Muang Khoua to Oudomsay
19 Feb 2012 Leave a Comment
This may have been the greatest biking day for us ever. It was 100 km with a total assent of about 1,100 meters and a total descent of about 980 meters.
The scenery was striking. The road was in excellent shape, and very little traffic. It was about 35 degrees C but we had a cloud cover most of the day.
We followed the Nam Phak river the whole way, which ment no major ascent of descent. Many of the villages have abandoned both slash and burn techniques as well as harvesting Opium. They are replacing it with bamboo production as well as broom grass (this is the grass that they band together to make brooms.
Many of the small towns we passed were composed of people who use to travel around planting, harvesting and after a few years, slash and burn the fields and then move on. They are now banded together and are transforming into communities. We assume there are issues as they evolve but many people appear busy with the crops, as well as harvesting river weed and fishing the river.
One thing you see a lot of are intact families, with both the mother and father present. The father’s appear to take an active role. Grand parents are also active when they are around. It leads to a nice atmosphere. They may not have much education, but they appear to have great community.
So far Laos is our most favorite country on this South East Asia Trip.
Early in our ride we came around a corner to a bridge and market and came upon the Akha Women at market.
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There were also other women at the market from the Khamu Village.
Janis had purchased some Lao to English books and gave one to this washroom attendant who was 12 years old. He immediately started to devour the book. When Janis went to pay to use the washroom he waived the ten cent fee as a thank you.
Bye for now.
Janis and David
