LAOS

 Boat trip on the Mekong river

Mekong is the major transportation artery in the remote northern Laos

Every day one small passenger boat sets off for a two-day trip from Huay Xai (at Thai border) to Luang Prabang.

The landscape surrounding the river is mountainous and sparsely populated.

From time to time a village can be seen from the river. Usually, the jungle around is cleared for fields.

Luang Prabang

Luang Prabang can be found on the confluence of Mekong and Nam Khang rivers. The Royal Palace is located in a near proximity of the river.

A temple by the Royal palace

Traditional dance theatre performances present stories from the Lao version of Ramayana. It is performed in richly decorated costumes and masks.

Traditional music instruments are used to accompany the dance performances.

French colonial architecture in Luang Prabang

The most important and also the most interesting temple in Luang Prabang is Wat Xieng Thong. Tree of life is depicted on one of his outer walls.

The Royal Funeral Chapel is richly decorated with scenes from Ramayana.

Detail of the decoration

Rice patties are being dried right on the street.

Night market in Luang Prabang

One of the Lao villages near Luang Prabang

Kids from the village

Beautiful cascades of waterfalls near Luang Prabang. Swimming pools offer pleasant refreshment in the afternoon heat.

Near the waterfalls, we discovered a cave and explored it.

Countryside with rice fields along the way from Luang Prabang to Vientiane

Market in a larger village attracts hill tribe people from surrounding hills.

Failing clutch required that after stopping, the starter had to used to get the bus moving again with the first gear in. Clearly, the starter had a problem going up the hill.

Vientiane

Pha That Luang - the symbol of Lao Buddhism and sovereignty. The construction began in 1566. Its main stupa is designed to resemble the first Indian Buddhist stupa in Sanchi.

Wat Si Saket is the oldest temple in Vientiane. Wall surrounding the temple contains hundreds of niches, in which images of Buddha are placed.

Decorated stupas carrying ashes of important (rich) people are located around the outer wall of the Si Saket temple.

Local herbalist selling her treasures near the main Vientiane market. She showed us, which roots help with stomach problems and headache.