Blogs from North, Laos, Asia - page 32

Our visa were sadly running out, we have to move, next destination Phongsali. We had to go through Oudomxay, where we spent one night before heading up north. And what a surprise it started to rain, don't tell me the wet season is starting, it is not due for another month... but why would that surprise us... and surely as it was raining I had the privilege to have my first encounter with leech, while the bus stopped for pee brake... bitch, you not getting piece of me...however I could not kill it as had no means of how. Arriving at Phongsali, was bit of a climate shock, from such a heat into drizzling and cold. The views must be amazing, but not when the visibility is about 5 meters... Next day we wondered round the ... read more

Da ich hier nette Gesellschaft hatte, blieb ich noch zwei weitere Tage in Vieng Phouka. Am ersten Tag waren wir zu Neujahrsfeier von den Familien der Trekking Guides eingeladen. Nach einer Baasi Zeremonie zur Vertreibung der bösen Geister, gab es ein ein großes Trinkgelage mit Tanz mitten im Wald. Ein unvergessliches Erlebnis, das Bier und der Lao Lao flossen ab 11 Uhr in strömen, und bei Sonnenuntergang waren allesamt, alters- und geschlechtsunabhängig, komplett abgefüllt. Für den nächsten Tag hatte ich mit Lea, einer Amerikanerin, eine Trekkingtour gebucht, was lustig war, da es ihr richtig dreckig, ich hatte auch einen ziemlichen Kater, und selbst die Guides waren nicht in bester Verfassung. Wir besuchten zunächst ein Khamu Dorf und eine von zahlreichen Vampirfledermäusen bewohnte Höhle mit faszinierenden Felsformationen, wohl eine der beeindruckendsten in Südostsasien, machten ansch... read more

Since we began our travels fellow backpackers were telling us about a small villiage in northern Laos called Muang Ngoy that can only be reached by boat-and that only when the river is high enough. We took a trip up to Nong Khieo in a mini van and then waited with other travellers for the ferry. The trip up to this villiage is very popular with Israelis. So many young travlellers have recommended the place and we were told that this villiage is part of a dissappearing trail that many of them visit. Our boat was packed and so heavy that we had to get out and walk about one mile through sand dunes while the boat found its way up the rapids. During the walk, the Lao woman leading us starting screaming as did several ... read more

ANGELS WHERE WE GO... Destination: Caves It took us little bit of time to figure out where we want to go, but after to much elaboration it was decided we shall go and see some Caves. Scott was the team leader and was trying to reassure us what a great navigation seance he's got by making turns that he did not to intent to do... And we had enough to worry about as neither of us drove motorbike before, but as we are so talented it took us not long before we were whizzing down the road 80Km/h. Scenery was spectacular, road was clear, accept for the odd pigs, chickens, cows... we have also stopped to buy some watter in one of the villages. First there was just handful of children, but not for too long. ... read more

There is only one reason to visit Phonsavan - the Plain Of Jars. So with the room at Nice Hotel sorted we booked a tour for the following day. Nobody is quite sure what the jars are for or how they got there. There are various theories, following the discovery of bones at some of the sites our guide was firmly backing the cemetery theory. Didn't quite add up for me, I'm in the "People were bored so did it for a laugh and to confuse future generations" camp. We decided the next move would be south towards the Kong Lo cave, a seven kilometre long cave with a river running through it. To get there the bus first to Paksan was the most direct option, along a road described in the Lonely Planet as in ... read more