Today we set off on a propeller boat to a village called Muang Ngoi. Here people lived authentically compared to the other towns we had been to. There were ducks and their babies running around, puppies, and kitties, chickens and roosters clucking. Houses were primitive made of wood and bamboo with roofs of woven leaves.

We hiked to a viewpoint and took in the view. It was steep with ladders to reach the top. On the way down we stopped at a cave. During the Secret War, a war going on at the same time as the Vietnam war (an anti communist war from the west but not big like Vietnam), forced locals and the Vietcong into caves. The Us relentlessly bombed Laos to improve its chances in Vietnam. For over 5 years, Laos was bombed every 8 minutes. 1/3 of the bombs are yet to go off. Laos is the most bombed country in the world ever. We went in and found old medicine vials, shrapnel, tins of eaten food. The cave was vast and high. Not claustrophobic at all.

During our hiking the guide introduced us to various herbs and leaves of use. Tarp for overcoming malaria, leaves used as a dye that bled red when rubbed, and citrus leaves that helped with diarrhea.

Next we went to a waterfall. We hiked up and were rewarded with a swim. The water was cold but welcome. I dropped my sock into the water. Not good. Wet sock.

Finally we kayaked around 5km to get back to Nong Khiaw and rewarded ourselves with an Indian for dinner of garlic naan, tika masala, rogan josh, and coke. After eating we went to a bar for pool and sticky rice. We met a lady from Singapore who also agreed that satay number 8 on satay street was the best.

We are having a rest and relaxation day tomorrow. Starting with a long lie in.

-M