This morning we first waved off the motorbike honeymooners, before taking on the hill! We were told one of the hills in the village has a view point we should check out, so we donned our boots for a short trek through the jungle.
The climb was wonderful but steep. Small steps cut into the hill took us up the one and a half hours climb to the top. The view from the top was ... UNBELIEVABLE! You could see the beautiful river snaking into the distance in both directions. This has to be one of the most scenic spots in Asia and certainly the most beautiful place so far in Laos. We rested at the top, enjoying the panorama before making the decision to head back down. Lunch was calling ;-) The way down seemed trickier but we both managed to stay upright, without slipping over on the loose soil.
We ate a well deserved lunch at the fantastic Indian restaurant opposite our guesthouse, before flopping in our room and hiding from the midday sun.
After a short rest we strolled across the bridge, where local families were swimming in the river and walked a short loop around the village. It was a really gentle stroll after this morning's climb. Locals were going about their daily routines, women working, men playing petanque and drinking Beer Lao. We noticed one lady sitting outside her house with a roaring fire burning. She had a basket by her side, so we took a closer look. As we approached, she pulled a dead rat from the basket, gutted it and grilled it for eating. In the basket lay some other culinary treats. There was a bird a little like a pheasant, a squirrel and in a second basket ... a very unfamiliar animal! It had not yet succumbed to the fate of the others. We have no idea what it was but it looked like a very large, fat guinea pig. We live in hope that this cute little fella is not next on the menu but something tells us the odds are stacked against him. In Laos, they eat everything!
After devouring a vegetarian meal, we did a little further investigation for our departure tomorrow by boat.
The climb was wonderful but steep. Small steps cut into the hill took us up the one and a half hours climb to the top. The view from the top was ... UNBELIEVABLE! You could see the beautiful river snaking into the distance in both directions. This has to be one of the most scenic spots in Asia and certainly the most beautiful place so far in Laos. We rested at the top, enjoying the panorama before making the decision to head back down. Lunch was calling ;-) The way down seemed trickier but we both managed to stay upright, without slipping over on the loose soil.
We ate a well deserved lunch at the fantastic Indian restaurant opposite our guesthouse, before flopping in our room and hiding from the midday sun.
After a short rest we strolled across the bridge, where local families were swimming in the river and walked a short loop around the village. It was a really gentle stroll after this morning's climb. Locals were going about their daily routines, women working, men playing petanque and drinking Beer Lao. We noticed one lady sitting outside her house with a roaring fire burning. She had a basket by her side, so we took a closer look. As we approached, she pulled a dead rat from the basket, gutted it and grilled it for eating. In the basket lay some other culinary treats. There was a bird a little like a pheasant, a squirrel and in a second basket ... a very unfamiliar animal! It had not yet succumbed to the fate of the others. We have no idea what it was but it looked like a very large, fat guinea pig. We live in hope that this cute little fella is not next on the menu but something tells us the odds are stacked against him. In Laos, they eat everything!
After devouring a vegetarian meal, we did a little further investigation for our departure tomorrow by boat.
