MOTHER RIVER

Journey along the Mekong River through southern Laos, from the region's highest point on the Bolaven Plateau down to its lowest, the idyllic 4,000 Islands. Discover ancient Buddhist temples, rice paddies and spectacular waterfalls, and see how life is shaped by the 'Mother River'

- RICHARD JAMES TAYLOR

The sleepy riverside city of Pakse is the starting point for any journey along the Mekong in southern Laos. Sitting high above the town is Wat Phou Salao, an impossibly picturesque hilltop temple dedicated to the life-giving river that meanders through the valley below.

As dawn rises and the mist starts to clear from the Mekong, the day begins with monks chanting a series of Buddhist prayers before they collect sticky rice and various sweet treats from the locals in their beautifully made alms bowls.

The temple is dominated by rows of golden Buddha statues, and the scenes within retain the comforting sense of mystery and timelessness synonymous with Buddhism in Southeast Asia.

Further along the river is the Bolaven Plateau, an area of highlands nurtured by rich volcanic soil, a temperate climate and the fertility-giving waters of the mighty Mekong. It produces most of the country’s rice and vegetables and nearly all of its highly regarded coffee crop.