Trekking in Lao in the rainy season
Trip Start
Jun 01, 2008
1
20
40
Trip End
Aug 27, 2008
Luang Prabang,
Lao Peoples Dem Rep
Wednesday, July 9, 2008
So Sean and I got back from our trek last night so we thought we would update you on what happened. We had the best time!! We were fully satisfied and kinda surprised because we took an agency that costed half the price from everything we had seen so we were not expecting too much but WRONG it was so good. So it all started on the morning of the 5th where we got picked from our hotel and dropped off at a house where we transfered on moutain bikes. We then biked to the river and crossed it by boat. Then, the trek started. It was harder than we thought and pretty hot so we had a pretty good workout to be sure. The guide kept making fun of us because we looked so tired. We walked up in the moutains and could see the view it was awesome! Then, it started pouring down because it is the rainy season. For so long, it was raining cats and dogs but it was kinda refreshing so we did not complain too much. At one point, we stopped to rest and the guide took out his mini swords to go cut some trees for us to use as a walking stick. He said that we would need it because the path was really slippery. Indeed it was and thank god we had that piece of wood. We walked through villages during the hike and finally reached the village where we were going to spend our first night. First, a group of men and women welcomed us with rice wine and lao whisky. It was quite strong and didn't look too clean but how could we say no when the village is welcoming you! The rice wine was actually pretty good and home made! The village was very basic. There was no electricity and needless to say no hot water. Showers are done by taking some water in a pot and pouring it on you. We stayed in bamboo bungalows reserved for tourists lit by the candle light. We were the only two in our bungalow so it was pretty quiet. We walked around the village that night but there was not much to do as the sun set at about 7:30 and everything gets dark. All the houses were bamboo shacks elevated from the ground. It was like straight out from the movies with pigs, chickens, dogs, cats, roosters, etc. walking all over hte village. Sean and I kinda felt like intruders in the village. We then quickly went to bed and fell asleep due to the 8 hour exercise that we had done that day. Next morning, the rooster was singing at 4-5 am but we managed to "sleep in " until 8. Then our guide had prepared breakfast for us and we started our trek to the second village. Once again, we walked through the mountains, villages, and rice paddies. The scenery was pretty stellar. It also rained for most of the day but once again we liked it to cool us down. We reached the second village at about 3:30 pm. The guide brought us to his uncle's house for our home stay. The house was actually one big room with scooters and rice bags stored in the room and one bed. There is a separate hut attached to the house to cook with open fire. There was no bathroom or shower. Only a hose outside. Sean and I felt kinda bad because we were taking the only bed in the room but since they had sent us there, there was not much we could do. We had dinner and a walk around town. This second village was more modern adn actually had electricity and cars...but not our house!! We then played with the cousin;s kids all night. The cutest kids ever!! Life is really different for them here. They have one set of clothes and its full of holes! We played with apples since they didn't have any toys but still they were the happiest kids. We both had a good time. The next day, we kayaked for about 4-5 hours down one of hte main rivers in Luang Prabang. We also stopped at super nice waterfalls where we could swim in. We finished our kayaking trip adn we were brought to the elephant camp owned by our trekking compnay. We stayed in paradise bungalows. They were unreal and we were once again the only couple on the island!! We had outfits ready for us to wear the next day for elehpant riding. So the next morning, we rode the elephants. First, we joined a group to do elephant riding on the big seats and a mahout ordering the elephant. After, the group left and we had lunch. Then we were brought back to the elephants where Sean and I both god to ride the elephant on the neck and we were commanding our elephant. IT WAS AWESOME!! we were resting on his head and brought them to the river to give them a bath. My elephant was trying to dive in and I almost got submerged with it but my mahout got me just in time..ahahha!! Sean's elephant was spraying him water with his trunk...it was pretty funny as well. Then we brought the elephants to the jungle where they could sleep. After that, we got dropped off in the middle of the river to enjoy some tubing. Finally, we got brought back to the camp and biked back to Luang Prabang. We had our private guide for the whole four days including the elephant rides and All the food and water was included !! If anybody comes to Laos...go to All Lao company...we recommend.
Back in Luang Prabang for hte night, we went to the market and had some food. Today, we went to the Royal Palace, Phousi temples on the hill where we had a sublime view of the town, and two other markets outside of town. Tonight, we will go for Lao style bbq and tomorrow morning, we leave for Vang Vieng, a city south of Luang Prabang in Laos.
Sorry for the long essay but I guess it had been a while since we had written on the blog and we did a lot in the last few days.
Sean and Erica
P.S. Sarah, tu te souviens a Noel passe quand on se demandait si on disait Lao ou LaoS et bien une fois de plus j'avais raison et les gens ici disent lao ;P
Comments
trop cool!
trop cool votre expedition!!!!!!