Stepping back out into the bright sunlight after the dark, hot cave we decide to find the area known as the '100 waterfalls', having been tempted by wading through the cool river. We don't know exactly where it is, but someone directs us further down the road and off we go. We cycle up and down hills (more up than down) for half an hour with no luck. Everyone just says 'keep going'.
We give up and swim in the river where there is at least as small waterfall. We are soon joined by some children from the near by village, who enjoy showing off by jumping, rather dangerously, off the rocks and into the water. The only English they speak is to tell 'Gangnam Style' as they launch themselves into the air.
The cycle back to Nong Khiaw is much better later in the day with the sun down and my hair damp and cool from the water. I am starving and have a huge meal of chana masala, dahl fry, aloo gobi and garlic naan at the local Indian restaurant before me returning my bike. Lao and Thai food is good, but I miss Indian food (I never thought I would say that!).
During breakfast the next morning I over hear a couple discussing with a tuk tuk driver how they are going to get back to Luang Prabang. They have been trying to leave for a couple of days now and for some reason there are no buses and no one can tell them when the next one will be. Their options are taking a tuk tuk or hiring a mini van. Laos tuktuks are more like motor bikes with trailers and are not comfortable for four minutes, let alone four hours. So they opt for the private mini van It also turns out, they tell me, that no one has been able to go up river for three days either, supposedly because of water level but probably because no boat men can be bothered to go.
I have to make a quick decision and decide to share their mini bus Luang Prabang. I tell myself that it is because I don't want to risk getting stuck and having to charter a whole mini bus to myself in a few days time. However it might be that I am whimping out of heading up river and spending a couple of nights in a rural village where no one spoke English. I hope it was the former and I'm slightly disappointed in myself, but promise my self to try another homestay when there is slightly more chance of returning.
Above: Northern Laos Geography
We give up and swim in the river where there is at least as small waterfall. We are soon joined by some children from the near by village, who enjoy showing off by jumping, rather dangerously, off the rocks and into the water. The only English they speak is to tell 'Gangnam Style' as they launch themselves into the air.
The cycle back to Nong Khiaw is much better later in the day with the sun down and my hair damp and cool from the water. I am starving and have a huge meal of chana masala, dahl fry, aloo gobi and garlic naan at the local Indian restaurant before me returning my bike. Lao and Thai food is good, but I miss Indian food (I never thought I would say that!).
Above: The Ou River
During breakfast the next morning I over hear a couple discussing with a tuk tuk driver how they are going to get back to Luang Prabang. They have been trying to leave for a couple of days now and for some reason there are no buses and no one can tell them when the next one will be. Their options are taking a tuk tuk or hiring a mini van. Laos tuktuks are more like motor bikes with trailers and are not comfortable for four minutes, let alone four hours. So they opt for the private mini van It also turns out, they tell me, that no one has been able to go up river for three days either, supposedly because of water level but probably because no boat men can be bothered to go.
I have to make a quick decision and decide to share their mini bus Luang Prabang. I tell myself that it is because I don't want to risk getting stuck and having to charter a whole mini bus to myself in a few days time. However it might be that I am whimping out of heading up river and spending a couple of nights in a rural village where no one spoke English. I hope it was the former and I'm slightly disappointed in myself, but promise my self to try another homestay when there is slightly more chance of returning.
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