The Boatman´s Call
(1/640, F9, ISO200, 10mm)
First of all Happy New Year to all that read this and still come to this little place of mine.
End of last year we made a trip to the Northern part of Laos and a lot of traveling was done on the many rivers.
My guess is that half of the Laotian people are a boatman and we are very thankful for all the safe and beautiful passages they guided us through.
(1/500, F7.1, ISO200, 17mm)
The first 3 photos are from a daytrip that brought us from the village of Nong Khiaw up north to a roadless weaving village and the old hippie town of Muang Ngoi. When we left early morning the river was shrouded in mist and low clouds.
After spending a day there we took the boat back at sunset to see everything in full splendour we ´missed´ in the morning.
(1/640, F6.3, ISO400, 34mm)
A couple of days later we made a boattrip from the Buddhist capital Luang Prabang to the Pak Ou caves on the banks of the Mekong river. These caves are very busy during the day with boats full of tourists arriving at this small cave.
(1/640, F6.3, ISO400, 34mm)
We decided to rent our own boat and use the last light of day to make the 3 hour return trip. This meant we had the cave to ourselves and a glorious sunset on the way back.
(1/800, F8, ISO400, 17mm)
El Bueno, El Feo y El Malo 
Beautiful images. They make you want to book a holiday straight away
Oh yeah, you should, Pammy, always recommend to just go 😉
Thanks for compliment, greetings,
Ron
Love the perspective of the first shot, feels like you’re in the boat.
I certainly was 😉 thanks, definitely recommended to do in reeality too!
Cheers, Ron
Well. this just makes me salivate! 🙂 I feel like I’m right there in these photos – somewhere I am very interested in going to. That first shot – his flip flops in the foreground are wonderful! Thanks for the follow – I appreciate it.
OH you should, Lynn, definitely recommend it, such an amazing beautiful country and very poor but so friendly people!
Thanks a lot, greetings from KL,
Ron
Wow these photos are absolutely stunning! I would love to see these part of the world!
Laos is probably one of the least spoilt countries in it´s whole I´ve seen in SE Asia, very recommended especially the less visited bits (as always).
I would love to see it over there. Hard part is it takes so long to get to SE Asia from US and my time when I’m away is limited now due to the kids. Someday I plan to do a huge tour!
Amazing photography!!!
Thank you so much, Taruna, very flattering to hear!
hope all is great, greetings from Malaysia,
Ron
Laos is such a beautiful country with equally. Guess that’s why I cannot leave. Cool post.
Equally? Must be so great to do it by bike and experience all the less-visited places, those were the best experiences for me!
So how long have you been there?
Greetings from KL,
Ron
Over three years now.
oh wow, you must have had so many adventures in Laos already, so cool!
I think things are changing there with the Chinese dams and influence? Hope not!
Enjoy, will follow you!
Ron
Sadly I’ve seen a lot of changes in the last 3 years. Not all good. Going on some big trips soon. Will try and do 1 up to date post a week.
Cheers,
Paul.
Traveling is better than updating 😉
Yeah, was my feeling after visiting Laos last year as well unfortunately!
Safe travels,
Ron
Any plans for future travel?
Yep, apart from weekend in Southern Thailand next big one will be 3 weeks South island NZ 😉
Cool.
stunning…
Thanks a lot, greetings,
Ron
Beautiful images. I especially like the third scenic photo!
Thanks very much, Linda! The surrounding steep cliffs were spectacular all the way 😉
Greetings from KL,
Ron
Beautiful pics – the opening shot is rather mesmerizing. Thanks for passing by my blog as well.
Hi Vibha, thank you for stopping by and glad you enjoyed that one, such an adventurous boattrip especially the first!
Greetings, Ron
In my whole life I’ve known only one person from Laos. You were fortunate to get to go there.
Oh yeah, Steve, you are so right and I feel very fortunate for all my travels, Laos was a special one for sure!
Greetings from KL,
Ron
Great photos, I almost smell water and plants, mud, becoming rain. And thank you for visiting our blog.
Thnk you, Rantasalor, your visit is much appreciated too, greetings from Malaysia,
Ron
The first image is just amazing… Lovely post, Ron. I hope you are fine.
Greetings from Sweden.
Hi Malin, all great here, thanks!
The first has the strongest feel of place, I think so too; all of em carry amazing memories though 😉
All the best from Malaysia,
Ron
Beautiful photos! I can’t believe I didn’t get to Laos when I was living in the region. This post makes me want to go back! Great to connect with and follow you. 🙂
That first photo took my breath away! Seriously. And then the rest of them matched the first. Really beautiful light and scenery.
Thanks so much, Lex, that´s a huge compliment and nice to hear the rest matched the first, cuz I put the first one there, cuz it tells the best story, I think 😉
Hope all is well, greetz,
Ron
Fabulous landscape …
Thanks so much, Noeline, seems like such a long time ago, but one of the rpettiest unspoiled parts I´ve seen in SE Asia!
Hope all is great, greetings,
Ron
Fantastic series of photos to help bring in the New Year ~
Just in time for the Chinese that is 😉
Guess I’m adapting to the Asian timezone after two years.
Happy travels, Randall, enjoy!
Not sure how I missed this post! Thank you for taking us along the trip; the images are incredible!
Well, I miss a lot of stuff too, just cuz there´s lifes outside of the blogosphere , I guess 😉
Thanks for your comment, Lauria, hope you´re doing great, greetings,
Ron
Really beautiful place! Great shots – special colorful and nice lights! Bravo. Bye. Kamila
Hi Kamila, sorry for late reply, but thanks a lot for your kind words and interest, such an amazing country with beautiful people!
All the best, greetz, Ron
Great to hear about you! Lovely day. K
I’m mellowing just watching this. Don’t lose your magic ever, Ron!
You’re the kindest, Paula, happy to mellow you out once in a while 😉
Hug from KL,
Ron
Such a beautiful world he sees through the window of his boat…a voyeur to it all!
Always so much fun catching up with you and your great shots Ron! Happy New Year to you!
Ooops, thats a very belated new year to you too, hope it´s been great so far! Thanks so much for your support always!
Greetings from KL,
Ron
Wat een mooie sfeer.
Dank je wel, Wilma, prachtig land!
Groetjes, Ron
These are great photos!
Thank you very much, warm greetings from Malaysia,
Ron
This looks like a sweet boat trip!
Oh, yeah, definitely was, thanks and all the best,
Ron
Must have been a great trip.
Great photos – the sunset shot of the river landscape is stunning!
Thanks, Truels, the light was amazing as well during the misty mornings as when the sun set behind the mountain cliffs, amazing trip!
Hope you´re doing well, greetz,
Ron
Your pictures are amazing. The third of your boatman pictures looks like the map of South Africa. Thanks for your visit to my blog. Chevvy.
Thank you so much, dont really see your map, but hey, its your country 😉
Maybe if it was mirrored? Thank you for stopping by here, greetings from Malaysia,
Ron
Looks like a great trip 🙂
Big recommendation, Jenny, thanks for stopping by, greetings from Malaysia!
Ron
What amazing scenery and such a good idea to take your own boat so you could be there after the crowds have gone. That 3rd photo is stunning, and taking the views through the boat gives a real sense of being there with you.
Thank you very much for stopping by, pommepal, catching up on commenting and it´s always a pleasure to read your thorough view on them, thanks for that!
Glad to hear you came along for the boattrip 😉
All the best to you,
Ron
These pictures bring back some lovely memories of my up-river boat trip from Luang Prabang to Chiang Rai. It was a tranquil journey, with no 3G phone connection, and nothing to distract us from admiring the impressive karsts and forests as we drifting along the Mekong.
Hi Angelina, oh yeah, boattrips are the best, that was on the Mekong for a couple of days then? Loved the smaller rivers in Laos as well, everything depends on them, thanks for stopping by, all the best from KL,
Ron
Only two days, but two days very well spent 🙂
Oh, boattrips, roadtrips and trainrides are always the best 😉
Keep on moving! Greetz, Ron
What beautiful images you caught, and they give a real sense of being there in the boat on the water…..it sounds like a wonderful holiday
Hi seonaid, sorry for late reply, thanks for the comment, the idea was to take you on the boattrip as far as possible, but definitely recommend to do it in real life 😉
All the best, greetings,
Ron
Looks fabulous! Happy New Year and Happy Travelling 🙂
Laos is a surprising country. I loved the Mekong boatrides, the lush hills and the many caves… Seeing your pictures are a joyful reminder.
Happy New Year of great adventuring!
Oooh, very belated happy new year, a well second half that is, thanks!
And defnitely agree on Laos, such a tranquil country with amazing people!
Happy travels to you, greetings,
Ron
😉
Happy New Year Ronnie! Lovely photographs! Enjoy your travels.
Wow. Awesome scenery. Well captured.
Thank you very much, it was spectacular to see and to photograph was relatively easy 😉
Greetings from Malaysia,
Ron
Some great images.
Great images, looks like some trip! Happy New Year to you, too
Hi Sue, a very belated but sincere Happy new year to you too!
It was an amazing adventure to travel across Laos, definitely recommended, thanks for your support,
Greetings, Ron
Thanks for the belated greetings, Ron!!
Happy New Year to you too Ron. Beautiful photos of an amazing place!
Hoi Joanna, hoop dat 2016 ook goed begonnen is voor jou!
Laos is prachtig, dank je voor het compliment.
Groetjes, Ron
Great colors. And such an incredible trip! Yet another place I want to go to…
Hi Nila, hope to keep on giving you inspiration for more and more places 😉
Thanks for the comment, keep on writing, my friend!
Cheers, Ron
Great pictures. I love the perspective on that first shot. So many things to catch your eye. The flip-flops, the carpet, the back of the driver’s seat, the faded paint. Excellent.
Hi John, thanks for stopping by and giving your view on these photos. Glad you like em, it was nice ot have the wide angle on the first shot to include all that, but I hope the landscape is still the main draw 😉
Greetings from KL,
Ron
Happy New Year. Great to have a post from you again…. it’s been a while….
Hi Margaret, thanks, a happy new year to you too and hope you´re having a great start to 2016 as well…
Trying to be a little more regular, so many photos to be shown 😉
Greetings,
Ron
What a beautiful place, and lovely photos, as usual. Happy New Year!
Thanks very much, Bente, very kind of you 😉 And late Happy new year to you too, hope 2016 started well!
We really fell in love with Laos, especially the Northern part with hardly any tourists, so beautiful and amazing people to match the landscape!
Greetings from Malaysia,
Ron
Happy new year to you too. Fabulous photos of a beautiful journey.
Hi Claire, belated happy new year to you too, thanks for the com(pli)ment!!
Allt he best to you, greetings from Malaysia,
Ron
Wonderful, I love the first three
Hi Pat, thanks, must admit the first trip was by far the best boattrip I´ve done in SE Asia, absolutely breathtaking!
Greetings from Malaysia,
Ron
Gorgeous photos!
Hi Sue, thanks so much, such an amazing country with all its waterways and green mountains!
Greetings from KL,
Ron
Merry New Year to you as well! Beautiful post!! Y’all? You have southern roots? These images are wonderful…
Hi Carlos, thanks, nope, no southern roots her, very Dutch!
Guess I listened to a singer I like that does use y´all sometimes as sort of a gimmick 😉
Thanks for liking these, greetings,
Ron
The images are amazing Ron. The soaring mountains and the light. Must have been a wonderful experience
Thank you, Chas! Especially the first boattrip was one of the best travel days around SE Asia I´ve experienced, what a scenery, big recommendation and so not touristy, which makes us enjoy it even better.
Greetings, Ron