service for expatriates and others wishing to travel around Laos or overseas. For more information please e-mail to deric@exotissimo.com. The phone number is (856) 020 514 510 and the fax number is (856) 020 214 412.

The National Tourism Authority of Laos and provincial authorities announced the site of Konglor Cave officially open to the world on January 2002. The spectacular Tham Konglor Cave is expected to boost economic growth in local area after being opened to visitors as a natural tourism site in Khamuan Province. The province has finished construction of a 40km road leading to the cave site and has set up a shop area at the site for local people to sell handicraft products. Konglor Cave has two entrances and visitors can access by boat on the crystal clear Hineboune River.