On the Road is a weekday feature spotlighting reader photo submissions.
From the exotic to the familiar, whether you’re traveling or in your own backyard, we would love to see the world through your eyes.
Auntie Anne
The Mekong River aka The Mother of Waters is of major importance in the region – precisely more so when we think about the lack of infrastructure, and how local communities are so highly dependent on farming and phishing fishing. It not only provides water to millions of people living along its banks, but it is also home to an incredible diversity of fish, being in itself a source of protein. And of course – as it does in the Mekong Delta – it is essential to grow the base of Southeast Asian cuisine – rice.
Our hotel in Luang Prabang sat along the bank of the Mekong River. View from one of the terraces.
Another view from the rear of the hotel, at sunset.
Sunrise on the Mekong
One of the things we did was a cruise/lunch on the Mekong River. These pictures are taken from the boat.
Our cruise destination was the Caves of Pakou. They are one of the most treasured religious symbols of the Luang Prabang Province. Several legends tell stories of this site where, over the years, thousands of statues of Buddha have been deposited.
The smaller cave
On the way back from the caves, here is a picture showing the bridge for the high speed rail line between Laos and China. The train runs between Vientiane and Yunnan, China
Baud
That rail line is going to make people jealous.
lowtechcyclist
@Baud:
Maybe after the U.S. becomes a Chinese protectorate, we’ll finally get high speed rail.
lowtechcyclist
“farming and phishing” in the OP – autocorrect gone wild?😛
JeanneT
I am so glad you are sharing your trip with us. Thank you!
YY_Sima Qian
Nice location for your hotel! The one we stayed at during our trip in 2018 was tucked into the backside of a hill. Secluded & quiet.
When we took the boat ride to the Pak Ou Cave, the HSR bridge (& the line overall) was still under construction, w/ huge red banners in Chinese & Laotian celebrating Sino-Laotian friendship. The HSR line is actually mixed passenger & freight. So while the passenger service is the one showing up in the tourist vlogs, it is the freight service & the vastly increased export from Laos to the PRC that is important to the Laotian economy.
Denali5
Thank you for the photos. They bring back memories from our trip to Southeast Asia years ago. Laos was one of our favorite countries- so beautiful and off the tourist track-. I wish we had stayed your hotel, but we did get the river cruise after the morning market and we visited the caves.
Doug
@lowtechcyclist: I liked that one, too!
WaterGirl
@Denali5: Your comment went into moderation. It had “the” at the end of the nym that is showing now. Does the 5 belong? It kind of feels like your nym is usually Denali. ??
WaterGirl
@lowtechcyclist: Yeah, that can’t be right, can it? I changed it to fishing. Auntie Anne can correct me if it was right in the first place!
MCat
Thanks for sharing your trip with us. These pictures are marvelous. I never knew Laos was so beautiful.
Tenar Arha
Wow. Lovely views of the river & caves.
eclare
I love these photos!
Auntie Anne
I loved the photos too – and all of Laos. Thank you, WaterGirl for correcting my autocorrect gone astray!
Denali5
@WaterGirl: I don’t know where the the came from. Yes, my name is usually Denali5.
Madeleine
Such lovely views! Thank you for your photos and texts about your trip. Beautiful and informative.
WaterGirl
@Denali5: You probably know you will need to fix that before commenting again or it will continue to happen.