The business end of a rope crossing of the Mekong

post, originally uploaded by jiulong.

If the rope is crossed or a braided bamboo ring is tied to the rope in the centre above the river, this means the bridge is unsafe. This Chinese soldier and two Naxi assistants accompanying Rock were reluctant passengers.

Even Rock's 15 horses and mules were despatched across the Mekong in this way

In 2001 we saw there were still many people crossing the Mekong [Lancang Jiang] in this way.