Lazy Sunday in Luang Prabang

I really like the guesthouse concept - its almost like staying in somebody's home. Its small, cosy and family-run. You can watch TV with them, play with their dog or just chill out at the balcony with a book. The kids will be playing in the street, and someone's cockerel will inevitably be crowing! At night, there are always groups gathered in someone's house sharing some food and Lao beer. It really gives you an opportunity to witness normal Luang Prabang life.

The one i've been staying at for the past 4 days is in the middle of a residential neighbourhood Ban Ho Xieng -a pretty lane lined with flowers. Today, it was fun to just watch the family go about their Sunday chores. The ice-cream man also came by so i had my first cone in weeks :-)
















Little kids helping their dad scrub down a pot.















Then they got tasked with cleaning the motorbikes with sponges.















Little boy discovers the water hose!















He lost interest in the cleaning after about 30 seconds and turned the hose onto his parents (out of the camera view)















Little boy got a smacking from his dad for soaking everyone. What happened afterward was he started crying and throwing a tantrum. He threw the water scoop on the floor and flung the sandals over the wall to his neighbour's house in a rage - and started bawling. I stopped taking pictures because i was in hysterics.

Introducing my Laos travelling buddy

I met many nice fellow travellers along my journey and one of them is Xiaodong, from Beijing -whom i had met on a bus in Vietnam. We decided to travel together in Laos.

Not only did we share many long, interesting conversations (ok debates) about politics, philosophy, "the meaning of life" and such, he is also extremely useful to have around - he can hoist heavy backpacks onto the roof of minivans, take GPS readings, is an experienced kayaker (and therefore did more than his share of the paddling in Vang Vieng), and also fixed my bike when the bike chain came loose on our cycling trip in Si phan don. He got his hands all dirty and greasy and didn't complain one bit. Bless! :-)

40-Love

I have arrived at the conclusion that Laos is a far more technologically advanced country than Singapore where insect control is concerned.

Look what the locals are using! While in a shop, i noticed the shop attendants holding on to this while watching TV. I enquired what it was and she explained that it was a mozzie/fly swatter. Press a button at the side and a tiny current passes through the racket - fries all assorted flying insects to death.

As if on cue, a fly flew in and buzzed about in the shop. The shopkeeper happily demonstrated its use for me. With one graceful stroke (not unlike Federer), she burnt the fly into a crisp! The poor fly fell to the floor and struggled for abit before finally giving up. The shop attendant swept it away nonchalantly. I could smell it too.

Its a wonderful little gadget! Not only do you get rid of the pesky little flies, but you can also practice your tennis strokes at the same time. I have a crazy idea to start an import business for this in Singapore.

Any takers?

Kuang Si Waterfalls

It was a bit of a hike through the forest to get up to one of the pools at the upper tiers but the view was worth it.


And so was the swim.. very refreshing!

Kayaking

Spent today tubing through a limestone cave and kayaking/rafting down the NamSong river. Lots of spectacular mountain scenery on the way.





And here's me posing when i should have been paddling hard!

Sunset in Vang Vieng

Rice fields and farms nestled among the Nam song river and mountains.

Rainbow after the downpour in the afternoon. I haven't seen one for the longest time. That, and the beautiful sunset was a perfect way to end my day! I love Laos!

Bus to Vang Vieng

price of VIP (clean, comfy, air-conditioned and punctual) tourist bus (3hrs) to Vang Vieng from Vientiane US$5
price of local bus (4hrs) - US$2

Experience of sharing the bus with monks, locals, stacks of Beer Lao, sacks of potatoes, and chickens while listening to Lao rap music.. - Priceless!

And so is the smell actually ;-)

The bus meandered through the villages, picking more people up on the way, so some people actually had to sit on plastic stools in the aisle. The old uncle in front of me had a bad throat and kept spitting out of the window. When he wasn't doing that, he was busy smoking!! As it got closer to Vang Vieng, we passed through some villages on the mountains and they were very pretty, even when it started pouring. It was definitely an interesting and enjoyable ride today!

Wa Laos!

My first photo of Laos. I wanted to take a picture of the Laos immigration control (it was essentially a hut in the middle of a thick jungle!) but i didn't want to annoy the stern border officials. We had to drive for miles on a dirt track to get there and to get out onto the Laos highway.
At Don Khong island, Si Phan Don - (4000 islands), in the far south of Laos.

Spent a lovely afternoon cycling around Don Khong island - it has lots of peaceful, quiet little villages with ricefields. I had to swerve a few times to avoid the chickens and dogs on the roads.

The little kids all shout "Sabaai-dee" in glee when we cycle past. Even the adults are very friendly and welcoming with their smiles!! I like Laos already :-)

Livestock (pigs at the bottom, chickens on the roof) on a "sawnghthaew". These little pickup trucks are the local mode of transportation around southern Laos. The one i sat on this morning to get from Chempasek to Pakse had 31 people crammed into it. Really! And i was told it was a bonus that there weren't any chickens on the same vehicle.