looking out through the haze of dust and pollution to the south east of this northern city
the countryside is all around within a minutes drive - farm scenes like this are common
the border to laos is a few hours drive away - here a few huts line the banks of the mekong
a modern day extravagance built by an eccentric artist for tourists and locals to marvel over for the years to come
a peculiar flowering tree - locals dry the petals and eat them like a snack
sitting in a slow long boat going up the mekong river to the intersection of myanmar laos and thailand
a family scene albeit in a made-for-tourists village run by the modern-day kayan tribe
a strange fusion of old and new fashion sensibilities is displayed by these two twin sisters
while i do not condone the treatment of some of these majestic mammals in these attractions - i do marvel at the intelligence they exhibit in an attempt to earn tourist dollars
this little guy is really painting a portrait of his friend
this one was staring me down - not sure if he wanted bananas or was trying to control me with his overdeveloped cerebral cortex
i believe this was a couple that had come up to hmong country to take some wedding photos in their native town
the opium trade has long dwindled down but a few poppy plants still remain
the old town is just littered with wat's - too many to count - each meticulously taken care of and generously financially supported
and yet another
and yet another
and yet another
and yet another
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and yet another
and yet another
and yet another - each one more majestic than the one before
shoes outside a very popular temple in the hill overlooking the city
a dog contented to lay on the roadside on a cool morning laze
a butterfly doing what it does
a red curry of some sort
a family shopping for souvenirs or a way to get through another day without laundry
zip-lining through the jungle - one of the few undiscovered joys in life
