We set the alarm clock to wake us, so we could head to the morning market. We walked to where we thought it was but that was the night market. We found the bustling morning market opposite our hotel!
Next we hired bikes to explore the local area. They were twice the price of the last ones and these were real bone shakers. We headed off into the distance after receiving a 'great looking' hand drawn map and instructions. We were heading towards the Chinese border... how hard could it be!
It wasn't long before we were lost. The roads were terrible, so many stones and ruts! There were many forks in the road to choose between too. Luckily lots of villagers helped point us in the right direction after we tried a number of times to pronounce the name of the village we were heading for.
We saw lots of interesting sights. Amongst them, an Akha swing, many animals, traditional dress and the local crops. The area has been forced to replace poppies grown for opium with other plants and trees. Banana, sugarcane, rubber...
We stopped at a small cafe to grab some food and water, before setting off in the opposite direction. We headed through a huge banana plantation. They appear to grow 2 plants next to each other but one has been cut in half, so the other can grow. Then as that tree grows they cut the other down to half size. There was a lot of plastic thrown on the ground that was used to cover the bananas before they were picked.
After arriving back in Muang Singh we rested our weary bones before handing our bikes back. Next, we ate at the market but it was difficult to choose what to buy; a live chicken, noodle soup, oranges or RAT!
Next we hired bikes to explore the local area. They were twice the price of the last ones and these were real bone shakers. We headed off into the distance after receiving a 'great looking' hand drawn map and instructions. We were heading towards the Chinese border... how hard could it be!
It wasn't long before we were lost. The roads were terrible, so many stones and ruts! There were many forks in the road to choose between too. Luckily lots of villagers helped point us in the right direction after we tried a number of times to pronounce the name of the village we were heading for.
We saw lots of interesting sights. Amongst them, an Akha swing, many animals, traditional dress and the local crops. The area has been forced to replace poppies grown for opium with other plants and trees. Banana, sugarcane, rubber...
We stopped at a small cafe to grab some food and water, before setting off in the opposite direction. We headed through a huge banana plantation. They appear to grow 2 plants next to each other but one has been cut in half, so the other can grow. Then as that tree grows they cut the other down to half size. There was a lot of plastic thrown on the ground that was used to cover the bananas before they were picked.
After arriving back in Muang Singh we rested our weary bones before handing our bikes back. Next, we ate at the market but it was difficult to choose what to buy; a live chicken, noodle soup, oranges or RAT!
