We spent almost two wonderfully peaceful weeks in laid-back Laos, where things seemed to run at a much slower pace than any place we'd ever been before. One of SE Asia's least populated countries, Laos had quite a different feel to it than did Thailand. Local people didn't look at tourists as an immediate source of income, there were relatively few tourists around as it was, and although it was evident that Laos was not a wealthy country, there were no obvious signs of malnutrition, begging, or abject poverty. It was a special place for us to make new friends in our Intrepid tourmates, and to spend a very peaceful and relaxing Christmas and New Year.

Looking over the Mekong River from Thailand, we see Laos for the first time.	This young Hmong village boy followed us around for quite a while.	These two girls were certainly not shy, and posed happily for the cameras.	Young boys and girls toss balls to each other in a kind of courtship practice.	It was special to be able to see the children in their colourful traditional clothes to celebrate the Hmong new year.
Jen shows the kids what they look like in her digital camera.	A smiling Lao face.	Hmong children gather by the river to see us off.	This monkey was caged in front of our guesthouse as a pet.	Sun sets on the river beach along the Mekong.
Winston tastes some locally brewed Lao Lao, or rice wine.	Barbara takes a turn driving our river boat. Watch out for those crazy rocket boats!	A fisherman watches us cruise by on the river.	Hundreds of Bhudda statues are found in the Tham Ting Caves.	Watching monks collect food on the street in the early morning in Luang Prabang was a real highlight.
Their baskets full of rice and other food offereings, the monks return to the monestery to eat, meditate, and pray.	The tree-lined path leading to the Luang Prabang Museum, formerly the Royal Palace.	All kinds of oddities could be found in the market. Snake wine, anyone?	We had a view of a small river flowing by these crop fields from our guesthouse.	How to brew Lao Lao rice wine in three easy steps...
The bike is too big for him, but he doesn't seem to mind.	This friendly matriarch was laughing at all the attention.	Metal workers power the bellows to keep the flames hot.	This little girl was carving handles for knives with very dextrous hands.	This lady was cleaning some kind of small deer (NO, it wasn't a cat...)
Working an old fashioned loom to produce colourful silk textiles.	All kinds of colourful scarves for sale.	This lady shows us how she produces hand-made paper.	The street market in Luang Prabang.	This guitar-toting villager strolls down the path singing Lao songs.
These giggling girls were in stitches, laughing non-stop.	One of the peaceful villages we walked through, complete with a poinsetta tree.	The beautiful waterfalls and pool that we hiked to and took a swim in.	We helped feed Phet the tiger; Intrepid Tours has helped relocate her to a larger natural enclosure.	We learned how to cook some Lao dishes one night; mmm... spring rolls...!
Young monks sit around a stupa in Luang Prabang.	Winston makes friends with a novice monk named Savay.	A monk walks by a wat in peaceful Luang Prabang.	Intricate carvings adorn the doorways of this temple.	Gold and red details of the Pha That Luang in Vientiane.
The golden stupa of Pha That Luang, Lao's most important national monument and a symbol of Lao sovereignty and Buddhism.	The Victory Monument, built with USA-purchased cement that was intended for construction of a new airport.	Watching men play checkers with bottle caps at the market in Vientiane.	Sticky rice cooked in a hollowed out bamboo shoot is a wonderful snack.	Sunlight streams through the smoky kitchen of our homestay.
A few of us get ready to ride converted B-52 fuel tanks, jettisonned by US bomber planes during the Vietnam War.	This young boy plays with his chicken.	The river was incredibly calm as we raced along in our B-52 boats.	A beautiful backdrop provides all the ambience we desire on our boat ride.	How ironic to have former weapons of war now used for fishing and transportation.
A few boats are left on the river at sunset.	Our New Year's Eve celebration was a home-cooked meal at this homestay near the Laos-Vietnam border.	It was definitely the most peaceful and one of the most memorable New Year's we've ever had.	All the kids peer up at the camera, hoping to get a glimpse of themselves in the digital playback.	Approaching the Vietnamese border, we see the hammer and sickle for the first time.

Go back to Thailand here.