Savannakhet - a ghost town in South Laos.

Savannakhet was growing district town until the Second Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge across the Mekong river from Savannakhet to Mukdahan was opened. Today 80 % of local shops are closed. There are a few cars and some French colonial buildings in the state of massive decline.

Some streets in downtown have still dirt surface.

The colonial buildings at Plaza remind me the French colonial capital Grand-Bassam in Côte d'Ivoire where every falling apart mension was occupied by several families.

The catholic church was built by Vietnamese during the colonial era.

Wat Sainyaphum is surrounded surprisingly by huge compound full of peaceful greenery.

I recommend Hungthip Restaurant with tasty Thai and Lao dishes.

Mekong River looks very quiet. The are no more boats and ferries between Thailand and Laos. Entire traffic goes across the bridge located 5 km from downtown.

Pétanque players in Savannakhet. Laos เปตอง

Pétanque game and baguette belong to French inheritance in Laos. I spotted some street players in Savannakhet.

Pétanque is played by two, four or six people. All players must throw their metal boules standing with the feet together in a small circle. They throw the balls as close as possible to a small wooden ball called a cochonnet (jack).

The first World Championships were organized in 1959. In 2007 Pétanque World Championships took place in Pattaya where teams from 50 countries participated in the competition.

44th World championships took place in Dakar, in Senegal. France won final 13 - 0 facing Thailand.

Once upon on time was one kingdom in South Laos. King in Champasak.

Kingdom of Champasak sounds as a joke. The kingdom in southern Laos in fact existed between 1713 and 1946 when independent Laos was formed. The first two kings of Champasak; Nokasad and Sayakumane ruled almost 80 years. The next kings became vassal rulers of Siam Kingdom.

During colonial time the French built here some houses. After rain showers local dirt streets tend to change into nasty and tacky trails.

Wat Thong ( Wat Nyutthitham ) is 19th century temple used by Champasak's royal family.

The King Nyutthitham's ashes are interred here.

It seems as almost entire population of the town work on the fields or have emigrated to Thailand or Vientiane.

I spotted here some internet cafes which charge $2 per one hour.

But still you can get a magnificent vista on Mekong river and feel an ambience of old Indochina in Champasak.

From Pakse to Champasak. Mekong crossing. South Laos

There are many sawngthaews between Pakse to Champasak in morning time. Highway 13 in perfect shape and a short leg to Ban Lak lead to village Ban Muang located on Mekong bank.

My journey from Pakse to Ban Muang took half hour.

You don't need to wait for a big ferry to pass the river.

There are many small ( personal ) ferries ready to cross Mekong any time for 5.000 kip fee.

The personal ferry looks as a catamaran. It is built from some planks lashed together on the top of two canoes.

Ban Phaphin on western side of Mekong is just 15 minutes walk from Champasak.

Faces from Vientiane. Laos

Late afternoon Thanon Fa Ngum changes. The main Mekong front street hosts hungry residents on pavement.

She cooks and sells food on Fa Ngum street every day.

Monsieur Khamchanh and his wife run the food stall with delicious baguettes on Samsanthai street. Khamchanh is living Vientiane's library. He knows many interesting stories about the city. Khamchanh speaks english and french and undrestands little russian. I call him "Teacher".

Be and his family run some souvenir shops in Morning Market.

Students waiting for bus on Thanon Lan Xang.

Old french cars in Vientiane. Citroën - voiture ancienne au Laos.

I've spotted some old nice looking french oldtimers in Vientiane.

Citroën with Vientiane's car plates.

Glass mosaic at Wat Xieng Thong in Luang Prabang. Laos

Unique glass mosaic on exterior walls of Tripitaka library and Red Chapel in Wat Xieng Thong depicts scenes of a famous Lao hero - Siaw Sawat and rural life in Laos.

Stop in Pakbeng. To Luang Prabang by slow boat. Laos

part 2 Pakbeng

The journey from Huay Xai to Pakbeng took half day. Slow boat avoided dangerous river rocks covered by waves of muddy water. Mekong's whirlpools were to small to make any troubles for our long barge.

I noticed some working elephants on the bank. The slow boat was close to Pakbeng.

Local people looking for cash tried to sell "fresh meat".

Tiny Pakbeng located on slope near Mekong offered quite broad choice of accommodation.

There were road transport to Udomxai and Luang Nam Tha.

Pakbeng's main street headed from river landing to market and a bus station. All guesthouses were located along this road.

Some hotels had rooms with Mekong view.

From Huay Xai to Luang Prabang by slow boat. Laos

part 1 Huay Xai

First time I travelled on Mekong some years ago. The trip by speed boat from Luang Prabang to Thai border took 6 hours . My second journey was in opposite direction. My plan was simple and easy like all trips in Laos: slow boat trip in 2 days.

Late afternoon I strolled in Huay Xai. I watched Mekong and opposite bank where I left Thailand early morning.

Day after some travellers from Thailand crossed Mekong in early hours.

Kids from Huay Xai were used to sight of many foreigners. The frontier cross point between Thailand and Laos in Chiang Khong was popular among backpackers and Thai people from North Thailand.

Exactly at 8 o'clock morning I went into small office selling barge tickets.

The long boat was ready to leave Huay Xai at 9 a.m.