{"chapterKey":"laos/mekong-below-houayxay","title":"Mekong Below Houayxay","regionSlug":"laos","status":"published","photos":[{"sha":"aaf1879c97b3bd9e1ea033a982e0c9477c12023f285c2b148d169384e7fe3704","caption":"Early morning fog on the river.","width":878,"height":590,"aspect":1.4881,"orientation":"landscape","layoutHint":"wide","srcThumb":"https://wtbl.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/31205db4871f90fb5ea759b35edf13ed","srcSmall":"https://wtbl.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/31a39ab5f3d70e1cff355e2a8fae68d1","srcMedium":"https://wtbl.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/cb141edd40e5a8f1977a6852e789ce7f","srcLarge":"https://wtbl.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/6f61a26bbf4af028f727256cf922fd69","srcOriginal":"https://wtbl.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/6f61a26bbf4af028f727256cf922fd69","altText":"Early morning fog on the river."},{"sha":"bdd2218be884fc1c72f58405268a883e08416f6ce9d8aa10f91f2efdf8d8b5c6","caption":"It thickens.","width":881,"height":587,"aspect":1.5009,"orientation":"landscape","layoutHint":"wide","srcThumb":"https://wtbl.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/c54fb27cb048b9d0e04b4a5697c2401e","srcSmall":"https://wtbl.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/9253aae77801d5ae96048df6efed0e3c","srcMedium":"https://wtbl.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/3fe5c8677170111d17e6e395b2ab6576","srcLarge":"https://wtbl.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/6b8b0d2e0829f4628ec5f46b8231bb24","srcOriginal":"https://wtbl.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/6b8b0d2e0829f4628ec5f46b8231bb24","altText":"It thickens."},{"sha":"aaf1879c97b3bd9e1ea033a982e0c9477c12023f285c2b148d169384e7fe3704","caption":"As the day warms, the fog burns off.","width":878,"height":590,"aspect":1.4881,"orientation":"landscape","layoutHint":"wide","srcThumb":"https://wtbl.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/31205db4871f90fb5ea759b35edf13ed","srcSmall":"https://wtbl.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/31a39ab5f3d70e1cff355e2a8fae68d1","srcMedium":"https://wtbl.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/cb141edd40e5a8f1977a6852e789ce7f","srcLarge":"https://wtbl.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/6f61a26bbf4af028f727256cf922fd69","srcOriginal":"https://wtbl.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/6f61a26bbf4af028f727256cf922fd69","altText":"As the day warms, the fog burns off."},{"sha":"3b212b2427043cfa7e43fb1b46bb7f91c49b3e011e1c3accfaedb1f286d2aa4f","caption":"The vista opens.","width":857,"height":584,"aspect":1.4675,"orientation":"landscape","layoutHint":"wide","srcThumb":"https://wtbl.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/d08aacc4272e9a1263797cf08c48665e","srcSmall":"https://wtbl.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/cba36451770feecc18c02759cf944eba","srcMedium":"https://wtbl.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/200c413abb5abebf7cb523c766e04075","srcLarge":"https://wtbl.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/3fc3e97f0fad1abbf6f6ed7296e55396","srcOriginal":"https://wtbl.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/3fc3e97f0fad1abbf6f6ed7296e55396","altText":"The vista opens."},{"sha":"31c887411e185c94b802e40bb5b346455e6d9a667807f7c7e0944faf0908b4df","caption":"The banks are rocky, with occasional islands and promontories. In the course of a day, perhaps half a dozen riverboats pass by, along with a couple of dozen speedboats, their unmuffled automobile engines roaring.","width":857,"height":593,"aspect":1.4452,"orientation":"landscape","layoutHint":"wide","srcThumb":"https://wtbl.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/bde3e3ec0d3a47a301069f7999485cf6","srcSmall":"https://wtbl.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/c10a6beb07e33fa0a39b380d3073894d","srcMedium":"https://wtbl.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/c7f6991220343b256069c5e8f49134b2","srcLarge":"https://wtbl.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/e1a2b5443add4e001c1bdd3337be7a51","srcOriginal":"https://wtbl.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/e1a2b5443add4e001c1bdd3337be7a51","altText":"The banks are rocky, with occasional islands and promontories. In the course of a day, perhaps half a dozen riverboats pass by, along with a"},{"sha":"ed103fb6649a24461a33d8952a8ecde98f2d7098cd432eca8be7db4177529cc2","caption":"With the sky clear at last, the water's silt load is illuminated.","width":878,"height":587,"aspect":1.4957,"orientation":"landscape","layoutHint":"wide","srcThumb":"https://wtbl.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/b8b6c9597806c99f3dc219766ed3e0f4","srcSmall":"https://wtbl.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/a2ef1c8ee815c3faea5d3c976b738fb3","srcMedium":"https://wtbl.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/d96b2f38640a6d28276f6374093c9aa7","srcLarge":"https://wtbl.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/e5318edd37c24ac7f8264f370d539515","srcOriginal":"https://wtbl.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/e5318edd37c24ac7f8264f370d539515","altText":"With the sky clear at last, the water's silt load is illuminated."},{"sha":"82b8d0607661740831c12cc35d3594742172f47ecb1cbe6a8c241e0f8af221b1","caption":"A mandatory stop for checking papers. This is January, and the police post moves during summer's high water.","width":883,"height":587,"aspect":1.5043,"orientation":"landscape","layoutHint":"wide","srcThumb":"https://wtbl.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/c92d5becc6fe789c0935d88dee78a939","srcSmall":"https://wtbl.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/974de6cd85bfcb30d75f185a5a95cdda","srcMedium":"https://wtbl.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/3dc77793d672e185d8dc762a2ca221c6","srcLarge":"https://wtbl.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/18671b167cf39e701eac40abf586c27d","srcOriginal":"https://wtbl.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/18671b167cf39e701eac40abf586c27d","altText":"A mandatory stop for checking papers. This is January, and the police post moves during summer's high water."},{"sha":"243929dd344cbd64ac84b28bfcc930ee7e4d8135e092c7d0963d1f6a69145281","caption":"There's a village here: Muang Paktha.","width":860,"height":591,"aspect":1.4552,"orientation":"landscape","layoutHint":"wide","srcThumb":"https://wtbl.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/51b0e0fc50efe42d61782f269ed34089","srcSmall":"https://wtbl.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/1cbf799a544adbed57bcca23ae4d49f9","srcMedium":"https://wtbl.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/5a587a02a553f6350b08f3892b28e2ad","srcLarge":"https://wtbl.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/b7588caf3e0c0855836a2245118dd300","srcOriginal":"https://wtbl.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/b7588caf3e0c0855836a2245118dd300","altText":"There's a village here: Muang Paktha."},{"sha":"a41c40446c27439e5759c6f1ae1f88c3b398705e41c8a0ecc2b2fa8665a01cdc","caption":"Pretty basic.","width":882,"height":590,"aspect":1.4949,"orientation":"landscape","layoutHint":"wide","srcThumb":"https://wtbl.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/04e2bee6d088eaa2d97fe440bc37c2a2","srcSmall":"https://wtbl.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/3e4113168c3a45ff2033889bf58195b2","srcMedium":"https://wtbl.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/72b32e71504a12e3b75d28cd3ca41e94","srcLarge":"https://wtbl.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/c28c0dbb860d67bcca6abe96e085fd13","srcOriginal":"https://wtbl.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/c28c0dbb860d67bcca6abe96e085fd13","altText":"Pretty basic."},{"sha":"f236289ee5aea55872dec3620d47a1f6f5cee484abcc5af9b346699b8dffcde9","caption":"Back on the river: rippling sedimentary layers.","width":860,"height":590,"aspect":1.4576,"orientation":"landscape","layoutHint":"wide","srcThumb":"https://wtbl.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/03b5cc7c109b61b8142c9caf16ddcc6b","srcSmall":"https://wtbl.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/54653f6da9d08e1e894eb4599b2d205a","srcMedium":"https://wtbl.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/ab0cae51d8e9371acb3e97140fba020a","srcLarge":"https://wtbl.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/c2fa19f1c6bef38a3fe8f5e78d19ad2d","srcOriginal":"https://wtbl.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/c2fa19f1c6bef38a3fe8f5e78d19ad2d","altText":"Back on the river: rippling sedimentary layers."},{"sha":"510d480d2a5bb4e61dc1688b0ed1f0003b6a6ae4799e1d7164e29ada2d277e1a","caption":"A stop at a bigger place, catering to river traffic.","width":880,"height":581,"aspect":1.5146,"orientation":"landscape","layoutHint":"wide","srcThumb":"https://wtbl.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/787a27274418de386e3e22d8f67a1855","srcSmall":"https://wtbl.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/5755f48d125db1240e82261a71a18bed","srcMedium":"https://wtbl.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/618ad7339a2df8e3d8f4db99a18cf28e","srcLarge":"https://wtbl.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/0b010729439b05b979e5848a879ae1a9","srcOriginal":"https://wtbl.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/0b010729439b05b979e5848a879ae1a9","altText":"A stop at a bigger place, catering to river traffic."},{"sha":"124ed47bf6b0125ed4b16642cd4f3a030744ab1d70939f68e2f3d56186fdb729","caption":"View from the river. The building is a restaurant; the village of Pakbeng lies just beyond.","width":858,"height":588,"aspect":1.4592,"orientation":"landscape","layoutHint":"wide","srcThumb":"https://wtbl.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/fc83712b1b02494b3b5bb5c05fa0a0a4","srcSmall":"https://wtbl.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/a20cc1fd31d64260635a4a8cd868df19","srcMedium":"https://wtbl.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/b716cc01ee538ddfaa9ba41779139285","srcLarge":"https://wtbl.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/b062a62614853a3600d1469bd72c4438","srcOriginal":"https://wtbl.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/b062a62614853a3600d1469bd72c4438","altText":"View from the river. The building is a restaurant; the village of Pakbeng lies just beyond."},{"sha":"ab7b3dd950d24f33dcd10f60e0573530c7601a99bdf9e2ca29c9b77b8af0a104","caption":"Main Street.","width":884,"height":590,"aspect":1.4983,"orientation":"landscape","layoutHint":"wide","srcThumb":"https://wtbl.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/d9045df300c57d0be57858091f36a33e","srcSmall":"https://wtbl.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/aac28e1cd83ce99ea0c92ff765759925","srcMedium":"https://wtbl.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/2662e19f3a0e186f4f8bf11768ea597b","srcLarge":"https://wtbl.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/75d94aaa29f4640f4c03202fd763bfb6","srcOriginal":"https://wtbl.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/75d94aaa29f4640f4c03202fd763bfb6","altText":"Main Street."},{"sha":"8c942c5fc0905656e5f0616a5f8614dc22b2510035397beeca894ef2a7781d63","caption":"Off again and passing a beach where logs are waiting to be taken downstream.","width":857,"height":590,"aspect":1.4525,"orientation":"landscape","layoutHint":"wide","srcThumb":"https://wtbl.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/8041db8c992ad66ec46004d757e15cc0","srcSmall":"https://wtbl.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/028015f3f45af63bf935793221893b54","srcMedium":"https://wtbl.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/2b35d9222a78c5ca8d335b40054c8b96","srcLarge":"https://wtbl.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/ea77c3bbe18017ed1dafdf357783a94c","srcOriginal":"https://wtbl.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/ea77c3bbe18017ed1dafdf357783a94c","altText":"Off again and passing a beach where logs are waiting to be taken downstream."},{"sha":"e9fba8056bf9b77dec94f10c173569d4fe1df5c15469526baf16cbdd95245fe3","caption":"More patches of rocky banks.","width":859,"height":587,"aspect":1.4634,"orientation":"landscape","layoutHint":"wide","srcThumb":"https://wtbl.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/0859cb66a96da2f3ac310559ff9de8d2","srcSmall":"https://wtbl.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/3ef1a862953ad8a5e7362f32a8c0ba0f","srcMedium":"https://wtbl.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/fe03b46157c53d0f19a98aac4ab8861e","srcLarge":"https://wtbl.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/3af63ec9cd4e76125ce0f230741fad72","srcOriginal":"https://wtbl.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/3af63ec9cd4e76125ce0f230741fad72","altText":"More patches of rocky banks."},{"sha":"18309a53d3f1c4f2effc177d6ba0ef1af005e2be2dc8ecb228c356cfa2e697d3","caption":"More logs and speedboats.","width":884,"height":587,"aspect":1.506,"orientation":"landscape","layoutHint":"wide","srcThumb":"https://wtbl.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/05ab72b1931621a64315f50620ab14b7","srcSmall":"https://wtbl.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/8605068f592210e2cc257d11d9df12b2","srcMedium":"https://wtbl.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/45df6899cfd3855989dcc8ab1803c652","srcLarge":"https://wtbl.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/f3617148ff5d13bdea98e2635ffea8b3","srcOriginal":"https://wtbl.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/f3617148ff5d13bdea98e2635ffea8b3","altText":"More logs and speedboats."},{"sha":"ecffb032e96529d69c9641656e2786641bd869df201b9662641e0070b6efaf8f","caption":"How did the logs get to the river? Here's your answer.","width":860,"height":575,"aspect":1.4957,"orientation":"landscape","layoutHint":"wide","srcThumb":"https://wtbl.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/42f8c52404bbaad26fa16af00920e173","srcSmall":"https://wtbl.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/80bc2e02928f36ca9863a2d363e91e89","srcMedium":"https://wtbl.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/17143bfb2fbaba8fadec9cecef4ccffd","srcLarge":"https://wtbl.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/284ae219eddd5232e3bda4c8d4a69572","srcOriginal":"https://wtbl.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/284ae219eddd5232e3bda4c8d4a69572","altText":"How did the logs get to the river? Here's your answer."},{"sha":"e09409c2aea456493dfaa90af3266f911973d84a75213745efdeccb11be7dd7a","caption":"Judging from the elephant's lean into the harness, the resistance must be considerable.","width":858,"height":590,"aspect":1.4542,"orientation":"landscape","layoutHint":"wide","srcThumb":"https://wtbl.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/23bc7b5e04aac57a5d1fe1fe3a60b508","srcSmall":"https://wtbl.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/6480d943cfd56ea03eab64c1a214603a","srcMedium":"https://wtbl.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/bed363d40de66848d791f8c96116ed0c","srcLarge":"https://wtbl.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/78fa0e1ddd6e089f695cd4d3ba3ec40b","srcOriginal":"https://wtbl.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/78fa0e1ddd6e089f695cd4d3ba3ec40b","altText":"Judging from the elephant's lean into the harness, the resistance must be considerable."}],"createdAt":"2022-02-28T01:23:02.000Z","updatedAt":"2022-02-28T01:23:02.000Z","lead":"We're setting out on a day-long speedboat run down the river from Houayxay to Luang Prabang.","visitedDate":"2000","publishedDate":"2000-06-08T04:00:00.000Z","originalUrl":"https://www.greatmirror.com/index.cfm?countryid=236&chapterid=243&picturesize=medium","heroSha":"aaf1879c97b3bd9e1ea033a982e0c9477c12023f285c2b148d169384e7fe3704","authorLabel":"Bryan Wallach","_meta":{"sameAs":[]}}