Luang Prabang to Nong Khiaw (aka Muang Ngoi) |
Arriving at the boat pier |
Main riverboat pier |
Inside our boat - more comfortable than usual |
Decorative panel on another boat |
Heading up the Mekong |
Pak Ou Buddha caves on the Mekong |
Confluence of the Mekong and Nam Ou at Pak Ou |
Mouth of the Nam Ou |
Looking back at karst |
Heading up the Nam Ou |
Calm waters |
River scenery |
Standing up for an uncluttered view |
Riverside village |
Riverside houses |
River scenery |
River scenery |
Our tattered Lao flag |
Rushcutters? |
River scenery |
River scenery |
River scenery |
Children on riverbank |
Paddling his own canoe |
Boatman and friend |
Looking back |
River scenery |
River scenery |
River scenery |
Enjoying the ride |
Backlit portrait |
River scenery |
Lone boatman |
Another boat |
Another boat |
Looking back |
Looking ahead |
Wild water over rapids |
Villagers washing |
Villagers washing |
River scenery |
River scenery |
Karst formation |
Approaching Nong Khiaw |
Boats moored at Nong Khiaw |
Riverbank opposite boat landing |
Sunrise Guesthouse, Nong Khiaw |
Cabins, Sunrise Guesthouse |
My room, Sunrise Guesthouse |
Stuffed shirt - improvised pillow case |
Bathroom, Sunrise Guesthouse |
View from Sunrise Guesthouse, late afternoon |
My balcony, Sunrise Guesthouse, late afternoon |
Early next morning, Nong Khiaw |
Looking upriver in early morning |
Loading baskets of chickens on to sangthiew |
Loading baskets |
Heading upriver towards Muang Khua |
Nong Khiaw (aka Muang Ngoi) and Muang Khua |
River scenery |
River scenery |
Karst formation |
Toilet stop on a sandy bank |
River scenery |
Another longtail boat |
Tourist boat |
River scenery |
Another boat |
Negotiating rapids |
Riverbank |
Sitting at the back for an uninterrupted view |
Looking ahead |
Riverbank |
Approaching Muang Khua |
Moored at Muang Khua |
Keophila Guesthouse, Muang Khua |
Main street, Muang Khua |
Chicken for dinner? |
Preparing rat: 1. Dunk in pan of boiling water (left) |
2. Hand to daughter, who removes fur |
3. Grill furless animal over hot coals |
4. Chop it finely - all I wanted to see |
Smoked meat for sale in market |
Smoked meat |
Bats for sale in market |
Traditional remedies for sale at market |
Street stall where I had omelette |
Omelette aux fines herbes à la Lao |
Boat landing, Muang Khua, early morning |
Speedboat heading upriver |
Leaving Muang Khua behind |
Phongsali, the most remote major town in Laos |
Heading for Phongsali |
Onward upriver (looking towards the stern) |
River scenery |
Rapids - very big ones |
River scenery |
A boat roars past |
Riverbank at one of our halts |
Riverbank at our rest stop |
Another boat passes us |
Children bathing at rapids |
River scenery |
River scenery |
Longtail boat |
Drops of water from rapids on my lens |
River scenery |
Our boat moored below village for lunch |
We had to ford this creek to reach the village |
Village women ford creek |
Fording creek |
Fording creek |
Patriotic mural, village hall |
Message board, village square |
Delicious noodle soup for lunch |
Back to the boat - view from path down riverbank |
Another boat |
Riverbank village |
Rapids |
River scenery |
More rapids |
Sideboard safely delivered to village by our boat |
Riverbank market |
Lone canoeist |
Women bathing at rapids |
Water buffalo |
Riverbank |
Riverbank |
Riverbank village |
Bamboo canoe |
River and bridge |
Journey's end: Hat Sa village - boat landing for Phongsali |
Viphaphone Hotel, Phongsali |
View from hotel |