Located at the confluence of the Mekong and Se Don rivers, Pakse derives its name from the Lao for 'mouth of the Se'. Pakse is the capital of the southern province of Champasak,with a population of about 80 thousand making it the third most populous city in Laos. Pakse is growing as a tourist destination as its ideal for visiting Wat Phu, Si Phan Don (four thousand islands), the Bolavan Plateau and Cambodia.

The day of the workshop started with meeting Steve and his assistant in Bangkok and then proceeding in their vehicle to the Samut Songkhram boatyard and a few locations along the way for a day of photography. I got close in among the cables pulling the boat laden trolley in order to make good use of the wide angle lens. Steve suggestions urged even closer and with the shipyard workers looking on nervously I got within inches of the tip of the ship in order to get off a few shots.

Was it worth it? Heck yeah! Nothing is more satisfying than teaching workshops or using my skills to pull off a complicated shoot except maybe catching up with good friends. I’ll be back this January.

The extensive Seoul park system ranges throughout the city and includes their national landmarks. These parks are among the cleanest and best maintained parks I’ve seen in the world. My afternoon and evening at the Seoul National Palace was a positive, affordable experience with many photographic opportunities that I would recommend to anyone visiting Korea.

It was also the very first place in China I visited many years ago. Each time a go back it is a occasion for reflection on how much China, and I, have changed.