Blogs from Nong Khiaw, West, Laos, Asia

On est allés à Muang Ngoi pour 2 jours et on est restés 4. On s' ennui déjà des matins frais entourés des montagnes en brouillard, des petits déjeuners copieux à volonté, des villages tranquilles avec leur maisons en bambou tressé, des soirées fraîches sirotant la Lao beer au bord de la belle rivière de jade immobile sous la lumière du soleil couchant. En quittant le village on s' est arrêtés a un autre, Nong Khiaw, plus grand, plus touristique. On a decide de passer l'après midi en montant au point de vue : 1,5 h de montée et d'escalade à 32C! On passe pas vraiment des vacances de tout repos car on marche souvent de longues heures sous le soleil ardent. Mais ça vaut toujours la peine car les paysages sont magnifiques! Aujourd'hui on avait ... read more

After spending a few very enjoyable days in the north of Laos today id decided to begin my descent. Firstly meeting up with the group from yesterday for breakfast and saying goodbye only to Guillaume as all the others were leaving today also. So, getting the boat at 09.30 we arrived back in Nong Khiaw just over an hour later. Jumping in a songtheaw we were driven to the bus station to get a connecting bus back to Luang prabang. Feeling pretty unwell on a 4hr journey that seemed more like 8hrs we had finally arrived. Walking a short distance with Hayley, Craig and crystal we found a perfectly good hostel to book ourselves into for a night or so. Chilling out for an hour or two I stayed put while the others popped out for ... read more

One of the attractions in Nong Khiaw is a view point, so getting up early to avoid the heat we walked up it. Pretty steep walking in places it was tough going that took us an hour and a half to get to the top. Of course at the top it was worth it - the view although a little cloudy was pretty stunning, which we celebrated by a having a chocolate bar! After taking some pictures and remarking on our achievements we started the descent passing a few monks on the way listening to their iPods. Made it to the bottom dripping with sweat so walked back to our rooms for another change of clothes and shower before heading out for some breakfast. After a nice cup of tea and bowl of muesli with yoghurt ... read more

A 1.5 hour boat ride will take us to Non Cai. 25000 kip per person. It is cheaper because there is a lot of people per boat. The boat we are in has 6 luxurious seats up the front and wooden planks up the back. We are first on and Kathy claims a good seat but being the gentleman we are me and the boys venture up the back with the locals. It is just like an air flight, first class up the front and the cattle squeezed up the back. A very long hour on the river ensues; at times like this I wish my bum stored more fat. It is terrible when one starts to become blasé with his surroundings but on this trip I am more worried about the cramp in my leg ... read more

5.45am and my whiskey head is pounding! Who's idea was this to get up?!! We head out to meet the others, 5 minutes later they have not arrived so back to bed I go, think they're doing what I should have done.... Stayed in bed! Anyway we have to be up earlyish to get the bus to Hong Khiaw. By 7.30 we are all sat having a breakfast all looking as bad as each other, a nice 4 hour bus journey to look forward to. Well I thought it was a bus anyway, when we arrive at the bus station there are vans with open backs with benches in, that was the local bus! You can't complain for 40,000 kip though and its nice to talk to the locals. Its pretty much cram as many in ... read more