On our way up north, towards China, we stopped in Vang Vieng.
This is some sort of a mecca on the south east asia backpacker trail...lots of rasta, piercing and tatooed gap year sort of people, crowding there for the tubing trip, the cheap booze and the readily available drugs (just ask for the "happy" menu in any restaurant).

As you know, this sort of "Katmandu" spirit is not quite what we are looking for...but we found a way around this...
Upon some other travellers advice, we went to volonteer in an organic farm, 3km from town.

Do not worry, we are not becoming some sort of 70 hippies...(althought coming to an organic farm after doing a massage course might sound like it!!!)

This farm is actually a very rare and interesting project. Entirely led by a Lao guy, now in his 60s, is combines organic farming and breeding of silk worm, with community projects.
This has some sort of a vision about how to developp the developping world, without endangering the environement...a bit of a hot subject at the moment...huh???

This is quite interesting to meet the people who are working and volonteering and see how it works...

Organic Pineapple...

Vang Vieng valley...rice field, karts pics and ever present mist...stunning views to say the least!