Our kitchen will, without a doubt, be the most modern in Laos. I’ve brought in equipment that people here have never heard of.
Food and nature is Chris’ passions. At Ban Lao Pako he combines both.
taking one of our tours,” said Chris. Located so far out in the jungle, there is always something which needs fixing or improving. Instead of hiring Chinese or Thais, Chris always works with local workers. “Many advised me against hiring local workers. And I really do not know why. I have been quite satisfied with the work they have done for me, and I also feel a great deal of responsibility,” said Chris Kridakorn-Odbratt, adding how he wants to give back to the people and to help Laos. “I have moved here, I run a resort here, so why not use the local workforce too?” Chris asked but admitted that there are some things, which he needs to import from other countries.
Modern kitchen Food is really Chris KridakornOdbratt’s passion. The past couple of decades of his life had revolved around food. Having runned a professionally-accredited Thai cooking school on the beaches of Bang Saen in Thailand, Chris’ passion for food obviously extends to teaching others how to cook as well. “Our kitchen will, without a doubt, be the most modern in Laos. I’ve brought in equipment that Taking care of the nature is a big part of the maintenance at the resort.
people here have never heard of,” said Chris and told me how he had had an Michelin chef stay at the resort who told him to call as soon as the kitchen was done, because he wanted to be the first Michelin chef ever to cook in Laos. Having run a cooking school in Thailand for Thai cuisine, Chris now dreams of doing the same at the Ban Lao Pako, but this time for Lao cuisine. Meanwhile, you are still able to get excellent food at Ban Lao Pako while you stay there. Their menu consists of both traditional Lao food and European cuisine - and unlike many other places in Asia - they actually know how to do justice to European cooking. I myself had the pleasure of sampling traditional Ital-
ian meatballs in tomato sauce and the classic German wiener schnitzel, and I must admit that it was some of the best food I have had in a long time. I might add that it was not in the least bit expensive.
Unplugged and unwind There is only Wi-Fi around in the bar area. The bungalows are stripped of TVs, radios and other distractions. “Though people come here to disconnect, I know that a lot of them still have an urge to be able to check their e-mails, Facebook, news from their home country and other stuff, so I have set up a little Wi-Fi hotspot,” said Chris. There is plenty of fun activities to do when you stay at the resort. Among them
is trekking where you can encounter some really exotic animals. You can go tubing in the river, which is located right next to the resort, Or, do as Chris said: Do nothing or just lean back, relax and read a book. Prices vary from 220.000 to 390.000 KIP (US$28-50) per night, and you get a 50 % discount after the first three nights. If you are in need of escaping the workaday existence or expanding your horizon or maybe seeing exotic wildlife, while being fed excellent food and nice cocktails, Ban Lao Pako ticks all the boxes.
Ban Lao Pako creates the perfect settings for a unique get-away