Laos

[draggons]

Any of my photographic friends been to Luang Prabang? Was going to head to the Samui for a holiday but her indoors wants to go to Luang Prabang........

Anyone got any recommendations?

Cheers.

[Rob8891]

Theblether did a slow boat trip down the Mekong to LP. He had some great pics, posted in SE Asia forum. I'm planning similar trip, 3-4 days in LP in April...gotta escape Songkran in CM!!

[draggons]

Theblether did a slow boat trip down the Mekong to LP. He had some great pics, posted in SE Asia forum. I'm planning similar trip, 3-4 days in LP in April...gotta escape Songkran in CM!!

Cheers Rob. All information gratefully accepted.

[phuketrichard]

YES, its a great place to psend some time, was there last July

Luang Namtha, Luang Prabang, Phonsavan, Veng Vieng, Vientainne

year before hit Muang Sing and savanakhet as well

IF ur going during holidays BOOK IN ADVANCE LP fills up,

I stayed at Alounsavath GH on the river last year ( had room #2 for 3 nights) paid $25/night

Beautiful rooms and breakfast on the river.

good for 3-4 days

http://phuket.zenfolio.com/p348797983

The alms giving in the morning is not as great as they make it up to be, lots of people selling and reselling food for the monks. They turned an old tradition into a tourist attraction. Few years back it got to the point they monks wanted to stop but the authorities told them if they did they would dress up locals to make the rounds. ;-)

[draggons]

Thanks Richard.

Found the Blethers thread Whatever happened to Theblether?

[Rob8891]

Thanks Richard.

Found the Blethers thread Whatever happened to Theblether?

The daft beggar got himself banned. I know we can't discuss such things, but I think he did it on purpose.... He was too savvy to say something out of line by accident. I wouldn't be surprised if he is back lurking somewhere (again)

[Rob8891]

...........Ironically, I have just finished making bookings for a trip down the Mekong from Huai Xai to LP where we'll spend 4 nights in April.... booked into the Villa Chitchareune, based on info in Booking.com. There should be a photo blizzard when I get back...and the usual nonsensical blog, of course.

I was determined to escape all the water fights of Songkran in CM....so where better to be than on the Mekong

When are you heading there, Draggons?

Edited February 6, 2014 by Rob8891

[draggons]

...........Ironically, I have just finished making bookings for a trip down the Mekong from Huai Xai to LP where we'll spend 4 nights in April.... booked into the Villa Chitchareune, based on info in Booking.com. There should be a photo blizzard when I get back...and the usual nonsensical blog, of course.

I was determined to escape all the water fights of Songkran in CM....so where better to be than on the Mekong

When are you heading there, Draggons?

Heading up there on the 17th untill the 22nd this month. quite looking forward to going

[Rob8891]

...........Ironically, I have just finished making bookings for a trip down the Mekong from Huai Xai to LP where we'll spend 4 nights in April.... booked into the Villa Chitchareune, based on info in Booking.com. There should be a photo blizzard when I get back...and the usual nonsensical blog, of course.

I was determined to escape all the water fights of Songkran in CM....so where better to be than on the Mekong

When are you heading there, Draggons?

Heading up there on the 17th untill the 22nd this month. quite looking forward to going

Ah rats! You'll be bagging all the good angles two months before I get there!!

[FracturedRabbit]

Luang Prabang is great! Get up early to see the Tak Bak (monks collecting alms); highly photogenic! http://www.pattayadays.com/2012/12/luang-prabang-tak-bak/

[draggons]

@Rob. But just think of the heads up I'll be able to give you

@FR Great photos of the Tak Bak

[C4Chilli]

Hi Rob, I'm not so sure you'll miss the water festival...

It was a few years since I was in Luang Purbang but they played Songkran there also.

Expect to be smeared with white paint and some kind of oily black substance which turned out to be soap proof.

It seemed a good idea to join in at the time until I showered and no matter how much I scrubbed the dam stuff just wouldn't come off!

PS. take the slow boat for sure, you'll understand why when you hear the longtails coming and see what fun the passengers are having all huddled together with their crash helmets on (that's if they're still running!)

[C4Chilli]

Hi Rob, I'm not so sure you'll miss the water festival...

It was a few years since I was in Luang Purbang but they played Songkran there also.

Expect to be smeared with white paint and some kind of oily black substance which turned out to be soap proof.

It seemed a good idea to join in at the time until I showered and no matter how much I scrubbed the dam stuff just wouldn't come off!

PS. take the slow boat for sure, you'll understand why when you hear the longtails coming and see what fun the passengers are having all huddled together with their crash helmets on (that's if they're still running!)

oops sorry, posted twice!

Edited February 6, 2014 by C4Chilli

[Rob8891]

Thanks C4C, I'm expecting some sort of Songkran, but draw the line at being forced to ingest moat-water in CM. It laid Theblether low for a week last year....he could s**t through the eye of a needle at 50 paces, poor beggar Songkran was sheer mayhem here, so I am betting almost anywhere is better than here.....but with the black stuff, ...

FracturedRabbit... Thanks for the Tak Bak photos. Excellent! A great blog too!

[Robby nz]

Been there twice, once by road from Vientiane several years ago, the hills were bare of trees as far as you could see and the hill tribe people were camped on the roadside by water tanks provided by the UN, very sad.

Followed the monks after they had been past all the tables and they went round the block and did it all again for the faithful, or tourists.

Take a boat ride up the river to the cliff temple.

Second time passed through on the way down from the far north, stayed in a cheap place on the same road as the monks do their thing.

Try some of the big hot dog, hamburger things in a long bun a roi mak.

Last trip we did was to the Bolaven Plateau and 4000 islands, The plateau on rent Motorcy and the islands on songtau and boat.

On the way back we crossed the river to the Wat Phu Temple remains, well worth the trip.

There is a new road from there back to the border crossing, by songtau.

[NamKAheng]

Vientiane, preparing food stall for the sunset on the Mekong

[Rob8891]

I returned from Laos on Friday. C4Chilli was right.... we DIDN'T escape the Songkran waterfest.... soaked to the skin on several occasions!! Nevertheless, it was a good trip.

I took a mere 950 photos (I forgot to pack the camera battery charger, or it would have been more!! ). Here's one of the Huay Xai inhabitants we met, wrapping up his packed lunch..... follow the link and you can read the story!

[Rob8891]

Big spiders....friendly restaurants... Laos is definitely the place to go for a relaxing break!

[sunshine51]

^^^Rob...the politeness of Laos shows everywhere eh!

[Rob8891]

We went to Laos to escape the madness of Songkran in CM.... ....... well, we escaped CM ......!

(Taken on my mobile phone. I hate using that thing for photos, but some idiot forget to pack his camera battery charger

[Rob8891]

We awere also pretty keen to get away from the poor air quality that we've been having in CM...... This was on the Mekong, somewhere between Huay Xai and Pak Beng

Edited April 24, 2014 by Rob8891

[Rob8891]

This Laos thread seems to have gon into hibernation....so unless anyone objects, Over the course of the next few days / weeks, I'll post some of the photos from the trip we did a month or two back, with a little commentary here and there. If there are any objections (since the forum is basically photography in Thailand), or if I am in breach of any rulles, please PM me and I will desist. In the meantime, here we go....

I may as well start with a shot in Thailand (as usual for me, from a bouncing tuktuk) This is the approach to the new Friendship Bridge between Chiang Khong and Huay Xai.

Edited June 1, 2014 by Rob8891

[Rob8891]

Goint through Thai Immigration was a hoot...We were even asked to fill out a questionnaire that asked about how well dressed the official was, and did he smile...

Then we were through and took another tuktuk to the Laos side.. here it is....same same but facing the other way!...and yes, it was taken from the back of a lurching Laos tuktuk...

Edited June 1, 2014 by Rob8891

[Rob8891]

We (me, Mrs Rob and two of our friends) booked into a hotel in Huay Xai, to catch the slowboat the next morning. It' was an intersting place...no two stair risers were the same height, and the teak floors undulated amazingly. (It reminded me of the Fun House at Skegness.....) The rules were in keeping with the rest of the hotel.....

[Rob8891]

From the hotel terrace, we could watch life along this section of the Mekong...

This chap was having fun throwing water around, while Dad fixed the fish trap...

[Rob8891]

The result was some smart patterns on the surface of the river (taken zoomed to 300mm max)

[Rob8891]

Next morning, we took an early walk up to the Wat at the top of the hill, before going in search of the slow boat to LP. if you go to Huay Xai, I'd suggest a quick temple trip - there are good views from there.

Mrs Rob (right) and friend

[Rob8891]

After yet another tuktuk ride, we reached the boat.

I missed a great photo op when four guys took a motorbike (or was it vice-versa?) down these steps and onto the boat. It was jaw-dropping!

We got settled in...the seats are numbered, but everyone shuffles the numbers round to get the seat they want....In addition, the seats aren't bolted to the deck . Mrs R was not looking forward to the prospect of two days at sea....

Edited June 1, 2014 by Rob8891

[Rob8891]

"Does my bum look big in this, darling?"

"Well, my dear, you're certainly packing on the beef a bit".....

On the river, you'll see literally hunreds of water buffalo.

[sunshine51]

We (me, Mrs Rob and two of our friends) booked into a hotel in Huay Xai, to catch the slowboat the next morning. It' was an intersting place...no two stair risers were the same height, and the teak floors undulated amazingly. (It reminded me of the Fun House at Skegness.....) The rules were in keeping with the rest of the hotel.....

Great Stuff Rob!!! I see rule # 5 hasn't changed...hah!