existential struggles in greater China and southeast Asia
It may surprise you to learn that the highlight of my Laos trip was Phonsavan, a remote town in northeastern Laos.
Most people visit Phonsavan to see the enigmatic Plain of Jars, an area where ancients placed hundreds of huge stone jars whose purpose has yet to be deciphered.
Today’s post is dedicated to Stevie Nicks.
I’m in Laos! Today’s trip from Phonsavan to Luang Prabang should have taken about 6 hours. Instead, it took about 9.5 thanks to this huge landslide. Though they’re not all visible in this photo, there were 5 excavators working simultaneously to re-build the road.
If not for our driver having a friend on the other side of the landslide with whom he could exchange passengers, we would still be stuck there. That road was in bad shape. When we crossed the collapsed area by foot to reach the other van, I took one crazy step that ended with my entire lower leg submerged in mud. Luckily, another passenger was there to help me pull out. The ridiculous thing is, this happens often enough for them to have 5 excavators on hand. There must be a more permanent and efficient solution.
I’m not sure if there’s any connection, but the mountains along the highway show evidence of slash-and-burn agriculture. You can see the huge bald spots (lighter green) all over the mountains in the picture below. I was surprised to see crops growing on such steep slopes. The resulting erosion may contribute to mudslides like this one.
