The North and Luang Prabang
Chloe Writes: Our Thailand journey ended with a little more drama than we first anticipated. At the Thai immigration point on the Loa border, it was pointed out to us that we had overstayed our welcome in Thailand by 2 days as our visas had expired on the 5th of Feb and not the 7th as we had thought. But 2 hours later and 2000 Baht lighter we were in Laos.
We started our Laos visit in the north with a 2 day trek thorough the lush mountainous countryside with Dave & Emma, an Ozzie couple we met at the Thai border and ended up spending 10 days with. At the end of the first day of the trek we were taken to one of the many villages and stayed the night in one of their huts. We were also invited to sit in on a ceremony (were still not sure what it was for but think it may have ended in the slaughter of a cute little pig tied up outside), which involved traditional song, dance and costume. It was fantastic to experience how the majority of the Laos people live, which is a very simple life with the staple food being noodle soup (very warming) and sticky rice (I can pass on this one).
After a fleeting visit to Nong Khiaw with its spectacular views we took a boat down the river on Pete’s birthday, a very cozy 6 hours to the city of Lang Prabang. After 8 days in some very remote parts of the world it was quite nice to be in a city again, with coffee shops, night markets and just generally lots of people. This morning we awoke at 5.30am to join the locals in giving alms (food) to the monks who come past in their masses with big silver bowls to be filled with sticky rice, fruit and anything else on offer.
Pete Writes: I can see now why they say that “Cambodia grows the rice, Vietnam eats the rice and Laos just watch the rice grow!” Laos is a very laid back country and the people are some of the most friendly we have met. The north of the country is very mountainous which lends well to the trekking and to the long winding bus rides (of which we have had a few already).
The trek that we did was a real eye opener, taking us through 6 local villages full of children, pigs, chickens and dogs very interested to see us. It was entertaining to see Chloe struggling up and down the muddy tracks with her sandals and socks on (due to misplacing her shoes in Thailand). Hopefully we will find a pair at our next port!
Nong Khiaw was a lovely little village set alongside the river, shadowed by towering mountains that hold a lot of caves that helped the locals to seek cover whilst the USA bombed the area during the 2nd Indochina war. We visited one, and it felt eerie to stand inside imagining the devastation that would have been caused to the nearby villages. When we first arrived the weather was nice and sunny, however the next day the clouds moved in and the temperature dropped (but the sun has now put his hat back on… after 5 days!)
The morning of my Birthday we packed up and took a walk down to the dock to catch our 9am boat. At 11am we finally set off, once they had actually filled the boat (18 tourists and the captain)at this point I could hardly feel my toes, which did not matter for long, as I was wedged into this long tail with everyone sharing each others body heat 
The journey was nice (if not a little cramped) tackling a series of rapids with one point being told we had to get off the boat so the captain could pile a load of sand into the front of the boat to move further down the river (this also involved us having to take of our shoes and wade through the river). Once we arrived in Luang Prabang we headed out for a birthday meal (and cake!) which ended up to be an early night as we were all too tired.. I am officially an old married man
Luang Prabang s a quaint town with a big French influence, which means good coffee, bakeries and baguettes :o) As the weather has been cold we have spent most of our time walking around seeking a warm place to find refuge. Which on Valentines Day we came up trumps with a restaurant that we could BBQ your own meal at the table, sitting next to a fire circle (very cozy).
Today we say good bye to our new friends and head to the Capital. Hopefully to find Chloe some shoes…
Page Gallery
Village Kids
The village where we stayed over night
The kitchen in our hut
Chloe crossing the river
Buffalo
Sheltering from the sun mid trek with our guide Khong
3 very persistent hawkers.. Pete & I are now the proud owners of woolen bracelets
Chloe and Emma trying to keep warm
Nong khiaw from the bridge
Nong Khiaw sunset
A view from the boat on the journey to Luang Prabang
Birthday Cake… although really a valentines cake
Bug
Monk
Morning Alms
Chloe doing her bit
A street buffet… 5k kip OR 27p…what a bargain!
Luang Prabang night market
Tags: Laos
February 16th, 2008 at 2:41 am
very beautiful photos and story indeed.
February 16th, 2008 at 12:05 pm
Hi Canns,
This is to wish my new son-in-law a very happy birthday (belated) and a happy married life.
I got home on the 15th as we extended our stay in Singapore and like you, in the pics, trying to keep warm after being in steamy 86 degrees.
Love the 2 hats!!
Loads of love M
February 16th, 2008 at 12:08 pm
What’s happened to the comments? Mine has already been modified!
February 17th, 2008 at 6:41 am
Hi Mum E,
There have been some recent changes to the blog site which is why we took so long to do our chang mai post, that and we were in very remote parts of the world so not much internet. This may mean that all comments now have to be moderated or we are just starting out again and all of your future coments will appear straight away from now on. Anyway we shall see.
It seems the cold weather from china has taken a turn and the sun now has his hat on again so back on with the shorts, thank god. At least the cold weather would have prepared you for returning back to sunny England.
Anyway, glad you enjoyed your holiday, you must give us some tips for Singapore and Malaysia.
Lots of Love xx
February 23rd, 2008 at 6:43 am
I was gutted we lost all our photos of the night market and the giving of alms. When we woke up early for the Monks a bus load of Chinese tourists turned up and shattered the silence with flash photography. Still, before they arrived it was lovely.
Some fantastic photos guys :o)
And are you telling me you didn’t float down the Mekong in a rubber tube? It’s the best bit!
February 25th, 2008 at 8:25 pm
Hi Rupert,
There were loads of tourists at the giving of alms but there are quite a few spots where there are just locals which we managed to find, and in Vientaine once all the monks had recieved their offerings from this one lady, they all stood in a line and sang a prayer which both Pete and I thought sureal.
Unfortunatly we didn’t do the tubing due to the cold front that had crept it’s way down from China, which was freezing, and didn’t have the time to wait for the weather to turn. Maybe next time!! We thought Lao was fantastic all the same!
Lots of Love xx
February 27th, 2008 at 3:24 pm
ah man, I hope you guys get to go back - the tubing was one of our best moments. Was just looking back at the photos….
http://blogs.bootsnall.com/Monkey/lets-do-it-the-laos-way.html
Good times. It’s difficult watching you guys! I get so nostalgic… :o(