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The Long Haul to Phongsali – Rambling Spoon

By Karen J. Coates / Photo by Jerry Redfern
March 28, 2010
Rambling Spoon

Bus to SophoonIt took four days to travel overland from Chiang Mai to Sophoon, in the northern Lao province of Phongsali, where we camped in the village dispensary with Jim Harris and his team. Eight days in the field, then another four (again) to reach the big city of Luang Prabang. A long haul, indeed. We’re tired, but thrilled to have made such progress in our research.

In the 35 years since the end of war, Jim and thePCL team are the first to clear ordnance from Phongsali–bomblets in rice fields, mortars among cassava trees, even a 750-pounder that a villager found on the hillside where she plans to plant rice. READ MORE.

An essay about this journey is included in This Way More Better: Stories and Photos form Asia’s Back Roads.