Laos

[Rob8891]

@ draggons....Your shots of Kwang Si are SO much better than mine. We went ther at Songkran and it was impossible to get a decent shot...and even more impossible to set up the tripod!

[Rob8891]

Tad Kuang Si

I am jealous! Terrific shots.

[draggons]

There is a strong French colonial influence here.....not to mention excellent coffee and croisants! A great spot for breakfast.

I remember there being some nice cakes in that place

[Rob8891]

A few street scenes....

[Rob8891]

We climbed to the top of "Mount Phousay"... the 'mount' is about 400 steps high, depending on from which side one attacks it... The whole area is a temple.

On the way up, we caught these guys skiving off. I wish the shutter had been silent...they all nearly suffered whiplash!

A surprise at the highest point of the temple...

[Rob8891]

The view from the top. 1 over the Mekong, 2 over the Mae Nam. It was a pity the scene was still so hazy from burning....but could have been worse!

[draggons]

Street food.

[Rob8891]

Luang Prabang looked really nice, but it was Songkran. Danger lurked round every corner....

You go high, I'll go low...

Edited June 2, 2014 by Rob8891

[Rob8891]

The beautiful little girls were just as deadly...

[draggons]

I think the Mrs and me timed it just right going in January, fine during the day and cool at night

[Rob8891]

Not sure if he was hiding from the sun or from the flying water...

[Rob8891]

A lot of people seemed to cook outside, so the smell of woodsmoke was everywhere

[Rob8891]

During Songkran, there were big street parades involving people from all walks of life. It seemed every section of society was represented (and soaked to the skin!)

People and their pickups, eh?

[Rob8891]

More and more groups came along the road....

[Rob8891]

This character, clearly proud of his ethnicity, danced a jig all the way.

[Rob8891]

A happy man....

.and a grumpy Gadaffi look-alike (or is it he??? )

[Rob8891]

[Rob8891]

brain transplant underway....

[Rob8891]

Lots of lovely ladies....

Serenity...

...cute cop!

If you soak me, I'll tear your head off!

[Rob8891]

.....and the ladyboys. This poor soul was literally going to pieces at this point..

But help was at hand...

[Rob8891]

If you throw water at me, you are in deep trouble, old son...

They did, and they weren't (AFAIK). Their caps were knocked off and went flying down the street...

[Rob8891]

I bet this guy was popular with the others....he stayed dry!

[Rob8891]

Away from the mayhem....two old Mercs, one in good condition, the other not so

[Rob8891]

Outdoor cookery school. Nice!

Confluence of the Nam and the Mekong. The footbridge is a toll bridge.

[draggons]

Another old Merc.

[draggons]

Smart old Citreon.

[Rob8891]

Smart old Citreon.

17-02-14-(78).jpg

I was looking for one of these, but never succeeded. Superb! Green with envy!

[Rob8891]

Like draggons, we went to Kuang Si falls. They are spectacular, but as it was Songkran, there were hundreds of people there, picnicing, swimming and generally getting in the way.

First one has to dodge assorted buffalo on the road...

...then duck all the kids lying in wait with water, until you join the crowds trying to enter the falls...

[Rob8891]

..then of course one has to elbow, jostle and almost fight for the spot to take a picture of the Kuang Si falls.

At least the bears at the rescue center didn't seem to mind the crowds.

[Rob8891]

I finally got the water surface horizontal....