LAOS 2
In Luang Prabang we met Ralf and Caroline again (previously in Koh Chang). It was good to catch up on their news and also to pass on information on the roads in Cambodia to them and find out about the roads in Northern Thailand and Laos. They had arrived a day earlier than us so had sorted out accommodation - all we had to do is find it ! Despite the small scale of the town we still managed to take a wrong turn. However, as we stood their consulting our map we noticed a large bike coming our way - blimey it was Jason. We yelled hello and he stopped - saying that he had just met Ralf and Caroline around the corner waiting for us - handy. There was no room for him so he would meet us later for a beer. We booked in, after we had said hello to the enormous "toucan" like bird and settled in. Later we met Jason and had several beers, followed by 1/2 bottle of whiskey (kindly donated to Cliff as a birthday present from Ralf & Caroline - named the Laos survival kit which comprised of 1/2 bottle Johnny Walker Red, one bottle M150(red bull), packet of Mentos Mints, Chuppa Cup lolly, Kit-Kat and a photo from Xmas with all the gang). Jason entertained us with his "falling off a bridge story". Amusing when the person is OK but could be bad. He had decided to cross this wooden bridge - two long logs across the river with planks across them - normally the thing to do is cross the river (usually safer as god knows when the bridge was built). But for whatever reason he decided to use the bridge.  Things were going OK until he put his left foot down to stop for a moment - the plank broke and the bike fell off the bridge into the water -with the bike landing on top of him. This, thankfully, was not too deep and he managed to get this head above water, got out from under the bike and waited for locals to come by for help, which they did despite laughing like hyenas at him for taking the bridge in the first place :-) We meant to take a photo of the bruise, and only damage to him, but forgot - but believe us it was HUGE - from the bottom of his bum most of the way up his back - lucky man. We later heard that Richard, also met in Bangkok, had passed the same way a little later and taken a photo of the dreaded bridge - if we get it we'll add it.
"The Bird". We never did find out what type it was but it was a nosey bugger. After 4 days it was driving Cliff mad - it wanted to be into everything and when it did not get it it started to get nasty - sounds like most men I know ;-) Must say that it had the most beautiful colour blue and orange around it's face - but the rest was entirely black - any info anyone ????
The four of us (R&C plus us) decided that a river ride would make a nice change so we hot footed it to the river early one morning (about 11am) and took the first man that we found - sometimes the haggling over $1 is just not worth it. We went for around 2 hours up river, stopping at a "traditional village" that Marks & Spencers would be proud of, then on towards a cave. OK. so maybe we have seen enough Buddha's to last a lifetime and stairs to last 50 years longer but, hey, we did it all over again !!! One day we will learn. The small cave was crammed full of Buddha's and the top cave was up some rather dodgy looking steps. Next stop was lunch. All of us decided that it was easier to go to the restaurant that our "Captain" suggested - they would all be the same price anyway - he got his free Lao Lao (rice wine type stuff - which we tasted - rocket fuel) and we got a good lunch. The trip back took less time a) because we went with the flow of the river and b)perhaps the Lao Lao had started to take effect. After an easy day out (no roads or bikes for a change) we decided to have an easy night out so we walk to the nearest restaurant (only about 50 mts) and also brought a bottle of the local whisky for 6000 Kip (about 40 pence) on the way back to the guest house we managed to gatecrash a party, so we ended the evening dancing and sharing the only two glass that they possessed (that is a great example of the way people are out here, they were having a good night and invited the four of us to join them and drink their beer even though the beer is quite expensive for them, the funny bit was as they only had two glasses they waited for you to drink your beer so that they could then pour some for someone else, your could get very pissed under these circumstances as they try to get you to drink fast so they can supply the next person) finally we got away and retired to the guest house garden where we talked and drank our whisky until the wee small hours.
Some of the local kids playing on the banks of the Mekong river
The next day Ralf & Caroline were off, heading south with the intention of getting to Vientiene in one day, however they weren't that sharp out of bed and by the time breakfast was done Vieng Vang was as far as they were going in the day. After waving them of we got on the bike and head north towards Odum Xai to find some of the real tribal Laos. The road north out of Luang Prabang was suprisingly good with only small patches where the road became scrappy after a landslide. A little while into the journey we came across a "barrier" made by some local teenagers using string and balloons. They pinned paper broaches onto us and gave us sweets - for a donation of course !! We are not sure what the meaning of it was - perhaps they were collecting for a wedding - two of the girls were dressed up. On the way back down we stopped for photo's. At the top of the mountains we came across the tribal villages - all perched on the peaks, the houses made from bamboo stems and leaves and nearly all on stilts (although we could see no reason as they would never get flooded). Whilst most of the women and all of the men looked the same as everyone else in Thailand a few of the women and some girls wore traditional dresses - usually comprising of a black skirt and top with "aprons" of various bright colours. Their heads were dressed with what can best be described as wigs made of small circular metals discs. Unfortunately, we did not manage to get close enough to any for a photo. Having found the villages and seen the women we wound our way back down again back to the guesthouse.
Cliff and two of our hijackers.
We had decided not to attempt the Laos - Thailand north-west border crossing - putting the bikes onto a longboat did not sound safe at all. We retraced our steps back to the Friendship Bridge crossing and into Thailand again. This time staying two nights in Vieng Vang and going straight to the border from there. On our second visit to Vieng Vang we stayed a full day deciding that we would have a better look around, possibly taking the opportunity to float down the river on a lorry inner tube. However, Cliff's was having problems with the battery charging on his bike so he looked at this in the morning and the afternoon was spent wandering around a local cave. The cave itself was fairly unexciting but the amount of concrete that had been laid down as a walkway and the concrete steps (including ballistrades) were a strange site.
Concrete bridge and walkway in the cave (there was nothing under the bridge requiring one........?)
Once back into Thailand the roads became smooth and sweeping again - aaahhhh heaven :-)
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