Monica, Chandler, Rachel, Ross and Joey

...are in Laos!

One can reasonably argue that one thing many Asian countries have in common is a culture of blatant "borrowing." Original thought is a new thing in many of the Communist-led developing countries. Tailors are great at copying clothes. Bootleg DVDs are more readily available than toothpaste. And when one business is successful, there are bound to be copy-cat storefronts popping up in the surrounding blocks (sometimes changing the name by one letter to invite confusion). In Vang Vieng, Laos this has led to one very obvious and very disturbing trend...

Vang Vieng is situated along the Nam Song river and stunning limestone peaks. The natural beauty makes this place a must-see destination. However, the town itself is lined with yellow and green Beer Lao umbrellas and cookie-cutter bars all with reclined seating facing wall-mounted television screens -- 92% of which are playing old episodes of "Friends." It seems that each bar has a box set of the complete series which they continually play with short breaks only to switch the disc. Everything is open air so just walking down the street one is bombarded with the classic sitcom laugh track.

A few businesses diverge, but still fewer have branched out beyond the trend of relying on some sort of "proven" branding. For instance, one bar dropped "Friends" after getting feedback that some people don't like it. They now play "Family Guy."

There are the odd businesses that have maintained some integrity and tried to capture the market through their own innovation. Unfortunately, the cafe that boasts only playing "Jack Johnson" is packed every morning while the Organic Farm Cafe directly next door remains relatively empty.

The now problem is that Vang Vieng has been so overrun by the dark side of mainstream Western entertainment that those who flock here are the those who thrive on cultural bankruptcy - the drunk and high 20-something backpacker. Some make a special trip to Vang Vieng from their charades in Thailand and end up spending their entire duration of their visa slurring their words as they tube down the river and jump from rope swings provided by the string of bars. Everyday is a massive pub crawl along the river in Vang Vieng.

Don't get me wrong...tubing and rope swings provided for a enjoyable (yet surreal) break in my travels, but after a day and a half I had to move on and bid an eager farewell to Monica, Chandler and the rest of the "Friends."