North Laos

In 2014, I took several weeks to backpack around Laos to escape my frenetic urban life in Shanghai.

An old expression says: “The Vietnamese plant the rice, the Cambodians watch the rice grow, the Laotians listen to the rice grow, the Thai sell it, the Chinese eat it.” ("le Vietnamien plante le riz, le Cambodgien le regarde pousser, le Laotien l'écoute pousser, le Thaïlandais le vend et le Chinois le mange".)

Ventiane

Xieng Khuan (“Spirit City“), also called Buddha Park, is one of those places that triggered my curiosity. The park was built in 1958 by Luang Pu Bunleua Sulilat who was a priest-shaman who integrated Hinduism and Buddhism.

It’s nowadays an attraction park but spirituality doesn’t have to be serious!

While chatting with a local primary school teacher, who used to be a monk, he said to me lightheartedly: “We, humans, live in heaven, but we make it a hell for ourselves.”

Luang Prabang (ຫລວງພະບາງ/ຫຼວງພະບາງ)

One of the most beautiful places I’ve been, close to my heart for many reasons. There is an atmosphere of serenity over the city, the fragrance of frangipani flowers, the relaxed pace of life, the monks walking through the streets every morning collecting alms.

Hide and seek

Mini tapioca pancakes!

Monks on the hills of Luang Prabang

"Lao lao" the infamous local whisky is made by badass grannies

Crossing the NPA in Luang Namtha

After 9 hour of bumpy roads from Luang Prabang, we finally arrive in Luang Namtha.

You could easily find a basic accommodation and get some food at the night market: BBQ chicken skewers, noodle soup, lap, green papaya salad, make sure you are asking not spicy or get ready to cry your eyes out.

The tourist office under construction

Entering the Nam Ha National Bio-Diversity Conservation Area

Rice field and...Karaoke!

Lao family BBQ

Crossing towards the border with China (Mengla)