For two weeks we are now in Laos . We
are very happy that there is so less traffic, a beautiful landscape
with green forest and a relaxed way to cycle. Along the road there
are many small villages, the cottages made of bamboo. Some women
produce awsome colourful clothes with an old weaving loom. People are
rather poor, but they are very friendly. In the morning and in the
evening fishermen try to catch fish on narrow bamboo boats, with
cast nets or smaller harpoons. The villages are sometimes so small
that is very difficult to organize food. Only cookies and some soft
drinks, this is what we most of the time have for lunch. We cycled
from the border first to Urumxai, then North-East to Muang Khua. From
there we took three times a boat (with our bikes and our luggage),
because Astrid had big problems with the insane heat between 12 and 3
pm and the humidity and she had to relax herself. In a few weeks
rainy season will start so it will become cooler.
Since May 24th we are now in
Luang Prabang (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luang_Prabang), the former capital of the „Kingdom of the million
elefants“.
It is a very beautiful city, in high
season too many tourists, but we are now in low season. Many
backpackers, especially from France, are here, too. The houses are
very marvellous, the majority in Colonial style. You see no rubbish
on the street, bad sidewalks or unfinished buildings (as for example
in Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan, where we spend more than four
months). It is not only the lack of money, it is the mentality and the
motivation, in which enviroment you want to live.
Laos is still a very poor country and
here are many aid organisations, i.e. GIZ, USAID, World Vision, Red
Cross. China has a big influence and invests a lot, especially in
road construction and power stations.
Laos people are hardworking but not as
the Chinese. Live and let live is the attitude of Laos people.
