Journeys
JUL/AUG 2006
Features:
A Dream of Africa:
Trekking Up One of
the Tallest Mountains
in the World
The Sights and Sounds
of Southeast Asia's
Best-Kept Secret
Cycling the Coast of
Viet Nam with an
Open Heart
The Mystery
and
Majesty of Angkor
Exploring the Ruins
of an Ancient
Civilization
Departments:
Back Issues
Thursday,
3/02.
This is a very long travel day. Up at 5:30 a.m. to get to Wattay
International for my 7:30 flight to Ha Noi. At the airport I encounter
a young American couple who are stranded. They are four dollars short
of the departure tax (US $10 per person). I give them 10 bucks and
we have a chat about our respective travel adventures while waiting
for our flight. In Ha Noi we part company. They’re off to New York
via Taipei and Seattle; my next stop is Hong Kong to connect with
my Cathay Pacific flight to L.A. An on-time 4:30 p.m. departure and
a 180 mile-per-hour tailwind brings me back to LAX 30 minutes ahead
of schedule. Fortunately, I’ve slept for about seven of the 11 flight
hours so I’m feeling pretty good.
I had a great time in Lao, P.D.R. and would definitely recommend it as a travel destination. The fact that it is still the most underdeveloped of the three countries of former French Indochina just adds to its charm. It is more like Cambodia than Viet Nam but much slower-paced than both. The tourism industry and infrastructure are growing rapidly and there is something to satisfy every travel budget and taste: you can “rough it” or stay at a luxury hotel; eat at a roadside food stall or a five-star restaurant. By and large, the people are warm and friendly and I had no problems taking photographs anywhere I went. I got to see quite a lot in the few days I was there and look forward to spending much more time there on my next trip in 2007.
Recommendation
Michael Burr is a professional photographer and regular contributor to NHA Magazine. See more of his work at: www.mburrphoto.com or www.printroom.com/pro/mburrphotos.