I visited Vang Vien in December 1998, and remember it as a sleepy little town with a handful of guesthouses and restaurants (each with the same photocopied menu), and a number of opium dens. My main memories of the place are the stunning sunsets, and the haunting sound of my Lao guide's singing as we floated down the river in innertubes.

The place is much busier now; the main drag has a concentration of TV bars blasting out old episodes of Friends, and are full of the sort of traveller that wears tie-dyed clothes and dreadlocks their hair. Many places serve "happy" pizzas and shakes, though, so it's not all bad.

Some of my photos are now available to buy in a variety of sizes and finishes, or as digital files, at Serenity Photography.

You can keep abreast of my travels by visiting my website.