it’s kind of crazy to do a photo journal of a place you visited from 7 years ago, because you look back and you realize that all those tiny little details that were once so clear to you are now just hazy at best. you remember the feeling you had on a 6-hr bus ride listening to Ed Sheeran’s + as it poured like crazy outside, but you don’t quite remember where you came from or where you were heading. you remember the people you meet and the Friends episode that was playing and even deeper parts of that first conversation, but you almost forget all this happened only because the town was flooded knee-deep and everything got cancelled – even your hotel booking.
these photos, they’re not just clues to a sliver of my past that’s now caked with cobwebs and dust, but ironic evidence of a time that’s beginning to feel vaguely unfamiliar to me.
back when i didn’t get the travel game right and thought the only way to see a country is to visit tons of temples and museums and take photos of every single one of them. (i have more where these came from but i’ll spare you guys the cringe-filled scrolling for now.)
needless to say, it is beyond me to recall the name of the hotel i put up in at dusty old Vientiane – all i can remember is the beautiful Asian chic decor and intricate carvings and how the Mekong River was just directly opposite.
such a sucker for night markets. 🤍
for many, Vang Vieng’s a hardhitting party town where people come to tube and use and do crazy things that they can’t do in the open elsewhere- but for me, Vang Vieng was simply this – one crazy hell of a rainstorm gone wrong.
that was my hotel, and that was why i was told to cancel my booking upon arrival and was thereafter left to my own devices to figure out alternative accommodation. let’s just say i had never have to deal with such… spontaneity in my life before.
nevertheless, i decided to make the most of the situation, made a friend (whom I am still in touch with today), enjoyed the customary Vang Vieng tradition of bingeing on one too many Friends/South Park episodes, and wrapped up leaving the place a little happier than I should have been.
the milk-tea rivers of Luang Prabang after a flood.
i literally cannot resist a market when i’m overseas. wet markets, dry markets, meat markets, souvenir markets, produce markets, anything. as long as you declare yourself a market, you can count on me to drop you a visit.
first time on the bike, and can’t say i didn’t like it.
on a side note, this was at an elephant orphanage in Luang Prabang, a sanctuary that houses rescue elephants that would otherwise be made to work in the dangerous logging industry in Laos. please please please always do your research before visiting any animal-related place of interest when you’re overseas as many don’t treat the animals well and exploit them for ill-gotten gains.
since my visit in 2014, i am happy to share that the Orphanage themselves has even ruled out the elephant seat – you can still ride one if you wish, but you’ll be doing it bareback.
there is a Chinese saying that goes, ‘Wisdom resembles stupidity’. if I didn’t know any better, i would have thought it came from someone who spent their days observing me. it isn’t a capital crime, but it definitely says something that it had to take me 7 years before i could look back and realize (to my absolute horror) that what i thought were pretty well-taken shots, are really just.. well. you just saw them for yourself.
until the my next photo journal, friends.
Comments
-
-
shaf.finah
Thank you so much Krista, I’ve been dreaming of returning ever since I published this post. It was really one of my most memorable Southeast Asian experiences 💕
-
-
Laura
All of these photos are beautiful but I especially like the colors in the market shots – stunning. And you’re so right about forgetting details of places; lucky photos can help dust some of those memory cobwebs away.
-
shaf.finah
It’s true! I forgot so much until I went through my whole bunch of photos again 😅
-
-
Diane
I love how you call it a “photo journal” because that’s exactly what it is! You’re so right with the cobwebs in the brain – I mean we can only remember so many details…and that’s what photos are for! And your photos are beautiful.
-
shaf.finah
Thank you so much Diane for your kind words! And I’m glad you like the idea of this as a Photo Journal – I definitely have more fun writing in this style and looking forward to pen more! 💖
-
-
Lynda
I think that your photos are beautiful. One of the nice things about blogging shortly after a trip is that you are able to capture more clearly in words the sights and sounds of the places that we travel.
-
shaf.finah
That’s right isn’t it! I’ve been thinking about it lately and I think the next time I travel again, I’m probably gonna bring a notebook with me and note things as we go along. Definitely not a grand discovery of an idea but I’m surprised I didn’t think of it sooner! 😅
-
-
Natalie LaTurno
Beautiful photos, I would love to go to Laos someday! That sucks about your stressful situation having to find new accommodation, but it looks like you got it figured out!
-
shaf.finah
thank you Natalie! And hahaha, what’s travel without all these hair-pulling moments? 😅
-
-
Sophia Bawany
okay, now I want to do a photo journal as well.. this looks like soo much fun!! Laos has such diversity, and you managed to capture it all. Beautiful work!
-
shaf.finah
thank you for saying that Sophia, that means so much to me! Looking forward to your photo journals! ❤️❤️
-
-
Sue
Beautiful photos! I hope yo get there some day!
-
shaf.finah
Thank you Sue! 💕
-
-
Lasma
Fantastic photo story and so inspiring to visit Laos!
-
shafinah.j
You read my heart! I’ve actually been missing Laos so much these days so this comment comes very timely! 🤣
-
Krista
Laos looks like such a beautiful place to visit. I love how you managed to capture the different aspects of Laos as well in your photos.