We heard about a little river village nestled in some gorgeous mountains only a few hours from Luang Prabang called Nong Khiaw. We were told there were several local buses a day so we headed out to the bus station for our next adventure. We bought tickets and were told to board a sawangthaew, or a jumbo tuck truck, essentially a flatbed truck with bench seating and a canopy cover. It sunk in that we would be travelling a 4 hour trip snuggled in with crates, locals and luggage. It was an experience to say the least, but we made it safe and sound.
Our Sawangthaew made for Lao sized people.
The view from our hostel on the Nam Ou River
To explore the scenery we rented mountain bikes, we road through some stunning mountains and remote Hmong villages with bamboo huts and rice drying on mats in the road.
Sue climbing the single track trial out of town.
Right as we decided to turn around, we heard a rustling in the bushes beside the trail. Expecting a dog or possibly a cow to come out, we were about to take off when a little woman with a machete appeared. She’d been cutting sugar cane and she insisted on giving us some. She happily chatted away in Loa while she peeled us each a chunk of sugar cane and showed us how to eat it. Then she went off down the trial and disappeared back into the bushes. Quite unexpected but a sweet treat for the ride home.
Sunset and misty mountains.
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