The Friday Photo: HOW Beautiful Is Central Laos?

We’ve been off the grid for the last few days, riding the Khammuan loop around Khammuan province, central Laos.

And I’m coming to the conclusion that Laos, especially during the rainy season, is one of the most consistently beautiful countries on this earth.

Karst reflects into a tranquil pool in Khammuan, Laos

There are gothic pinnacles of blackened karst. Reflecting pools below scalloped limestone caves, their folds concealing hundreds of Buddhas hidden from the invading Thais and forgotten for almost two centuries.

Reflecting pool below Buddha cave, Khammuan, central Laos.

The rainy season means Laos is full of life. Half the countryside turns out to fish with four pronged nets in the new pools, hunting catch that’s escaped the confines of the paddy fields to breed. Silvery fish flirt around the rotting roots of the ghostly conifers that dams have killed.

Flooded trees in the morning mists, Khammuan, Laos.

At the village of Tha Bak, local ingenuity made boats from the leavings of the American planes that dropped more tonnes of explosive on this tiny nation than every combatant dropped in all of World War II. They loiter, like slim silver sharks, on the swollen river.

Bomb boats on a swollen river, Tha Bak, Khammuan, Laos.

And, even in the rainy season clouds, children herd buffalo along the roads. The sticky rice that keeps the country running shines luminescent green, beside farmers’ huts, their shape, like so much else in rural Laos, unchanged for many centuries.

Huts in flooded rice paddies, Khammuan, Laos.

And all this before we explore the underground river.

I’m participating in Photo Friday, over at Delicious Baby. Head over there for more pictures from around the world.

22 Responses

  1. Phil says:

    Love these photos, Theodora! And your words– such a poetic compliment to the pictures. Gorgeous stuff!

    • Theodora says:

      Thanks, Phil! I’m trying to get better at pictures… (Plus I wasn’t sure the world REALLY needed another bad roads on a motorbike saga…)

  2. I love these pictures– they are so serene. My favorte is the last one.

  3. incredibly beautiful – WOW!! and it looks so calm and peaceful, in these photos.

    • Theodora says:

      It is incredibly zen. I think it’s down to the fusion of Buddhism, animism and communism in a rural lifestyle…

  4. Lisa says:

    I never thought before about the connection between rainy season and the area being full of life. Your photos are beautiful!

    • Theodora says:

      Yes, people so often focus on the negatives of the rainy season — and it can actually be quite a stunning time to visit.

  5. Sonja Key says:

    That’s someplace I never thought of visiting. Maybe I’ll have to change my mind.

  6. I am heading there in 4 days! Will you still be there then?

    • Theodora says:

      Possibly. We’re currently in Vientiane. Our plan is to fly out to Kunming on Monday am — more likely Tuesday now — once I’ve got shot of the work I have on at the moment and am in the zone to leap headlong into flats, language learning and a BIG new country. Where are you coming into Laos, and when exactly?……

  7. The pictures and descriptions are perfect. Not sure you could get any better. They are just too gorgeous. This is definitely a different look than another backroads tour off the back of a scooter. Thanks so much for sharing another part of your amazing journey.

    • Theodora says:

      Thank you! We had a lot of stops along the way, so could actually take photos, rather than just glissading down mud roads.

  8. Lauren says:

    Looks gorgeous! Can’t wait to get there in a few months! 🙂

  9. Terumi says:

    This looks absolutely stunning! I think I’ll have to put this on my dream trip list.

    • Theodora says:

      Laos is quite dazzlingly beautiful. The city of Luang Prabang, in the north, is a welter of ancient golden temples. The highlands are stunning. I highly recommend you do it. Also, once you have the flight, it is insanely cheap to get around and stay.

  10. Natalie says:

    Love the scenes. Number two is my favourite.

  11. Jade says:

    Gorgeous shots- love the second one too!