Blogs from North, Laos, Asia - page 7

Up very early next morning, after an uncomfortable night, we scrambled over the rows of motorbikes in the hotel foyer and pulled our suitcases through the damp streets of Menglun to the nearby bus station. It was only a two hour drive, again through fog shrouded hills and valleys, to Mengla. Mengla certainly had a lot more going for it then Menglun - including a brand new shiny bus station. We had an hour to wait for our connecting bus so filled in the time people watching as we ate a late breakfast in a cafe at the bus station. Jerry was pretty happy as he got the best plate of fried rice he had eaten so far that trip! I saw a couple of beautifully dressed ethnic women wearing indigo tunics which were finely embroidered ... read more

Geo: 20.9691, 101.4Bumpy roads - literally. No, this is not some metaphor for a stage in our travel or the state of our marriage. This leg of our trip was characterized by long, hot, and very bumpy journeys. It was one after the other and even when we expressly requested air conditioned transportation, open windows was the vendors' interpretation of AC. And when we made assumptions about what kind of travel we were going on, boy, were we surprised! I guess that is what happens when you make assumptions (assume = make an ass out of u and me). Surprises go with Asia and less-travelled areas. In this part of northwestern Laos, not only is the infrastructure not here, the vehicles are more basic and you need to pay a lot if you want something better. ... read more

Laos is one of the Asian country beside India and Vietnam that could encourage me to made colour with my camera. The colour of a smile, the colour of morning, the colour of late afternoon, the colour on the river, the colour in the street, of course....colour of childern .... they simply there for you to pick！ it is only my version of the colour of Laos. You can mix your own and interpret your way. hope you enjoy it！... read more

One again step on the Phonsali road, this incredible 150km journey would took so long. I remember the bus started out at 8：30 and unloaded me in Phonsali at 9pm 5 year ago. but I didn't plan to make it up to Phonsali this time, Bountai was my destination, about 80km less from the whole journey！we rolled out of the Udomxay station at the same departure time as before...nothing would change in Laos unless it is really necessary I guess（except of course....the price！）. packed as usual, this is the one per day transpotation run between this two place, no doubt it play a very important role for the local there. so it must stop for many times before it could clear out of the town area...picking up boxes from one shop and collected parcels from another ... read more

The bus leaves at 5.30am for Laos. An ungodly hour but necessary because it takes 8 hours to reach Muang Khai. Our bags are unceremoniously thrown on the roof and 20 passengers crammed inside. We are all mostly European extraction. 2 English girls, 1 Canadian girl, 2 Israel guys, a Korean mother and daughter, 2 old French guys, 1 Yankee Dutchman, 1 Korean guy, a couple from I don’t know and 4 Australians. The road is poor to say the least, maximum speed about 20km an hour. There is a lot of road works happening so soon this will be just another road. We wind up and down and round and round the rainforest clad mountains. Passing is a very close manoeuvre. After 2hours travel we reach the border, our passports stamped then restamped, people purchase ... read more