Norte de Laos - Northern Laos

Llegamos a Nong Khiaw un par de dias despues del Akha Trail. Un pueblecito, rodeado de acantilados espectaculares, donde entramos en contacto con la autentica vida de Laos. El pueblo consistia en casitas de bambu con techos de paja, construidas a los lados de una de las carreteras principales del norte del pais (Si! ese camino de tierra que se ve en las fotos es una de las carreteras principales...). Laos es mucho menos desarrollado que Tailandia y el estilo de vida de los Lao es mas tranquilo. La gente es sencilla, agradable y amistosa, y en algunos lugares estan encantados de conocer a algunos Falang (Guiris) y practicar su ingles o frances... (Rasgos de haber sido parte de la Indochina Francesa)

Pasamos unos dias tranquilos... Siri descubrio los alrededores... yo tarde hasta el tercer dia, despues de recuperame de mi primer percance intestinal, a conseguir alejarme del bano de nuestro bungalow y dar una vuelta en bicicleta.

((Las ultimas 3 fotos son de Luang Prabang, una ciudad supuestamente espectacular, pero que no nos acabo de hacer el peso (vaya catalanada, no?))

CULTURA GENERAL: SABIAIS QUE LAOS ES EL PAIS (PROPORCIONALMENTE) MAS BOMBARDEADO DEL MUNDO... QUE FUERZAS LIDERADAS POR LOS EEUU TIRARON APROXIMADAMENT 2TONELADAS DE BOMBAS POR HABITANTE DURANTE LA GUERRA DE VIETNAM!!)

We got to Nong Khiaw a couple of days after the Akha Trail. A little town, surrounded by amazing limestone cliffs, where we had the first contact with the real Lao life. The twon consisted in bambu huts, constructed next to one of the main northern laos roads (Yes! the dirt road you can see in the pics is one of the main roads... ). Laos is much more undeveloped than Thailand and Lao people lifstyle is much quieter. (they even got carefews so youngsters don't go to wild!)
People are simple, kind and friendly, and even in some places they are delighted to hang out with some Falang (Greengos) and practice their English or French... (hereritage of having been part of the french Indochina)

We spent some chilled out days there... Siri discovered the surroundings... and it took me 3 days to recover from my first intestinal mishap... and be able to get away from our bungalows lovely toilet and make a little bike tour.

((The last 4 pics are from Luang Prabang, an supposedly amaizing, but that didn't quite sunk it...))

QUICK FACT: DID YOU KNOW THAT LAOS IS (PROPORTIONALLY) THE MOST HEAVLY BOMBED COUNTRY ON EARTH... THAT US LEAD FORCES DROP ABOUT 2TONS OF BOMBS PER HABITANT DURING THE VIETNAM WAR!!)