Off to the Middle of Nowhere

I am hesitant to leave Luang Prabang. I have been meaning to for 4 days now, but something always “comes up”—i.e. I don’t want to leave! But I think it’s finally time to hit the road, or actually the river. If all goes well I will be taking a boat (probably equally as uncomfortable as the slow boat into Laos from the Thai border, but also just as spectacular, if not more so. However, it’s low (and rainy!) season, and there’s no way to know for sure that a boat will leave on a given day—there have to be at least 6-8 people or you can pay the extra to charter the boat. Yeah, I don’t think so. However, that’s not the only option: there’s also a shorter, four-hour bus journey up north to the village of Nong Khiew.

This will be a return to truly challenging travel—no internet connection! From Nong Khiew I think I will head an hour north to Muang Ngoi, accessible only by the hour boat ride. That should be some real isolation—except for all the other backpackers doing the same thing of course—ha! From there I hope I can take a bus east towards the Vietnamese border to Sam Xeu and then to see some cave at Vieng Xai before crossing the border into Vietnam and hitching a bus ride to Hanoi. See why I’m hesitant to leave?! I’ve developed quite a comfy life here in LP and will miss it. But I have been here a while, and it’s time for some more exploring.

Not that I’ve been just idling away the days—I took a two day weaving class (so much harder than it looks, and it looks hard!) and made my own silk scarf—well, some of it anyways. I also kept up my volunteering and scrabble-playing at Big Brother Mouse and took another trip to the Hmong village to teach two English classes. And then there was shopping to be done at the night market! There have also been plenty more treats, snacks at food market, even the most glorious herbal steam bath at the Laos Red Cross Center in town. I know I’ve said this before, but I am definitely coming back here one day soon I hope.

Alright, I must be getting a move on. Will be in touch soon!