This was a new refugee village under construction. The people were lao teung (upland Lao), possibly Tai Dam or Tai Daeng (Black Tai or Red Tai) from Xieng Khouang and the Plain of Jars.

The guy with the twisted grin and the camera is Pat Hunt. An Australian adventurer, ten years older than me, Pat was an experienced motorcyclist, having biked around India and much of Southeast Asia, and a fine photographer. Quiet-spoken and keen-eyed, he was a great road companion and an excellent teacher. Two examples of this quality spring to mind. 

First… we were on our way back from Paksane in the late afternoon, and Johnny Johnson had a flat tyre. Pat could have taken the wheel off in a few minutes. It was a new bike, and Johnny had no idea what to do. We were a little nervous because it was getting late and the Pathet Lao came out after dark. But Pat gave Johnny a few spanners and instructions, without lifting a finger to help him, as we watched the sun sinking…