3 weeks in Laos, stress-free (page 3 of 5)

What I love is that just looking at the photos makes you feel more zen .... 🙂

True, I feel the same way posting this travel journal 😉

The final curtain!





The radiant smiles of young dancers from a folk troupe we came across in a parking lot!

This morning, we leave Don Khong to head back up to Paksé and from there, start a loop around the plateau, spending one night in the village of Tad Lo (or Tat Lo). The Bolaven Plateau is famous for its landscapes (many waterfalls), ethnic villages, and its coffee (very smooth indeed). We stop in villages, enjoy the scenery, but both of us are struggling to be fully present in the moment. Maybe it’s the "end-of-trip" effect— that little bit of blues when the journey comes to a close. Though I’ve had trips where we were on cloud nine right until the end (with a brutal return to reality at Charles de Gaulle, sometimes). Maybe it’s also because our new guide, much less experienced than Viengham, doesn’t have the same knack for striking up conversations in the villages. Anyway, we visit the villages, but the interactions, beyond friendly greetings, are much more limited than what we experienced in the north. It’s probably also because we have the feeling that everyone here is doing the same motorbike circuit, with the same stops in the same villages! But we’re still not complaining: we’re visiting beautiful villages, seeing stunning waterfalls in magnificent nature, and tasting great coffee.

















To be continued in the next post...

Bolaven Plateau, continued

In the evening, we sleep at Tadlo Lodge, located in a beautiful setting. Simple but comfortable wooden cottages by the river, and a few hundred meters away, a stunning waterfall accessible via a trail. Families are swimming, kids are playing and laughing.





The view is breathtaking. However, I didn’t go to admire it from that footbridge...



The next day, we continue our visits.













But now, we have to head back to Pakse, where we’ll spend our last night.

Back in Pakse, we stop at the market to soak up one last time that atmosphere we love so much.

















The next day, we take a minibus to Thailand to reach Ubon Ratchathani Airport, about a 2.5-hour drive away. There are plenty of connections to Bangkok. Summary: We really loved Laos; we felt that calm and serenity people had often told us about. Okay, I should also mention that we’re "optimistic and positive travelers"—for us, traveling is still an incredible opportunity. When we were kids, in our families, it wasn’t something we could do, so we always feel privileged. We stay positive and open to new discoveries. If we were to do it again? I think we’d spend our entire trip in the north (even though we wanted to see Champassak, and even the 4,000 Islands region is very pleasant). That way, we could go even farther north, even more off the tourist trail, while still spending a good amount of time in Luang Prabang, just like we did. Its laid-back vibe is amazing, and it’s stayed with me like a bubble of well-being.

Thanks Fabienne for this really enjoyable travel journal to read. It brought back memories and made me want to discover other regions of Laos (even if they weren’t your favorites).

Now, like your personal photo suggests, we’re waiting for a report from Oman 😎 (yes, I know, it’s not easy to find the time—I’m well aware that a travel journal is super time-consuming 😉).

Thanks Fabienne for this travel journal—it was such a pleasant read. It brought back memories and made me want to explore other regions of Laos (even if they weren’t your favorites).

It’s so subjective! It often comes down to the moments, too. If I were to do it again with more than 3 weeks, I’d spend longer in the north but still keep the south, and I’d also venture into other less accessible and visited areas... I’d need at least 6 or 8 weeks 😅

Now, like your personal photo suggests, we’re waiting for a return from Oman 😎 (yes, I know, it’s not easy to find the time—I’m well aware that a travel journal is super time-consuming 😉).

First, I’ll do some drawings of Laos to post—I promised Kate 😅. I’ve set aside photos of kids, so I’ll try that, but it’s too hot to draw right now!

And then I’ll get started on Oman, since I want to capture it in images like I did for Japan... I think I’ll work on it all summer before sharing it!

Hi there, and thank you for this lovely travel journal that brings back so many amazing memories from ... 17 years ago! Laos, along with Cambodia, from north to south, is—was?—one of my favorite countries... without the strong Chinese presence.... I love everything about this country: the people, the landscapes, the monuments, the food, and... that laid-back vibe!

Hello, and thank you for this beautiful travel journal that brings back so many wonderful memories from ... 17 years ago....

Thanks, Alain. Countries that leave lasting impressions. Like Myanmar, too, when you're lucky enough to have visited before it was locked down again.

Laos, along with Cambodia, from north to south, is—was?—one of my favorite countries.... without the strong Chinese presence....

. Actually, the Chinese presence is visible in the infrastructure (high-speed trains, roads, dams) and urban expansion (public works, real estate). For the rest, the villages and countryside, I think you’d still find what you loved. Chinese tourists, meanwhile, stick to a few hotspots and are just as unpopular as they are across Southeast Asia, even if their money is welcome. Of course, if you live there, you likely see even more economic control and political influence. A form of colonialism that doesn’t say its name.

I love everything about this country—the people, landscapes, monuments, cuisine, and... the laid-back vibe!

Yes, you’re right to mention the laid-back attitude, a kind of polite detachment that shows you there’s no need to get worked up or rush... with a little smile. I loved it.

Okay, so first I’ll do some drawings of Laos to post—I promised Kate 😊. I’ve set aside some photos of kids, so I’ll try that, but it’s too hot to draw right now!

After that, I’ll get started on Oman. I really want to capture it in images like I did for Japan... I think I’ll work on it all summer before sharing!

Thanks for all this ;) First for the drawing, then for the travel journal on Oman, which will be my next destination if the conflicts calm down.

Thanks so much for this travel journal. I really loved your photos—they’re so peaceful and beautiful. Can’t wait to see your drawings. And yeah, you could easily spend weeks and weeks in Laos just soaking in the vibe.

Thanks so much for this travel journal. I really loved your photos—they’re so peaceful and beautiful. Can’t wait to see the drawings. And yes, you could easily spend weeks and weeks in Laos just soaking in the atmosphere.

Thanks, Bluequark. Revisiting this journal brought back so many memories and wonderful feelings. I could definitely see myself going back...

Thanks Fabienne. I really loved the north and hope to return to Laos to explore the south and combine it with Vietnam. Your photos of the village with wooden houses remind me of the village I discovered near Luang Namtha. It’s a beautiful country. Can’t wait to see the drawings!

Hi Fabienne,

I just discovered your travel journal today—sorry for joining so late! Your photos have the same feel as your drawings: they radiate so much poetry and tranquility. Thanks for this journal, which gave me a whole new perspective on Laos. It’s not a country that usually draws me in, but I was able to discover some truly beautiful places through it.

I totally agree with you: what a privilege it is to be able to travel. We’ve got to keep any disappointments in perspective.

Can’t wait to follow your next journal!

Thanks Fabienne. I really loved the north and hope to return to Laos to explore the south and combine it with Vietnam

It’s true that it’s been on my mind too, since we went to Vietnam but didn’t go far into the north (not as far as Sapa, Lai Chau, Dien Bien Phu...)

Can’t wait to see the drawings

I’m working on them—it’s less hot today!

Thanks Pascale, glad this travel journal took you on a pleasant trip through this lovely country and helped you see it in a new light! See you soon

Thanks for this beautiful trip! Lovely photos and a pleasant read! !

I really enjoyed your storytelling talent and that beautiful command of our language. It’s too bad that at this time of year the nature isn’t as lush—you can compare it to my Laos travel journal from back then. You’d have to visit Asia in both January and July to get the full picture...I

I really enjoyed these 3 weeks in Laos, but after seeing your Japan one... I'm waiting for the drawings 😉. There's less "architecture" in Laos, but more scenes of daily life and landscapes that lend themselves to watercolors... what are you going to come up with for us? Mystery! I see that Laos resembles northern Thailand from about thirty years ago. Tourism has developed, but not too much. I loved discovering this country too, and if you don't know northern Vietnam, it's also worth 3 weeks of travel to admire its landscapes and discover its "ethnic minorities" according to the government's terminology.

I really enjoyed these 3 weeks in Laos, but now that I’ve seen your Japan one... I’m waiting for some drawings 😉. There’s less "architecture" in Laos, but more daily life scenes and landscapes that lend themselves to watercolor... what are you going to come up with for us? A mystery!

Actually, I’m just going to do a few portraits this time, especially of kids. Don’t expect more than that! I didn’t plan to make a travel journal in drawings for Laos like I did for Japan.

On the other hand, I *will* get started on one for Oman, where we went last February 😉

We *do* want to go to northern Vietnam—it’s been almost 20 years since we last made it to Sapa and beyond. We’re heading back to Japan first in 2027 because that’s what excites us the most right now, but I wish we had more time! The thing is, when we travel far these days, we want to stay for 3 or 4 weeks, so that limits us to one long-haul trip a year while I’m still working full-time. The rest are shorter or closer-to-home trips. Best regards,

Thanks Fabienne for this feedback—it took me right back to memories that aren’t actually that distant.

I really loved the South, maybe because it was where I met up with friends for the rest of the trip... The Bolaven Plateau also left a big impression on me after meeting Somphone’s family—one of the highlights of our journey! As for the 4,000 Islands, we were there just before and after the New Year celebrations, and I still miss the peaceful vibe of the place!