Laos

Every year I search for a new place to ‘detox’ from the stressors of my everyday fast paced life. I may have just found the perfect place to return to on a regular basis for my creative renewal. Life in Laos moves slowly, artfully – a beautiful silk wall hanging may take a year to meticulously hand weave, a pedicure two hours. The bus ride from Luang Prabang to the northern Luang Namtha province is a tortuous 12 hour ordeal, but when the road ends the two day trek through jungle wilderness to visit to the Lanten tribal village was priceless. After three weeks of enjoying constant exercise outdoors rock climbing, hiking, & walking, eating eating only fresh produce & fish, disconnecting from the internet, and a dozen relatively inexpensive deep tissue Thai / Lao massages, I was completely rejuvenated.

View from Elephant Crossing hotel over Vang Vieng's spectacular limestone cliffs, Laos

My rock climb up limestone cliffs, Vang Vieng, Laos (©Robert Holmes Photography)

Beginning of 4 day trek with Green Discovery guides in Nam Ha National Protected Area, Luang Namtha, Northern Laos near the Chinese border

Huge bamboo forest jungle - 'sometimes steep slopes leads us high in the mountrains' in the trek description was a bit of an understatement. Trekking for 5 hours over 5,000 feet felt like climbing a stairmaster in a suana with a 25lb pack - a great way to get in shape! (©Robert Holmes Photography)

Cooking sticky rice over open fire at jungle campsite, Nam Ha National Protected Area, Luang Namtha, Northern Laos near the Chinese border

Our guide Ta cooking up dinner by open fire at our jungle campsite - pork on bamboo sticks, Nam Ha National Protected Area, Luang Namtha, Northern Laos near the Chinese border

Lanten tribe couple feeding their livestock, woman in traditional tribal clothing, in Nam Ha National Protected Area, Luang Namtha, Northern Laos near the Chinese border

Lanten tribal woman of Ban Namkoy village in traditional wear inside her bamboo thatched hut, ,in Nam Ha National Protected Area, Luang Namtha, Northern Laos near the Chinese border