Photos Tagged: Laos
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The physical features of the Khmu people are different than those of the Hmong and Lao. Our guide told us that the Khmu originally came from Cambodia (making them ethnically Khmer). After spending some time in Cambodia, we can definitely see the similarities.Read more about the three levels of hill tribes we encountered on this trek.
The Nam Ou carves an impressive path through the mountains of northern Laos.Read more about this boat ride from Luang Prabang to Nong Khiaw.
An example of one of the giant prawns we ate along the Mekong River in Vientiane. Read about our first impressions of Vientiane, Laos.
The main street of Nong Khiaw offers an odd blend of modern and traditional - thatch houses, satellite dishes, wooden carts and mobile phone card shops.Read more about this boat ride from Luang Prabang to Nong Khiaw.
We saw several men walking along the paths with roosters on string attached to their arms. Our guide told us that these were specially trained hunting roosters, used to lure wild chickens out from the woods.Read more about the three levels of hill tribes we encountered on this trek.
When dusk falls in Luang Prabang, vendors roll out their colorful wares to sell at the night market.Read more about laid back Luang Prabang.
This man was the chief of the Hmong village where we paused during our trek for lunch. He offered his house so that we could eat lunch protected from the sun. As we learned from our guide, village chiefs are elected by the village every couple of years. They are responsible for communicating with the local government, delivering news and enforcing new policies. There are elections, but only one political party. Laos is a communist country, but its flavor of Communism is different than that of Vietnam. People are hesitant to say anything bad about the government or question it. While in places like Vietnam and Cambodia people seem to complain about their corrupt governments quite a lot.Read more about the three levels of hill tribes we encountered on this trek.
When our boat finally reached Nong Khiaw, there were bundles of sticks on the shore that people were taking on their back or head up to the town.
This is the boat we took from Luang Prabang to Nong Khiaw along the Nam Ou River. It snugly fit about 12 people their backpacks. We were all sitting on remarkably tiny kindergarten style chairs - amusing for the first couple of hours, then the leg cramps set in...That said, the trip was terrific and worth every bit of discomfort. The scenery, including the landscape and people-scape, was impressive.Oh yeah, no bathrooms on board (obviously due to a severe shortage of space). When the boat finally made a pit stop (4 hours after launch), the urgency and pending relief was palpable. We haven't seen people move like that since the Black Friday release of the Cabbage Patch Kids.Read more about this boat ride from Luang Prabang to Nong Khiaw.
Read more about the three levels of hill tribes we encountered on this trek.
Natural medicine healers were lined up around the block at the Talat Sao market in Vientiane. Bags full of tree bark, roots, herbs, amulets and mysterious potions in murky bottles stand ready to cure what ails.Read about our first impressions of Vientiane, Laos.
A butterfly dances between red flowers in the Ban Xieng Maen area across the river from Luang Prabang.Read more about Ban Xieng Maen.
Hmong village families can be large; everyone pitches in. This girl doesn't seem that much older than her little brother, but still old enough to take care of him.The Hmong, descended from Mongolian nomads, have higher cheekbones and wider faces than the Lao, or other minority communities such as the Khmu.Read more about the three levels of hill tribes we encountered on this trek.
Audrey hands out one of the Lao alphabet books we bought from the children's book publishing and literacy program, Big Brother Mouse. We noticed a school in the village, so we figured there were some literate kids somewhere. Based on their reactions, these kids had never seen a book before. Imagine that. They simply did not know what to make of it, nor what to do with it. Audrey opened it and started flipping the pages. The kids got a kick out of pointing at the pictures and saying the word in Lao. Lots of giggles. In the end, we left the book with a couple of boys a few years older who looked like they could make better use of it.Read more about the villages near Nong Khiaw, Laos and Big Brother Mouse.
Gelatinated blood bouillon for the most courageous of Lao cooks. Taken at Phousy Market, Luang Prabang Learn more about Lao cuisine and markets.
On our return to Luang Prabang, we figured that the safest boat taxi around would be the one with the TV, so we jumped in.Read more about Ban Xieng Maen.
A father, his son, ahunting rooster and a dog - all one needs for a wild chicken hunting expedition. Read more about the three levels of hill tribes we encountered on this trek.
A delightful afternoon snack with dips made from roasted eggplant, sweet tomatoes, and cilantro. The dark mixture in the spoon is jaew bawng, a sweet-spicy sauce made from roasted chilis (Audrey calls it the Luang Prabang barbecue sauce). The dark strips are khai paen, pressed river weed (think of it as downscale version of nori) fried with sesame seeds. Roll it with sticky rice and you're set.Sticky (or glutinous) rice is the staple of Laos. With a few tasty varieties on offer and a rich, nutty flavor found nowhere else in the rices of Southeast Asia, we were hooked. We welcomed late afternoons as an excuse for a snack of khai paen, jaew bawng, and sticky rice washed down with a cold Beer Lao.Learn more about Lao cuisine and markets.
Apparently, river covers most of these rocks during the wet season. Then, the real rapids begin!Read more about the journey from Luang Prabang to Vientiane in Laos.
These kids looked at us like we were aliens when we first entered the village with our guide. Although we were on an organized tour, the villages apparently weren't accustomed to foreigners. One little boy started crying when he saw our group. Our Hmong guide told him in the local language that he was also Hmong and the big white creatures were OK.Read more about the three levels of hill tribes we encountered on this trek.
A woman ties reeds to a piece of wood for a thatched roof. Because of the elements, a thatched roof is usually replaced every three years or so. Most houses now, however, have a tin roof to better protect against rain.If you live in the village and want a house, you must collect the materials. Apparently, once you've done that, the village men come together to help, making it possible to build a simple house in one day.Read more about the three levels of hill tribes we encountered on this trek.
The Hmong are known for living in the hills and highlands. Their homes are on the ground (as opposed to other ethnic groups who build on stilts), in order to occasionally accommodate livestock and protect against the highland winds.Read more about the three levels of hill tribes we encountered on this trek.
No shortage of children in the Laotian villages.Read more about the three levels of hill tribes we encountered on this trek.
This little girl waves goodbye to us as we make our way back home through her village.Read more about the three levels of hill tribes we encountered on this trek.
