On the road again… and the boat!
By Tessa Bunney on 27 August 2014When you are photographing seasonal activities sometimes you have to travel when it’s really a bit unpredictable and some might consider a little foolish. However, all being well, tomorrow I will be heading back to Phongsaly province to spend a few days travelling up the Nam Ou river followed by a two day road trip over the mountains to Houaphan province to visit the Hmong villages as they hopefully are harvesting and processing their hemp fibre. Rainy season hazards could include: cancelled flights, flooding, mud, slippy slidey footpaths and roads, leeches, landslides and lots more mud. Upside being it really is the most beautiful season to be in the mountains – known in Laos as the ‘green season’ for obvious reasons!
In June, at the end of dry season, it is the opposite problem. Boatmen Sengkham and Savath pull their boat up the rapids on the Nam Ou river using a rope when the river level is low.
I’m away from 28th August to 8th September with no internet access but you can always try my mobile!