We are back on the bikes. Old, out of shape, but ready to go. We did about 48 miles today on a fairly challenging road. The entire ride was on the same road so there was no need for trip notes or the possibility of getting lost. There were some long, difficult climbs. I was the only one that rode the bike the whole way. At some points the others took a ride in the van. At the end of the day I had spaghetti legs.
We are staying in a very remote area. Our rooms are cabanas and the electrical an plumbing leave a lot to be desired. It so happens that there are hot springs in the area so we were able to take a warm bath in a pond nearby. There is no internet access but there is a new cell tower across the road.
The scenery is absolutely gorgeous. I don’t think I have ever seen mountains this dramatic that just rise out of the ground.
Can you believe these mountains?
The air is somewhat hazy. Apparently this is due to the lack of rain and the fact that farmers are burning fields getting ready for the next crop. We were told that March is a terrible time to travel in Laos because of all the burning.
The area we travelled through appear to be very poor. It seems to be, for the most part, subsistence living. Yet, it is not uncommon to see a bamboo shack on stilts with a satellite TV antenna. Wherever you go in the world, TV seems to be a top priority. Apparently you can get a TV for about $50 US and can get a satellite dish for about $40 US. The signal comes out of Thailand and is not scrambled so there is no monthly fee.
Biking through the rural villages, the children shout to us and wave. The Laotian children are particularly beautiful. I think it is the naturally round face that suits a young child well.
The road was in fairly good shape. The traffic is light except for the many construction trucks and a good number of busses. The Chinese and the Japanese are investing in Laos. A lot of construction is going on. Laos is highly dependent of foreign aid but the Chinese and Japanese seem to see an opportunity here.
As I said, we are in a very remote rural area. Tonight I was able to go out and see a million stars. That is a precious thing for us city people.