Laos

I'm going to Laos early in the new year to negotiate a job contract. If I accept the contract, I'd be based in Savannakhet for 2-3 years, in the southern (flatter) part of the country. I've had lots of experience in Asia (China, Viet Nam, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia) but I've never been to Laos.

Anybody got any sage advice to offer about the place, photography-related or just in general? I shoot 35mm and 4x5 and am thinking of initially at least just using Ilford's XP2 film with the 35mm while I'm there. I imagine darkroom chemicals are rarer than hens teeth and hard to import - but I'm just guessing. I'd like to bring the 4x5, but it's probably not practical. Hopefully I can find out more on the initial visit, but maybe not.

hey! great job. can you employ me?

i love laos. i have been going there since 2001. boy has it changed since then. my last trip was june 07. i have not been down south. i prefer to stay in the northern mountains. i have been meaning to go south but the beaches in thailand sound better then the mekong.

keep an eye out for golden palm beer. i think it is made there. much better than beer laos.

bring your own B&W chemicals. that is what i do when i travel to thailand (i spend 6-8 mionth in se asia every year). you can buy many chemicals and paper in chinatown BKK. you are close enough to make a run into thailand for chemicals and great food. C41 processing should be readily available in laos. do not count on E6 or B&W. again you can send the film to IQ labs in BKK and they can do E6 for you. great company.

i am serious. can you get me a job?

call me if you would like to talk more or if i can help a bit more. 845 336 5106

eddie

Even in Vientiane, you'll have difficulty finding anything beyond 1 hour photo labs, let alone chemicals and paper. If you're able to get away to Bangkok every so often, you can make that your "depot", so to speak.
That said, the photographic possibilities are virtually endless.

Bob

Not much to add except that Laos was "targeted" in the NY Times travel section the other week as one of 2008's "go to" tourist destinations for those who like to be in leading edge of tourism. So I'm envious that you'll get to see it and shoot it before they start building the condos and casinos!

copake_ham said:

So I'm envious that you'll get to see it and shoot it before they start building the condos and casinos!

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yeah! you all should have seen it in 2001. i thought i was late then! in 2001 the streets were dirt in most everywhere including many in vientiane. Larang prabang had bad roads, open sewers and not much at all happening. now LP is a bustling toursit destinations with western food, burgers and a night market almost everyday to sell to the tourons (tourist-morons). i was travelimng by bus and we averaged 25-40KM/H most of the time. i never talk about laos on an open forum before.....i was doing my part to keep it "wild"....i guess the cat is out of the bag now (especially after seeing it in 2007)

eddie

enjoy your trip.

Thanks guys. I gather that I could find black and white chemicals in Bangkok? Apparently it's only 2 hours from Savannakhet, so that could be do-able. I could also take some from home I suppose, but would need to replace them eventually.
As far as a job goes Eddie, first I have to negotiate my own!