During our stay in Luang Prabang we spent two days on an inteprid adventure into the Lao jungle - trekking, visiting ethnic minority villages, and even staying in one overnight! A big chunk of what turned out to be a big highlight of the trip was funded by Bethan and Bradley - thanks so much guys - we loved it!
We set off early morning in the back of a big tuk tuk (maybe more of a van) with our guide Put. We were dropped off at the Tiger Trail (trekking agency) basecamp before catching a boat across the river to join the trailhead.
Excited on our boat trip!
From there we trekked up and into the jungle - enjoying some amazing views, dense undergrowth and lots of wildlife (both flora and fauna).
Beautiful scenery
They don't do grass like this back home!
We stopped off at a tiny Hmong village at lunchtime and tucked into a ricey lunch - yum. This village was home to just five families and the kids were adorable - they spent all of our lunch break watching us - but we couldn't talk at all, as not only as our Lao is a bit basic, but as a minority tribe, the villagers speak a completely different language again!
The afternoon was spent trekking to the Khamu village where we were spending the night. Absolutely fanatastic to be walking through such amazing scenery, but oh boy was it hot! I don't think either of us has 'perspired' as much before. Matt had to wring out his shirt - enough said!
Trying to cook down!
We arrived at the village late afternoon to very welcome bucket showers.
Our home for the night
We had our own very basic small 'room' in a hut alongside the family home - but to make sure we really mucked in we asked Put if we could help cook. Really good to cook again (although nothing like our kitchen in West Hampstead).
Roomier kitchen than back home!
And a delicious outcome!
Soup, sticky rice and stir fried pork - delish!
After dinner we strolled around the village. It really struck us both how simple life is - only a couple of families have generators for electricity and therefore lights and TV) so for everyone else evenings are spent cooking (mums), playing outside (kids) and resting up (dads).
Threshing rice!
Piggies were VERY cute and all over the village
And then once it gets dark there isn't much left to do but sleep! Which we happily did!
Next morning we were up at 6am with the cockerels and the rest of the village. A chance for a few more photos later and we set off on the rest of our trek.
A new friend
A morning stroll
Back on the trail- beautiful views!
Biggest elephant ever - I had to jump off the path to make way
After a few hours we were back by the river and jumping on a boat again, this time headed for a small waterfall and a lovely cooling swim.
Not quite Pete Cope's canal boat
Just enough time left before heading back to Luang Prabang to visit some more elephants!
Possibly the most random photo ever!
They really wanted the bananas!
What a fantastic couple of days - like nothing we have done before. As a developing country - villages like the ones we visited may soon be changing as more roads are built and electricity comes on the scene. For the villagers (particularly the young) these are welcome developments - we just couldn't help but wonder if development is really what they want or need? Community is everything and that might just be lost with the advent of TV and motorbikes. We shall see - but so lucky to have got here and seen it all now.
A little behind with the blogging, but catching up now... Our previous stop in Laos was in a town called Vang Vieng which lies in a beautiful valley with rolling hills on one side of the fast flowing river and huge, towering limestone karsts on the other. GORGEous. Sorry.
Anyway - the town's a bit like marmite. It's completely geared up for young western backpackers to stay in cheap accomodation in town with way too many loud bars. All set in one of the most beautiful places we've ever been to. The locals aren't too impressed but are all busy cashing in.
We decided to stay just out of town across the river in some beautiful thatch cabins looking out over the karsts.
Not a bad view for £5 a night...
We had three nights here in total (not bad considering a spider bigger than my outstretched hand greeted us in the cabin one morning...). But by far the best day was when we took to the water for a day.
Mr Alex Frost, a big thank you for this wedding gift - we definitely think you'd have enjoyed it! We booked with an adventure agency to take us 30km upstream in the morning with kayaks, for us to spend the rest of the day paddling back over rapids, stopping off to explore big caves and enjoy some of the bars as we got back into town.
The rest of the crew (from Singapore)
The scenery was just stunning all the way along the river...
Not steering or paddling - just sitting. Again.
There are some famous caves North of Vang Vieng which we stopped off at. Jumping in inner tubes, we floated to the cave entrance (only about 10 inches high once you get in) and then pushed ourselves in using hands and feet... pretty scary stuff, especially considering we went about 300m into the mountain! Our guide got a bit twitchy that it was raining outside, so we had to turn back. None of us disagreed...
Mind your head...
Jumping back in our kayaks after lunch, we came further downstream to where the tuk tuks drop the tourists off with their inner tubes to float downstream. This is where the river gets a lot gentler, but the banks are spotted with big bars with touts that throw ropes out to drag you in to their haunts!
We eventually accepted a rope from a bar with a huge homemade concrete slide (lined with kitchen tiles for added slipperiness) and a zipwire that launched from a flimsy bamboo platform. What could go wrong?!
For the first time in our blog's history, say hello to moving multimedia. Hello.
Sarah forgot how to stop and start this, but it makes for a good effect!
A local man told me that if I hold on until the end of the wire,
it will help me do a somersault. I failed. Miserably, and painfully!
A really brilliant day that we decided to top off with a good meal and a night out on party island. Sarah managed to sniff out the only restaurant that has sold cheese in the last 2 months...
Goats cheese.... amazing!
Before heading out to party island to watch the sun set, the beer flow and the fire dancers do their thing.
Cheers!
And then the rain started. And it got heavier, and heavier and heavier. We stuck it out for a bit, but after a while decided we'd better head off on a 10 minute flip flop dash across town! We were soaked within 10 seconds, but had a lot of fun dashing through the streets in the heaviest rain either of us have ever seen!
Moist.
So then begins the drying out session of the camera, the passports. all the spare single US $ bills and our plane tickets. Eeek!
Definitely the diddiest capital city on our trip - and surely one of the smallest in the world. But a lovely place to spend a couple of days. And we could both imagine living here!
We've enjoyed croissants for breakfast both mornings. Quiche for lunch. And pizza for dinner. You can definitely still feel the French/European influence.
As we flicked through the guidebook on arrival we spotted a special section on the 'Cope Centre'. Both of us Copes were very excited - and so hot footed it there on our first morning.
Great name
Of course the centre had nothing to do with the famed Lincolnshire name, but instead stands for Cooperative Orthotic and Prosthetic Enterprise (www.copelaos.org). We spent a fascinating and illumating 2 hours there including watching a documentary, and enjoying Lao Coffee in the Karma Cafe whilst talking to the centre staff.
Matt made friends with a karma cafe kitten- this is one photo of many...
I won't bore you with another history lesson - but suffice to say the bombing of Laos between 1964 and 1973 is something none of us learnt about at school, and the ongoing impact of UXO (unexploded ordnance) has on Laos today - is something we don't hear about on the news or in the papers. COPE is doing amazing work supporting victims of UXO, and others with disabilities across the country.
Much needed prosthetic limbs
Effective display illustrating the deadly cluster bomb
A few facts and figures below. And thank you COPE for welcoming us!
Whilst having scoffed on French food enough (although I was tempted by the camembert in the supermarket!) we visited a night market on our second evening. There were some odd morsels on display...
More appealing!
We decided not to 'pig out' but instead bought five bags of we weren't sure what, plus some chicken, all of which we enjoyed back at the verandah of our bungalow.
Spot the doxycycline (anti-malarial). The sporks have come in handy at last!
Absolutely delicious - although the papaya salad has to be the spiciest thing we have eaten on the trip so far - sorry India, you have been beaten!!!
We decided to explore SE Asia by sticking to overland routes - so after landing in Singapore, we've been on trains through Malaysia and up into Thailand. Having visited Thailand a couple of years ago, we took the decision to pretty much pass through this time; giving us the best part of 6 weeks in Laos, Vietnam and Cambodia.
This gave us one night in Bangkok. A night sponsored by Pete & Anna in accordance with our wedding list. Thanks guys!
One night to explore, party, shop (ordering suits for collection on our return before heading to NZ) and then move on, on another rocky night train - this time to Vientiane, the capital of Laos.
I'll let the pictures tell the rest...
Khao San Road - pretty much the crossroads of Asia for tourists It's lined with T-Shirts, Bongs, Suit Shops, Red Bull buckets and tour touts
We LOVE our Thai Curries and these were fantastic!
Washed down with a bucket each of Vodka Red Bull!
Supper demolished. Where's next?
Here's next! A stack of beer bigger than Sarah for a tenner. Please.
Work it Essy!
Definitely had more than half of the tower by this point.
Man down, in the world's oddest T-Shirt.
Man recovered! We are victorious!
Safely back in our hostel, we have a Red Bull night's sleep. Wake up - straight to a suit shop, still wobbly... We'll discover the outcome of our order in a month...
