Monk and a Trunk

A young novice Theravada Buddhist monk waits outside the Tham Konglor, a giant cave in Laos, near the border with Vietnam.

Laotian Net Slinging

The Laotians use a similar technique with a net to their Vietnamese neighbours. However this guy seems to have one aspect that he's overlooked - water. So what is he trying to catch in a terraced rice paddy? I have no idea. Maybe frogs?

Thomas and the Spider

Thomas Calame holding the Laos Dinner Plate spider (Hetropoda Maxima)

Spider Man

"Excuse me, you seem to have a little something on your face."

Feisty Fish Trap

Look carefully and you will see bridges and fish traps. The locals set these so the fish that are blasted through the falls and survive can then get trapped in these set ups. So, there you are an extreme kind of fish impressing your mates with your derring-do but lo and behold it all gets unstuck when you find your self in a fish trap and shortly after heading as a special guest, off to dinner. That is if the fisherman survives. Imagine this in full flood when there is an amazing amount of water belting through and hardy folk have to go out along slippery rocks to recover their catch where one small misstep for man can then become one giant horror show of floundering, gasping, flailing, smashing and drowning for Mr Fisherman.

Khongphapeng Falls, Southern Laos

Dolphin Spotting Laos

Sunset on the Laos/Cambodia border, out looking for the elusive Irrawaddy Dolphins. Apparently there are 10 that frequent these waters. For about $3 per person we were out on this beautiful stretch of the Mekong at dusk. Most people saw something, whether they were the rare Irrawaddy Dolphins or not, everyone came away satisfied with just being alive, on a boat, watching a beautiful sunset over two countries. Everyone but me. I really wanted one to do a Flipper like leap over the bow coz I thought it was their porpoise to entertain.

Tad Fane Falls

These falls are called Tad Fane and they tumble about 100 metres down the face of this crater. It has real "lost world" feel to the place. Momentarily I found myself conjuring up circling pterodactyls, and a lazy brontosaurus ambling around the rim in search of the most delicate of vegetation but as I revelled in my imaginary world I was brought back to reality by a tourist describing the view as a "giant dual flush toilet."

Bolavens Plateau, Laos

You'll Find Me....

Buddha and the Nagas, their first album was the best. Here is a promo photograph from his latest CD with the provocative name You'll Find Me in the Lotus Position, a compilation of his early years where he knocked out tunes in a variety of genres. This album tackles the tricky period in the 70's when the band maybe got a little too carried away meditating and the music that came from this period is sort of new age world post punk metal pop with just a tantalizing glimpse of folk.

Southern Laos

Welcome to Laos

Southern Laos has a wide variety of waterfalls. This one is Tad Lo up in the Bolavens Plateau. A very pleasant spot. A nice place to relax for a few days. You could spend your time wandering around the small village, swinging in a hammock by the river, watching elephants get bathed, monks taking some time out or just waiting for your dinner. I met a guy who had been patiently waiting for 93 hours. Welcome to Laos.

Chilies

Lying around like the severed botoxed lips of super models the chilies are left to dry out in the sun.

Like Water For Elephants

Stalking through the undergrowth I heard a rustle followed by a splash. Senses on hyper alert, I slithered over the jagged rocks until I came to the river's edge. As I raised my trusty Remington I realised that my hopes to bag myself an elephant had been thwarted by a couple of young hardy warriors. Judging by their traditional garb I have them pinned as coming from the tribe known as "Bogans."

Tad Lo, Southern Laos

Mekong River, Laos

The Mekong River is a bloody big river. As a matter of fact it's the 12th longest in the world with the 9th largest volume. Home to 3 metre catfish and various species that look as though they were conjured up by Roald Dahl.  But here on this stretch it's a slovenly brown sea crisscrossed by fishermen in these narrow boats. Does it look hot? It certainly was! This photo was taken whilst we putted across on our own little ferry loaded with 2 motorbikes.

The World Cup it Aint

Blue skies, palm trees and a soccer ball, what more could these young blokes ask for? Wouldn't they be better of with a Nintendo and a iPad so they could update their status and maybe make some real "friends"? Surely they aren't having fun, it's not possible. Mind you the school head office could do with a lick of paint and maybe the roof could be replaced.

School on Don Khon, Southern Laos

The Ferry Man

Apparently it's bad luck to pay the ferry man until he gets you to the otherside. But the conundrum we faced was the ferry man wouldn't take us to the otherside until we paid him so I have to apologise to all you Chris DeBurgh fans as i know how much that song means to you both.

Li Pi Falls

It was late afternoon on the island of Don Khon (or is that Don Kong or maybe Don King I'm sure it's not King Kong or Donkey Kong) but anyway it's an island in the south of Laos. "But Laos is landlocked!" I hear you whine. Aha, here is the trick. The Mekong River has created a myriad of islands on the Laos/Cambodia border. This area is known as The 4000 Islands. This is Li Pi Falls an angry torrent of gushing madness that must be ferocious during rainy season.

Channel 7 - Laos

Mahasot Hospital, Vientiane, Laos

Channel 7 Sunday Night

Click on the link below to see the story that was produced by Channel 7 Australia's "Sunday Night" programme on vaccinating Laos kids to prevent measles. If you are very very very observant you will see me blurred in the background hefting my camera but you'll have to look very carefully. I was a part of this amazing story behind the scenes in my role as "fixer" for our other business Asia Film Fixer. It's incredible to think that in a small way I played a very small part in saving lives.

Click Here to watch: "Liferaft Helps Laos" - Channel 7 Sunday Night

The Outreach Centre, Paksan, Laos

We drove about 3 hours north of Vientiane to Paksan and the following morning headed to a small rural community on International Womens Day. On a cool and drizzly day mothers carried infants, young ones carried littler ones and those that could, walked and they came in their droves to get the free vaccination. It was quite a festive atmosphere however not for the little ones who needed to be weighed and measured before being injected. The funny thing was these aspects seemed to upset the kids more than the actual injection.

Wat That Luang, Vientiane

Gary Russell and Micheal Wyse

Gary Russell

Laos

Earlier this month I did some work with Channel 7 Australia for the Sunday Night program. In conjunction with UNICEF the TV crew were doing a story on the immunization of Laos kids against measles. It costs 63 cents to protect a child against an illness that in developed countries is generally no major drama but in Laos it kills thousands of children a year.

UNICEF have set up Outreach programs to help immunize kids in rural areas against this major problem.

These photographs are from my time with the TV crew. To see more click on the Photo Essays pages.

Wat That Luang

Market Trolley Pusher

A Natural in front of the Camera

B52 Fuel Tank Boats. Laos