The journey started just a few days before the massive attack on Iran. Our first stop was Doha – one night, a bit of exploring the city and local cuisine. We picked a really bad time, as Ramadan had just begun, which meant limited daily life and, most importantly, a complete ban on alcohol.

We then continued to Thailand, spending a few days relaxing in Phuket. Probably a mistake too, as it’s one of the worst places to go in Thailand – overcrowded, especially with Russian tourists. Still, we found some positives and rode around on “motorbikes.” After that, a one-night stop in Bangkok, and finally Laos.

My first introduction to Laos was in Luang Prabang – a lively, popular town for backpackers. Waterfalls, caves, viewpoints, and especially great food experiences.

We (somewhat unwillingly) rented semi-automatic off-road Yamaha PG1 bikes, as no one would let us go beyond the city on scooters. Later we understood why. What we call a “road” back home is often more like a dirt or rocky track there, constantly being built or repaired while traffic is still running. That means riding at 40–50 km/h max, surrounded by trucks.

Even the rental started off shaky – before setting off, we found out there was a fuel shortage in the city. Most gas stations were closed, and the open ones had insane queues. We got the bikes with empty tanks, so we had to find fuel first before heading out.

We had to adjust our route continuously based on fuel availability and avoid remote areas. Our first ride was north to Nong Khiaw, just 140 km from Luang Prabang. It took 6 hours and was brutal – endless trucks and potholes everywhere.

We spent a few days exploring the area – caves, a remote village, and beautiful viewpoints.

I also managed to shoot some promo photos and portraits for the owner of a local café. As a reward, he got us 5 liters of petrol from a friend who ran a gas station, for a ridiculous price of about CZK 27 per liter.

Apparently, he had only recently opened the café and renovated it himself – he chose a pretty catchy name: 7eleven. For those who don’t know, it’s a convenience store chain you find on almost every corner in Asia.

While passing through a small town (basically one long straight street), I spotted an elementary school. I peeked inside and captured the atmosphere during and outside of classes. I entered one classroom during a break and saw the students playing cards. Their reactions were great, and some of them even spoke a bit of English. In the end, I took a group portrait of almost the entire class plus a few individual portraits. It was a lot of fun.

On the bikes, we rode along a dirt road somewhere beyond the town to a river, where a local fisherman was repairing his boat while kids were playing around him. We asked if he could take us on a trip to the village of Sop Kong, which is easiest to reach by river.

For the next transfer to Vang Vieng in the southern part of Laos, we chose the Chinese high-speed train due to fuel issues. Again, we explored the surroundings on scooters – blue lagoons, caves, and viewpoints. The lagoons, thanks to the train access, weren’t that great – more like an overcrowded swimming pool back home.

The caves, on the other hand, were exactly how I imagine them – no built staircases or lighting, just a headlamp and go. At times pretty intense, at least for me. :)

We saved probably the biggest highlight for the end – the Gibbon Experience in Nam Kan National Park. Jungle trekking, ziplining between trees, and a night in a treehouse about 50 meters above the ground. We didn’t see the gibbons up close, but we definitely heard them loud and clear.

In short – I rate the trip very positively. Plenty of adventurous moments, lots of photo and video material. Sure, there were problems, but that’s what traveling is about.

P.S. The journey home was a story of its own. I’ve experienced a lot, but this one was intense. The whole trip took around 40 hours, including about 18 hours in the air. From Bangkok to Mumbai, where I spent 16 hours at the airport, then a flight to Manchester. Of course, I missed my connection to Prague, so I had to buy a new ticket. I finally made it home the next evening – physically in one piece, mentally… a bit less ????