Left the Hotel after managing to buy some of their butter stock. We had not been able to buy any since leaving Russia. We probably could have bought some handmade butter from Mongolia, but the ones we tried had an unfamiliar flavour. We took a couple of wrong turns on the way out of the town as we had no detailed map. It was Marjool’s turn to ask the way.
We had decided to give away our Russian duvet as it was now far too warm to use. This was a relief as it took up so much room. We looked for someone who may want it as a sleeping mat and found a lady with three boys. She was really pleased (and surprised!).
The little boy was training early and had a sharp little machete to eat his fruit with.
Further along the road we stopped to watch some boys fishing. It must be their way of relaxing on a Sunday.
The traditional villages are very pretty and are dotted along the road every few kms. They have roofs made with natural materials and remind us of our days backpacking in Thailand 20 plus years ago.
All along the road there are springs that are guided in bamboo to provide places to fill carriers with water, wash clothes and shower.
Lots of the houses have their own pig, or in this case a whole family. The piglets are sweet and are running around everywhere. Lots of children, piglets and chicks here. Must be something in that spring water!
One of the villages had a pool club.
The larger villages looked slightly different, in the same way as people ‘upgrade’ to plastic windows at home, people here want metal roofs. Not as nice to look at but probably very practical.
Again as we drive we have to keep stopping to take pictures, it is so good to have that opportunity. The backpackers and other tourists on the local buses just shoot through. It must be really frustrating!
We love the tiny petrol stations … not really geared up to sell us 180 ltrs!
As we got to Muang Ngoy the view up the river was stunning.
That evening we carried on through the village to Patok caves and camped by the river.
A group of rice pickers had been working in the field all day and still had to carry the rice across the fields and up the hill to load on a lorry. I helped with one sack, and in the heat, slippery mud and dark, that was enough! They earn their wages.
troopytracks 