Entering Vietnam made me become a millionaire out of the blue. Thanks uncle Ho!

Like Mao in China, Ho Chi Minh is still a national hero in Vietnam. In honor of his merits for the country his mortal remains are heavily guarded in his mausoleum in Hanoi. I lined up with thousands of other visitors to confront his countenance. No chance to shake a hand though.

It was raining for my entire stay in Hanoi. Locals are prepared and know how to deal with bad conditions. Me too - I left.

Lao was different then. Heat, less traffic and a relaxed attitude. Here the Mekong River at dusk.

First they were chasing me, but finally we got friends.

Amazing tufa pulling in Thakhek even though the temperatures have been far beyond decent climbing conditions. Start missing the remote north faces in the alps!

On the road in Lao. After about 115 hours of travelling by train and bus in the last couple of weeks it was brilliant riding a motorbike independly.

This guy knows exactly how to deal with the heat. Khao San Bangkok.

Travelling in China can be hard sometimes. Luckily I always found somebody to translate helpful notes for me.

Although, obviously it is difficult on the other side as well. Lost in translation.

There is a wide variety of food in China. The choice is way bigger than the spring rolls and the chicken sweet&sour we know from chinese restaurants in other parts of the world.

Chinese culture is a big enigma to me. What I understand so far: there is different ethics. Seems like one could do almost anything he wants as long as he don´t offends the system.

I met Mr. Tom, a swiss climber, in Dali. Sunny side up and good times at the cliffs in Shuanglang. See you up!

In Kunming I discoverd a street where all the police and security men buy there uniforms. I made friends and got the chance to buy an original security shirt. Austrian men power on chinese demand. Another job opportunity?

On my way south I had a brief stop in Yuanglang to explore the famous rice terraces. Heaps of heavy armed photographers occupy the viewing plattforms to catch a shot of the impressive sunrise over Duoyishu so as me.

Abstract patterns. A photographers obsession indeed. Vast mountainous areas have been cultivated into terraced rice paddies for the last 1300 years by the Hani minority.

Besides the landscape myself (as the only westerner) became an object of desire. Shooting back was my only defence ... no kidding.