ipernity: Laos from different visits by Wolfgang

Laos is the neighboring country from my homeland Thailand and was closed for foreign visitors many many years until a few years ago. After Laos opened its curtains I visited this calm country four times and now I post my documentary captures done during two journeys.
First of all I came to the capital Vientianne, then to the historical place Luang Prabang with its amazing old and archaic temple buildings and its nearby Holy Cave Tham Pak Ou (cave at the rither mouth of the Soung Ou river into the Mekong river). From there I flew in a small Chinese turboprop plane through heavy turbulences likely an helter-skelter ride to Phonsavanh, the place of the Plain of Jars and the sad memory of the American bombings. The trip went to the border to Viet Nam, passing the known Ho Chi Minh Path to Sop Hao and back to Xam Nua. The highlight was a visit in the cave and sanctuary of the communist party Pathet Lao and its leader Kaysone Phomvihane in Saiburi close to Xam Nua.
The second journey was a trip to Laos province Champasak, to the new built town Pakse its historical place from the Angkor dynasty Wat Phu and the Khone falls where the Mekong river "falls into the other country Cambodia". A place I recommend it very much to spend quiet holidays on the river side of the Mekong or on one of the hundreds islands before the falls.
Laos always gives the impression of a calm and quiet nation and its a breathe a sigh of relief when you are leaving Thailand to Laos. (Thailand has 513,115 km² and the population is 63 Mill., Laos has 236,800 km² and its population is only 6,5 Mill.!!! five time less). Although the often negative Thai chauvinistic behaving in looking down to its neighboring country, Laos its not spoilt from tourism so much and still worth for a short or long visit for every culture and folks interested visitor.