Asia Adventure:
October 16 - November 25, 2013

(Click on photos to see a larger image.)

To Luang Prabang, Laos

We left Bangkok on our way to Laos. We flew on Asia Air from the old airport to Chiang Rai. Onc we go there we asked about getting a car to take us to Chiang Khong which is a little northwest on the Mekon River. We stayed overnight here before crossing the river to Laos.

Hotel room at Chiang Rai, Thailand

Hotel (l) and river view dining (r)

Our rooms are the 3 rooms on the right.

Hotel lobby ... waiting for ride to the "ferry"

Our "ferries" are at the water's edge.

On the "ferry"

Border crossing to Laos.

Next: On the slow boat to Luang Prabang, Laos

(Click on photos to see a larger image.)

On the Mekong

Once we got our visa for Laos, we joined withn about 40 others to be taken a short distance by Tuk Tuk bus to the dock where the slow boats were docked. We climbed down a steep bank and boarded this long, low flat boat.

Our boat looks like this. The passengers use the open area and the cook and staff used the back, closed area.

Most people sit at tables ... 2 people facing 2 people.

This bridge over the Mekong is between Thailand and Laos. It was a couple miles down stream from where the ferry took us across. It is scheduled to be open in December.

This is a map showing our route. We started at the left-most red dot on the blue Mekong river and after an overnight stop, got off in Luang Prabang, the right-most red dot.

Our guide, Mr. Thongsamai, on the river

Village along the Mekong. We visited one like this.

Haulling tall bunches of grasses used for roofing.

Fast boat (fast but noisy)

Looking towards the bar and the kitchen/staff area beyond.

Aurore and Oliver sat with us. They are French, but work in London and are a 4 month long sabbatical.

Hiking us to a Kamu village. Centuries ago the Kamu people came from the south and inhabited this area. Later on the people who became know as Lao came from the north (China) and became the dominate group.

Kamu village.

Playing washing, bathing at the shore of the Mekong.

Our stop for the night at the Phetsokxai Hotel, We disembarked and walked up that road and then to the left to our hotel.

Using the lobby Wifi while 2 dogs wrestle with each other.

Getting ready for breakfast the next day.

Elephants working along the shore.

Lunch: Fish/eggs, Vegetable Soup, Chicken and Vegetables, Pork balls on lemon grass sticks.

We stopped at the Buddha caves. Many Buddha statues have been brought here.

We climbed up to some higher caves which we inspected with flash lights.

Temple at another village we stopped and visited.

That evening Luang Prabang, we met up with Rene and Ot who had been here for several days and were leaving the next day. Rene is a friend from Holland and Ot is a friend from Thailand.

(Click on photos to see a larger image.)

To Luang Prabang, Laos

We left Bangkok on our way to Laos. We f

(Click on photos to see a larger image.)

Vientiane, Laos - Last Stop

We took a 30 minute flight on Lao Airways to Vientiane, the capital of Laos. From there we hired a taxi to take us to our hotel: Vientiane Plaza Hotel.

The next morning we listed a bunch of temples and local sights and started walking

.
Lobby of our Vientiane Plaza Hotel.

The first stop was the "Morning Market" which was very close to our hotel. It is a building full of small stalls selling about everything.

Appliances and sewing machines. I think these Singers are new?!?!?!

Next door to the Morning Market was the Talad Sao Shopping Mall. This one was more up-scale with air conditioning, I bought a bag of Lao coffee beans here.

Left is Wat Sisaket. It is near the Presidential Palace on the right.

Thousands of Buddhas in Wat Sisaket.

Ho Pra Keo - former private place of worship for an earlier king of Laos. Built in 1565. It housed the Emerald Buddha until it was taken by the Siamese.
Ho

Ho Pra Keo views.

Old roof tiles stacked in these spaces.

Beautiful butterfly.

The statue of King Anouvong, the King who is highly regarded amongst Laotians. The statue was constructed in 2010 during Vientiane’s 450th Anniversary to commemorate the King’s noble contribution to Vientiane during his reign.

Refreshments at the French Chok Dee Cafe, near the Mekong River.

Overhead wire madness.

Local temple and school. Cats sleeping in the afternoon heat.

We hired a Tuk Tuk to take us back to our hotel.

In the Tuk Tuk

Vientiane, Laos - Day 2

Another day of walking.

We need to report these unsafe work-place conditions to Cal-OSHA.

Patuxay (Victory Gate). This monument was built in the 1960s to commmemorate those who died in past wars and was modeled after the Arc De Triumph in Paris.

Panorama from the Victory Gate.

More views.

Office of the Prime Minister.

Climbing up in the Victory Gate.

Boy and girl scouts were at visiting the Victory Gate

Thatluang Stupa (The Great Sacred Stupa), built in 1566. This was closed during lunch time when we were there. This stupa contains a bone relic of Buddha.

We met this guy who lives in Texas. He was born in Laos and escaped in the 1970s.

Workers taking a noontime siesta.

We were told this was the National Museum of Laos.

Three Australian men we met pouring over a map of the city,

Cages of birds. You would buy the cage and released the birds for good luck.

This is our last day in Laos. Tomorrow we fly to Bangkok and 2 days later we will fly to San Francisco, getting back Monday November 25, 2013. A good trip was had by all!!!