We have met the fabest couple from Canada and due to the political stirrings and a few flare-ups of unrest in Bangkok we have decided to hop onto their (the fab Canadians) itinery of to Laos down the Mekong, head across the border into Laos and eventually end up in Louang Phabang. A big part of traveling involves well traveling and we had a three day trip ahead of us. The first day was a grueling 4 hours back down to Chang Mai and then a long 6 hour to the Laos Border.
We arrived at 9 at night and Lawrence dashed of in the tuk-tuk got us a room thank god as it was the last. It felt like days on the bus to get there, long and boring, we ended up playing I spy and laughing at silly things a lot.
The next morning we woke up early and was sitting in the funny guest house we found on the river in the coolest open restaurant with Laos across the river, someone singing and playing flute, the occasional cock crow, after breakfast we headed for immigration caught a boat across the Mekong to Laos, got visas in the extreme heat and then landed up on a slow boat packed to the full of travelers and a few locals down the Mekong 6 hours+
We arrived in Pakbeng a small little one road town that felt like a frontier town from another era with a couple of guest houses and restaurants, a stunning market (straight out of my wish list no crap just real food market) lots of chickens, dogs, puppies, cats and the occasional pig and goat (one of which we heard squealing for its life as it was slaughtered that morning). Not very Buddhist. The locals here are different from Thais a lot softer not so hardened by years of foreigners abuse. We found a fabulous guest house for about R30 a night hot shower, electricity until 10 - en the whole village shuts down.
I had the most exceptional fish dish from this Local guy who Lawrence met on the boat yesterday, it was catfish with a Soya/oyster sauce (not sure I asked but we were'nt sure of the answer.) Must have been grilled on a flat plate with caramelized ginger sauce. Craig had Lap - a minced pork and a mint dish similar to the Thai dish I like to make. The food was brilliant, fresh and well bloody authentic. Woke up early to the sound of the village coming to life stepped out on our balcony overlooking village and glimpse life Laos Pakbeng style.
The local kids are so gorgeous, I could bring a few home with me!
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment