Kip

After several days in Lao (Did we mention it’s Lao? Apparently only rubes say “Laos”), I am still not used to the currency. At just about every purchase my response is initial outrage (“What?? NOTHING can possibly cost 174,000 kip!”) followed by remembering sheepishly that a 174,000 kip is about $20. A liter bottle of the national food, Beerlao, is 8,000 kip in a cheap place and 12,000 kip somewhere touristy – that’s the difference between 95 cents and $1.30.

ATMs will only give you a maximum of 700,000 kip ($80+) and are constantly out of service because they run out so quickly. Kerry changed $200 in traveler’s checks today and almost needed a suitcase.

Also, the different bill denominations are virtually indistinguishable.

Also, the Lao script for 2 looks exactly like a 6, so the 2,000 kip bills, of which at any time you might be carrying several kilos, have “2000” printed in one corner and “6000” in the other.

The solution, apparently, is to order more Beerlao, smile a lot, and remember to say “Kup chai lai lai.”