Across Laos

(Article Text)
by Steve Axford

These a few photos I took when travelling across Laos from Vietnam to Thailand. I wasn't the best time I have had as I caught a dose of dysentery and was sick for most of the time. The Mekong river journey of 3 days was the worst as what came out of me looked just like Mekong water - or is that a little too much information? In spite of that, I would happily go back again as it is the only time I have had dysentery in all my time in Asia, which is a lot now, and Laos is a beautiful country with friendly people.

For those who don't know, the U.S. dropped 1.9 million metric tonnes of bombs on Laos between 1964 and 1973. This is more bombs than were dropped in the whole of WW2 by all sides and amounted to one B52 load of bombs every 8 minutes for 9 years, or over a half tonne for every person in Laos. This is why recycled war material is so common in Laos.

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Amazing pictures.......
i love the pictures, its weird because although i was born and raise there, i dont remember anything of this place. I have never gone back but at the end of this year, im going to become a monk. Im pretty nervous, so if anyone has had past experiences or knows anything about this, please feel free to email me......
— Anou (Anousith Phaipanya), April 6, 2004

Rain City Studio
I have check your web site, that was very good and very interesting pictures you got there, every time i enter and took a look at those pix, makes me miss my home land of laos, i wanted to go back and visit Laos again in the feature, this is very good pictures and very interesting, keep it up! anousith : )
— Anousith Phanphackdy, January 28, 2003

Memories, Memories, Memories Thank you for many beautiful pic's bring back quiet bit of memories. I was born and rise in Loas for the first 7 years of my life. Loas is a beautiful and peaceful country with kind people around you, unfortunately the war destoryed most of the beauty within people and natural beauty in land. I was hoping to go back to Loas as I am now much older, but the memories of war still bring much bad memories. Again thank you for the beauty.
— Anthika, August 20, 2002

Very nice pics... Unfortunately, no picture can come close to showing the beauty of this magnificent little country. Of all the countries that I visited during my South East Asia trip, Laos was my favorite! I hope the land of smiles stays as peaceful and and as friendly as it was in 2001...Long live Beer Lao!!! Bonjour,

Leo Montreal, Qc. Canada
— Leo, June 23, 2002

Ah, such a wonderful picture of the Mekong flowing past Louang Prabang! Sweet memories of sitting along its banks with a bottle (or two) of Laobeer in hand. It offered me a brief respite from the horrible realities of the outside world. That "monastery," I believe, is Wat Xieng Thong. Sabaidee!!!!
— Gung Gung, April 15, 2002

"Tourists LOVE Lao!!!"
I took the same route back in 2000: from Lao Bao, Vietnam to Savanakhet, Laos then to Thailand later on via the Friendship Bridge. And inspite of acquiring dysentry too, it's really nothing compared to the wonderful time spent in Laos 'coz the people are so GOOD-NATURED with the sceneries truly awesome!!! Also, travel around the country (the main routes) is easy & quiet! However, Laos history is really SAD 'coz its been dragged into war since time-immemorial & that's why it only has 4-5 million people today when other South-East Asian countries has +70 million people for the same land-mass! (That's why Lao is such a quiet country.) Thanks for sharing this FINE article, all the pics are great especially the cute frogs.
— Gentle Lugtu [Eltneg], April 15, 2002

Great photos of this sweet land - and good information about one of the shameful periods in U.S. history. Judy
— Judy & Paul Wilcox, April 15, 2002