Vietnam & Laos: Peter & Diana

We spent five weeks in Vietnam and Laos, starting in early January, 2005. Our 4000 photos have been cut down to the 267 below (half from Diana, half from Peter).

We travelled in the north of Vietnam and Laos. The first morning in Hanoi, at the wonderful Phan Thai hotel What we saw from the window Peter thought tobacco; Diana was dubious: no answer. Traffic in Hanoi has few rules. We stayed in the old quarter, with its French influence. The next 20 shots are Hanoi street scenes City workers planting grass by Hoan Kiem Lake Morning exercise: a mix of volleyball, foosball & badminton We loved the food markets, both day... and night. Cha Ca La Vong restaurant has one dish:awesome catfish Pure Land Buddhism, a form of Mahayana French colonial influence Russian colonial influence Uncle Ho's resting place is even more surrealistic inside Ho Chi Minh's image is everywhere Contemporary Hanoi poster The entrance to the Women's Museum The Tortoise Tower, often used as an emblem of Hanoi The boat scrum welcomed us to Ha Long Bay Ho Chi Marm on board We ate, drank, and slept on the boat Limestone islands of Ha Long Bay draw tourists Tourists draw limestone islands The bay supports floating communities TV's are a recent addition Caves have strange linguistic formations The boats seem very like Irish curraghs. We broke for a walk to a village on Cat Ba Island Next, we took the slow train to Ninh Binh... a provincial town 100 km south of Hanoi. Making concrete ornaments by the side of Route 1 Local temple Xujên, our hotel host in Ninh Binh We declined her offer of snake wine We hired two motorcyclists who showed us the sights We were punted through the bird sanctuary. We weren't alone. By concrete motor boat down Hoang Long River Kenh Ga villagers live on and by the river Rice fields Irrigating the fields Locals row boats by foot Commuting from Kenh Ga Hoa Lu citadel was the royal capital 1000 years ago The lotus, a religious symbol Chi and Thuan, our guides to Sapa... a mountainous region in Vietnam's Northwest. Scary roads... led to village markets. Vietnamese hill tribe people (Montagnards)... next nine pictures Livestock for sale If this picture is offputting, skip the next one (you were warned) We trekked to local villages trek, trek, trek water buffalo Vietnamese pot-bellied pig Kids were fascinated with our digital cameras Notice the traditional skirt... which is hand-woven Looms are a common sight beneath the houses. View from our hotel balcony in Sapa Tall skinny architecture is common. Aggressive saleswomen and photographers Terraced rice paddies in the dry season... on the walk to the next village. Separating mom from the kids Ingenious local generator The Flower Hmong people: traditional and modern Flower Hmong market (next six pictures) Pony with strange pack frame Note the headscarf! Our pilot down the Chay River Troglodytes Huck and Jim in Vietnam We had lunch in a village en route down the river. Our lunch host (on right) Chi shows how to husk rice School teacher leading alphabet chant Good evening, Vietnam... Good morning, Laos (our Vientiane hotel) If $1 US=10300 kip, and 20000 is the big note, then $100 = ? Laughing cow cheese and fresh baguettes every morning The Namphu fountain and friends Pha That Luang, the great stupa, is the Lao national symbol. Buddhism's status is accepted by the communist government The Naga is the guardian of all Therevadan temples New temples are being built... in a warmer Jan. climate than the Sistine Chapel Pictures describe earlier incarnations of Buddha Haw Pha Kaew, in Vientiane Most Lao boys serve a period as novice monks Multiple Buddhas generate multiple merit Frangipani is the national flower and smells oh so sweet! Downtown Vientiane at rush hour Local tuk-tuk stand Women often wear the sinh, a Lao traditional skirt Grave markers for sale 1970s architecture The Patuxay, self- deprecatingly described as... The morning market, where we spent much time and money Buddha Park: a cryptic blend of Hinduism & Buddhism Created by Luang Pu in 1958 "compelling in their naive confidence" Lonely Planet "or just plain weird" Peter and Diana Buddha calming the fighters Our first guesthouse in Luang Prabang(LP) Laos 2nd city Beside the Mekong River Fishing Its temples make LP a Unesco World Heritage site Wat Xieng Thong built in 1560 is the most beautiful Temple details next nine pictures Buddha dispelling mara (illusion) The residences in which the monks live adjacent to the wats Every morning, at sunrise, people earn merit... by giving sticky rice to the monks for their daily food LP has a large monastic population. LP house Foosball Tourist in LP Rice cakes drying Lao installation Phousy market Night market in front of Royal Palace temple Bargaining with calculator and fingers Diana got this one! (but no BeerLao t-shirts) Fill your vegetarian plate for 50¢ (US) Insanely delicious coconut milk pancakes Five idyllic days at Thong Bay guesthouse by the Nam Khan Living in a basket Diana's mantra: "Geckos are my friend." Breakfast served on our veranda Peter does yet another crossword Afternoon dips by LP kids in the Nam Khan river. Dry season gardening In the weaving village Bobbin winding with spinning wheel She loved our photo of Diana's mother weaving This is where we spent the most time ;-) "Bomb boat" made from 1970 US B52 dropped fuel tank Trek to Lao village During dry season, villagers thatch their roofs Dried grasses for brooms earn 30¢ a kilogram Recess at local school Flower of the makok tree We meet our elephants, Num and Chan Allison Norman, with Peter and mahout Brian Pollard, with Diana and mahout Mahout removing howdah In Phu Khao Khuay park, we stalked wild elephants In the jungle, the mighty jungle, Diana sleeps tonight Our guide freezes as the elephant is about to charge... so we retreat. Right into this guy. Ban Na villagers specialize in baskets. Local new temple Temple offerings made from 1000 kip notes. Rice fields are everywhere Then we got in the cyclo and came home. Contact us!