Back in the hills
By Tessa Bunney on 24 October 2012It’s a long time since I have felt a little bit apprehensive about the actual process of travelling but the thought of this small plane did make me feel a bit like ‘what am I doing!?’ However, the amazing view as we flew over northern Laos more than made up for any small fears!
Phongsaly from the air
Phongsaly from the air
I then spent the next two days travelling around Boun Tai district of Phongsaly Province bouncing along dusty roads at breakneck speed in some of the most fascinating landscape in Laos that I have seen. This is a remote province with little tourist infrastructure – there’s no coffee and baguette shops here! However, the people are kind and friendly and I left having eaten my own weight in cucumber.
Akha Puxo woman
Akha Pouli woman
Photography of people is not easy in Laos and more especially so here as it is not heavily touristed and most of the older women only speak their own language not having been to school and been taught in the Lao language as most of the children now are. The idea I have for a piece of work here may not be possible or at least will take some time – finding the right guide/translator is difficult.
Also, for the first time I was able to see the harvest of the upland rice fields, known as ‘hai’ in Laos. It was a bit tricky trying to walk up and down the hill – the horizon in the background shows how steep it is!
