Me, Steph, and Mr. Connor set off on our our adventure from the Bangkok train station with Laos being our first destination. The overnight train ride was incredibly cold and for some reason they didn't turn off the lights, so needless to say we didn't get a lot of sleep. But that's OK, because Laos is one of the more relaxed and chillest places on the globe. We get through the border easily and jump on a plan for Luang Prabang, a.k.a chill city.We checked into our hostel and then hit the streets in search of some authentic Laotian cuisine. We found a nice place by the Nham Kham River and ordered some laap, which is a Laotian salad that has chopped meat mixed with chilies, onion, and garlic placed on a bed of lettuce. FLAVOR EXPLOSION! One of the best dishes I've had in Asia. During all of this we watched some monks and other locals enjoy the calm and cool waters of the Nham Kham River. It made me want to go to the mountains of Laurel Fork.
The next morning Steph had convinced us to take a 39 mile round-trip bike ride through villages to the Kuang Si Waterfall. Connor and I thought she was a little crazy, but once we started we had a lot of fun. Connor had some issues with his bike chain. So he was forced to head back into town and get another beach cruiser. Steph and I continued on and battled through the blazing heat and "gentle undulations" while passing through several small villages. This was the highlight of the trip for me.The children of the villages had just been let out of school and were walking home. Not many foreigners come riding through their streets on beach cruisers so you can imagine the reception we got. We biked by groups of kids and were met with little hands being held out to give high fives. At one point a group of 8 year olds started chasing after us. This image will forever be burned in my memory. On the way we passed by a couple Laotian kids riding their bikes. I gave them some water and we pushed our bikes together up a massive hill. These little guys motivated us to finish the ride and make it to this elusive waterfall.
Connor met us at the waterfall and we swam around for a little while and had some photo shoots. The ride back wasn't as bad as it was mostly downhill. I swear at one point I was blazing at 60 m.p.h. Once we got back to the city a great feeling of accomplishment came over me. It was a great end to a wonderful day.
The next two days in Luang Prabang we spent relaxing. Biking and walking through the charming little town was great, so was trying different cakes that were offered at every street corner. Mango, apple, chocolate, orange, and pineapple all lit up our taste buds with flavor. Some of the best baked goods I've ever had.The french colonization is evident in the architecture and food. Connor and I woke up every morning thinking it was Christmas, because we got to go the sandwich section of the main street. The toasted chicken and cheese was by far the best.
We didn't want to leave Laos, and it was tough to say goodbye. The food was excellent. The scenery was captivating. And the people welcomed us with open arms and caring eyes. When we took off for Vietnam we weren't expecting the same reception.
To be continued...
No comments:
Post a Comment