Double Whammy - Part 1

So far we have either been cycling or hiking in a day. Today it's time to do both. We set out from the Buffalo Tours Office with slightly better bikes than we had in Thailand - much to the relief of us all. We're stocked up with water and a few clip on Koalas (I also have my packets of koalas and kangaroos) and we head off through the streets of Luang Prabang.

There are times when I'm back home that I wonder why drivers find it so hard to avoid bikes in bike lanes. Cycling on the roads in this region puts a whole new perspective on it. Aside from being on the opposite side of the road, there are cars, trucks, vans, tuk tuks, motorbikes and scooters flying all over the place plus an army of bikes. There are no traffic lights anywhere and it's a case of picking your path and holding line and everyone seems able to get around each other.

Luang Prabang is a very touristy city for Laos but not the kind of touristy chaos you see in the likes of Bondi Beach. It's much more relaxed with a bit of both traditional and tourist culture blended into one. Each morning from 6-6:30am, the locals line the streets on their mats to offer alms to the Monks as they walk past in a quasi procession. The brightness of the orange in the Monks robes against the semi-darkness and white of the temple behind is a sight to behold. It's a very solemn occassion to observe and yet it is a daily ritual as is setting up stalls to sell their wares to the tourists.

After a short ride we arrve at a crossing of the Mekong River. I will never complain about the cleanliness of Lake Burley Griffin again. Ha ha. The water is a darkish brown with no visability. The task of the boat drivers to guide their vessels on and off the shore line is impressive. As we disembark with our bikes we have a steep hill to get up. We reapply sunscreen and set off.

My bike ride was quite short today (a blessing in disguise). I was quite upset to be told to get in the truck, but I'd thrown the chain before leaving the tour office and once on the road to the boat. It went again at the top of the hill off the boat and 3 more times shortly after. Connie had an amazing stack with gravel damage on her arm, hip and leg down one side. They poured metho on it to cleanse it enough which must have killed but she took it with oodles of grace. Connie joined Jenn and I in the truck and we met up with the group. Connie jumped back on her bike and finished the ride. We had a great lunch in one of the villages and managed to find a chiller box that had power and COLD DRINKS!! The felt like ice going down which was sore but so bubbly good.

Part 2 - Hiking to the Mong Village and our accommodation for the night to follow.