Lovely Laos

Its a bit belated - we've already left, come back to Thailand, and passed on into Malaysia. But Laos is truly a special place - a bit like stepping back in time. We spent about 3 weeks mostly north of the main backpacker route - it was a hard place to leave...friendly people, beautiful rivers, limestone mountains, forest and villages, and some of the best food we've had so far.



the Mekong - with Thailand on the opposite bank

Houai Xai main street - the border town in Laos

"sin mu" = pork

Chinese tractor-trucks are everywhere

still maybe the best food on our trip - local style lunch during a trek in Nam Tha forest

our guide Mr. Pang in the Nam Tha forest

Talia plays the local foot-volleyball game in Vien Phoukah

the kids loved seeing their photo.

Clay paddles, Talia relaxes - Ou River, Nong Kiaw

view from our bungalow - Nong Kiaw

another sunset on the Ou River

Nong Kiaw

Louang Prabang

slow boat from Nong Kiaw to Louang Prabang

Another favorite meal - Laap (meat salad) with Kao niaw (sticky rice) and Beer Lao of course

stunning waterfall outside Louang Prabang

kinda scary jump because the pool was about 5 feet deep at the landing

Sleeping Buddah in a limestone cave - Vang Vien

northern laos busrides can be sickening

creaturas...

a beauty, found at caves occupied by Loatians in 2nd indochina war

don't touch me!

oogly boogly jumping spider

"come any closer & i'll fart"

talia's other lover

the aliens have landed

Talia thought she saw a tree with red flowers at first - it was covered with these guys

cicadas? definitely sex

more incredibly beauty - found in the Nam Tha Forest, northern Laos

more from Nam Tha

clay yelped at this one - alone, in the dark, Nam Tha

blood-sucking beauty

holy crap - teak plantation, Nong Khiaw

holy crap, again - leaf bug of a different fashion, Nam Tha



hunchback damselfly? Nam Tha

look carefully

ever watch a spider molt?


is that it? more to come soon from the lovely country of Loas.