Photos

Kuang Si Falls is an expansive and superb natural area just south of Luang Prabang, Laos. The main falls are an impressive, towering, multi-tiered cascade over numerous rocks and lush vegetation.

Surrounding Kuang Si Falls are many shallow pools like the one here, many tucked away almost unnoticed.

The colors are breathtaking. Deep hues of green come from the humid tropical climate, and pools of crystal blue like this are created by light colored mineral deposits which reflect through the water, giving it a glowing, brilliant color.

Along my hike to the falls, I encounted several pools like this. Who knows how many there are. There was a new one in every direction I looked.

This one really struck me because it didn't have much tree cover, so it was getting a full dose of the sun, which was reflecting off the bottom and producing this radient blue pool. There was also the miniature waterfall seen at the far right rear. It was an alluring, tranquil scene.

This was a bit difficult to shoot. As you can see, the vegetation butts up close to the water's edge. There was only a small clearing where I stood to get this photo and no room to back up any further. I shot this at my widest setting, 18mm, which on the digital Canon 300D is the equivalent of 28mm.