I’d like to do a series of posts displaying photographs I’ve taken of children in other countries. I’ll start with Children in Thailand and Laos. I visited in December of 2009 for a couple of weeks. Some of the children … Continue reading
After traveling  seven hours from Luang Prabang…we reached the town of Vang Vieng in Laos. As you can see, the landscape was absolutely breathtaking! One of the women that was traveling with the G Adventures tour that I was on through Thailand, Laos and Vietnam, remarked that there wouldn’t be any night life here. There was one road leading into town and it was quite rural.
 
With this to gaze at…I didn’t care!
One of these sweet little girls stuck her tongue out at me after I took the photo…because I didn’t give her any money.
Claire and Isabel–two of the ladies on the tour and I rented some rickety bicycles and explored some caves in the countryside. Traversing the bumpy dirt roads made us giggle…the simple things can be so much fun!
Then, when Claire got up on the haystack for a photo…it started collapsing…so we collapsed with laughter! Unfortunately, I don’t have a photo of that.
This photo intrigues me. I wonder what the boy was doing. His dog almost looks like a fox to me and he has a bag by his side. I would have stuck around to find out, but we were on our bicycles, so off we went.
We spent two nights in Vang Vieng and then drove three hours to Vientiane, the capital of Laos. After checking into the hotel, I walked to the market and shopped.  Everything was so inexpensive – $3.00 for a purse, $5 for a silk scarf, etc. I couldn’t resist this hand embroidered blouse and splurged on a shampoo and style for $5.00!
Our tour finishes with Hanoi, Vietnam and the stunning Halong Bay tomorrow!
If you’re just beginning to read…this was a trip I took through GAP Adventures in 2009 with six people from Canada, US, Germany, and the UK, to Thailand, Laos, and Vietnam.
We spent the night in Pakbeng, on our way to Luang Prabang in Laos, en route from Chiang Mai via Chiang Rai and Chiang Khong. I just had to say that! I was capturing images of the sunrise at the river’s edge and was pleased to see this fisherman beginning his day.
We went as a group that morning to buy 70 notebooks and pens, 8 dozen eggs, and a variety of other things from the local market to give to another group of villagers (I believe more Hmong) that live on the Mekong River. Notice the supplies lying on the ground next to the guy in the red coat, who was our Tour Guide while we were traveling through Laos.
We delivered the school supplies to the children! I could just put that little girl in my suitcase and bring her home…she’s soooo cute!
 
On our way to the quaint town of Luang Prabang, we stopped at a spiritual cave called “Pak Ou Caves“.
Luang Prabang was everyone’s favorite town…with lots of shopping, good food, nice markets and friendly people.
 
This seemed very odd…a line of clothes and hunks of meat.
Chocolate Banana Pancakes were on every menu…
One of the women on the trip and I rented a bicycle and explored the town. It’s a great way to see more! I also had another massage by a young girl that had very strong hands.
Life is good!!
The Wat Rong Khun temple or “White Temple” is located in Chiang Rai, Thailand and we stopped there while en route from Chiang Mai to Chiang Khong. As you can see it is beautiful and very artistic. It was in fact designed by an artist named Chalermchai Kositpipat.
The hands sculptures were on either side of the walkway at the front entrance!
He had quite an imagination…
At the border of Laos we boarded this slow boat for an eight hour trip on the Mekong River. We had the boat all to ourselves!
We stopped at a village where the Hmong hilltribe people lived in Laos…and a discussion began concerning happiness. One of the women on the trip felt very sorry for these people. They seemed quite happy to me! So long as people have a roof over their head, food to eat, clean water, and medical attention when necessary…especially if that is the life they have always led…then perhaps the simpler life style is less stressful.
The history of Hmong people is very interesting…you should take a look.
Beautiful girls…
Pet monkey on a chain…:)
Next…more of Laos…followed by Vietnam!
If you’ve been reading along…you know that in 2009 I did a lot of travel. It began with Egypt and Jordan in March–followed by Peru for three weeks in May, and now in December, another G Adventures trip to Thailand, Laos and Vietnam.
So…for the story–
After checking into my hotel in Bangkok, Thailand…having just traveled 33 hours from the Midwest, I needed a massage. Although it was 3:30am in the morning, I was able to get a massage in my room for $5.00 (from a girl). It was the first of four massages I would enjoy while in Southeast Asia. After sleeping for a few hours I briefly explored Bangkok prior to attending a “get acquainted” meeting with the other tour attendees, who turned out to be a married couple from England on their honeymoon and four women from Germany, California, England, and Canada.
The following day we took a boat ride on the famous canals aka Klongs of Bangkok and visited a Buddhist Temple…one of many to come!
I took some video footage from my trip and made a few movies (for the first time) with my Mac…so if you’d like to see some very aggressive catfish, watch this.
I loved taking photos of the monks…
I didn’t partake of any fried bugs…but if I hosted a travel show like Andrew Zimmern…I would!
We went to the Wat Pho temple where the largest “reclining buddha” is housed!
Riding in a “tuk-tuk” is a fun experience!
Later that evening we took a night train to Chiang Mai, Thailand, where I rode an elephant the next day…
And took a half-day cooking class…
For Sale:Â Painting by an Elephant…
more of the World’s beautiful children…
I have a treat for tomorrow…the dazzling White Temple!
Sherry Lachelle Travels 