The village of Lak Sao Sy is some 200 kilometres north east of Vientiane, the capital, on a small, less travelled, road that leaves Highway 13 just north of the Nam Ngum Reservoir and cuts across towards the Vietnamese border
The capital of landlocked Laos is Vientiane which lies near the centre of the country. Leading northwards from this city is Highway 13 which, after over 300 kilometres of meanderings, reaches that most special of towns - Luang Prabang. But more about these towns on future pages. This page is about the country which is bounded by Highway 13 on the west, the Vietnamese border to the east, and Highway 7 (which provided the theme of
the last page
) to the north.
This area is, like much of Laos, 'underdeveloped' making it a target for illegal logging and mining. There is a small road penetrating eastwards into the region which looks enticing on maps. We were enticed and managed a couple of scores of miles. But the going was too rough for the Jeep (and its passengers) really only fit for the largest trucks with six foot wheels. We retraced our steps and returned to Vietnam via Highways 13 and 7. These photos offer a peep into this isolated land.
Children on the street of Lak Sao Sy. It is so hard to convey the heat and isolation of villages like this: the boy is sheltering under his jacket from a burning sun, and the dust lies heavily on the roadside vegetation
Stilt buildings along the road with houses behind.
A story: along this stretch of road beside some houses a man indicated he would like a lift; he scrambled in, and sat in the back, pistol on lap; we had no common language, but he was friendly; after ten kilometres or so he indicated he had arrived; leaving us to wonder why he was so armed. Later we found that this road is used for much illegal trade and no doubt locals feel the need to be wary Here is a clip of a good stretch of the dust road (and those are dust encrusted bushes) where the Jeep was able to make progress. But soon after this the road deteriorated to the point where we could not get through: ruts are made by huge wheels and baby Jeeps can't cope.
A green Jeep again; leaving the river having had a refreshing bath which removed the red dust gathered
in the journey shown above
These pictures were taken in the early spring - February - when the trees are in full blossom
Apart from dust and nefarious goings on...
...this part of Laos also has spectacular karst scenery
These pictures form a greatly
overlapping panorama; but
separately make distinct views
The jagged silhouette of karst and banana in the evening light
Here Highway 13 runs through of karst lined valleys...
...lined with habitable ground near the road
Gentle evening light silhouetting the karsts and enlivening the grasses
Sunset, blossom, grasses and a line of karst hills
Trailers...
The next page
of this section
stays in Laos with pictures from more fertile areas - and an elephant.
The next page
of the Mosaic Section is headed 'The Horizon'.
Or go to the contents of the Mosaic Section.
The last page had pictures from 'The Plain of Jars'
To Cao Bắng in Vietnam with its karst landscape
...guide to this site