The first overseas country where I traveled with the GR21 was Laos (Lao PDR). It’s a very beautiful country with abundance of nature and historical heritages. Most of the people still live a simple life based on their belief of Buddhism. It may be the “last paradise” on earth.

One January day in 2004, I was taking photos of the sunset as many photographers would do if they were by the Mekong River. I had my GR21 loaded with Kodachrome in my hand.

A young man talked to me and said he wanted to practice English and Japanese so that one day he could be a guide or go abroad.

He asked me many questions- where I was from, how old I was, where I stayed in Vientiane etc. Then he asked one interesting question. “Don’t you have a sunset in Japan?” I said why and he said “Because many people come to Laos and take lots of sunset pictures.”

I don’t recall how I answered but if I were to answer now, I would probably say yes and no.

Yes, because there is sunset everywhere in the world.

No, because there are not so many sunsets in the world that are as beautiful as the ones you see in Laos.

(Robert)