After a week relaxing in Thailand (you can read that post here), I presumed I was ready for just about anything the next destination on my itinerary could throw at me. However, I was completely unprepared for the wonders that tiny landlocked Laos graciously presented.

Some fun in the sun and the quest for yummy treats were the reasons behind the Thai leg of my trip, but for Laos my intentions were of a nobler nature. There with charity group Baraka Community Partnerships to consider the possibility of working with a few projects, the week’s stay in Laos was a chance to meet a few incredibly compassionate and hardworking people, such as the dedicated individuals behind @ My Library in Luang Prabang and Community Learning International which works throughout Laos.

As a photographer, I was most impressed with @ My Library’s camera lending system which is used as an educational tool as well as a way to generate income for the library. To participate, potential photographers (mostly young adults from Luang Prabang and its neighbouring villages) must first pass a basic photography course. After that, they’re granted access to cameras on loan. Photos taken with the loaned cameras are displayed in the library and available for sale (I bought three) with proceeds split between the photographer and the library. With so much of the available images of Laos the work of foreign photographers, it was refreshing to see what the locals found snap-worthy. See samples here.

Community Learning International does a remarkable job filling the gaps in education as well. One especially nifty CLI concept is the Book Boat: a riverboat-cum-floating library visiting otherwise inaccessible villages, giving kids Lao language books to read. Simple. Brilliant. Fundamental.

Much of Lao history is heartbreaking. Despite being a mountainous and vastly rural backwater of merely a few million people, Laos holds the sad record of being the most heavily bombed country in the world. What’s heart warming though is the Lao folks’ sense of resolve and how they welcome visitors with the kindest smiles that I personally have ever seen. For all the hardship and hazards, there’s a contentment there that’s alluring.  Perhaps, it’s the iridescent sunsets on the Mekong? Or maybe the homey and potentially super spicy food (I think I now prefer Lao food to Thai!)?

Ready access to fresh coconuts, damn fine coffee, elephants (!!!) and more gigantic golden Buddhas than you can shake a stick of incense at hardly complete a long list of marvels that have me yearning to revisit Laos as soon I can again find ample time.  And yes even sleepy little Laos is on good ole Qype. I’ll be sure to post some reviews of my fave Lao spots soon.