Arrival at Nam Ngum Lake and Exploration of an Island
When we had almost finished the meal on the boat, our yacht also arrived at the side of a nameless small island in the middle of Nam Ngum Lake, which is very conducive to aerial photography and also suitable for shooting some cultural content. Since we were all photography enthusiasts, everyone took their positions. There was an interesting bamboo weaving shop on the island. The craftsman at the door was weaving from the time we arrived until we left. It was hard to imagine that the various bamboo woven products in these large rooms could come from just a few simple people. The wide range of categories and the large quantity were astonishing. In addition to bamboo weaving, there were also many seafood products piled up for sale. It seemed that these bamboo woven products or seafood should not be sold only to tourists like us, because tourists do not buy much, and these baskets, crates, and seafood are not easy to carry.
Thoughts on Business in Laos
Despite language barriers, the Laotians could learn a thing or two from us when it comes to business. It would be beneficial if there were sampling or descriptive text to guide customers. We noticed our homegrown brand of melon seeds, Qia Qia, available in supermarkets and convenience stores in Laos and Thailand. Many of our country’s exported foods can be found in these shops, with a plethora of puffed snacks in the small stores of Laos. Everyone here is brimming with curiosity, examining every bamboo weave meticulously, even the way they are hung is fascinating. Portable bamboo baskets, like the small ones used for serving sticky rice on the boat, are quite popular. As we were admiring these items in the shop, several teachers’ aerial photography masterpieces were already taking shape.
Introduction to Nam Ngum Lake
The Nam Ngum Lake, originally known as the Thadua Reservoir (also called Thousand Islands Lake), is the largest lake in Laos and the largest artificial lake in the Mekong sub-basin. It is located 60 kilometers northeast of Vientiane on the lower reaches of the Nam Ngum River, interspersed with the forested hills of the Nong Khai National Forest Park. From afar, the scene is one of mountains entwined with water and water encircling mountains, a picturesque and verdant landscape that epitomizes the essence of Laos’ forested nation.
Day 3 – Brown House Hotel Udonthani
At 7:00 in the morning on the third day at Brown House Hotel Udonthani. There is a one-hour time difference between Thailand and China. At this time, looking out from the balcony, the sky is still slightly bright. If it weren’t for the fact that it takes a bit more time for girls to wash up, we could still go out and catch the sunrise. Since we will continue to stay at Brown House tonight, there is no need to pack luggage. After washing up, we took our equipment and went to the restaurant on the first floor for breakfast. The buffet breakfast at Brown House is also very characteristic of Thailand, especially the glutinous rice in the large bamboo basket. I heard several photography teachers from Shanghai saying that you can put some sugar and make rice balls. It must be very fragrant.
