Welcome to the enchanting country of Laos! Of all the countries I visited in Southeast Asia (Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia), Laos turned out to be my favorite destination. I think it was due to a combination of the warmth of the locals, the country’s natural beauty, the charming city of Luang Prabang, the mystique of being a communist country, Beerlao - Southeast Asia’s best beer and the many friendships I made along the traveler’s trail.
Laos is a landlocked country bordered by China, Myanmar (Burma), Vietnam, Cambodia and Thailand and has a population of about 6.5 million people. If you are looking to get off the tourist trail and into more of an “authentic” experience then Laos is the place to be. I imagined Laos was probably Thailand 30 years ago before Thailand blew up to be a major tourists playground.
Since the 1990s when the communist government decided to open the country to tourists, Laos has quickly developed a cult like following among independent travelers. Traveling through Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand I would ask fellow travelers what their favorite country was in Southeast Asia. Invariably their eyes would light up and their response was all the same, “Laos!”
I took this portrait of this lovely Lao woman on my first morning in the charming city of Luang Prabang, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Unbeknownst to me, the city was hosting a street parade to celebrate an award it had just received as, “The Best City in the World to Visit.” After spending a week in Luang Prabang it was easy to see why they deserved that recognition.
I have many fond memories of my time in Laos. Now all I need is a cold bottle of Beerlao!
Check back for more of my adventures in Laos!
Happy Travels!
Text and photo copyright by ©Sam Antonio Photography
Facebook | Google | Twitter | Pinterest | Photography Blog | Travel Photography Gallery