Across Lao
2 Feb 2014 | Luang Namtha, Lao DPR
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No direct boat to China for me finally, I'll go to Lao. I make my way to Chiang Khong and someone tells me that there is now a bridge to cross the Mekong that opened last month, no more boats. Once there I'm taken by a Philippino man who offers me to sleep in the hotel he is building in Huay Xai.
The following day I feel like walking a bit, China is some 200km away, I can see what happens... So here I go, I still get a few rides people spontaneously offer me but enjoy walking in that savage countryside. The road is brand new with almost no traffic, except those groups of Chinese cars coming by ten, twenty or sometime more than fifty, all going to Thailand enjoying the Spring festival (Chinese new year) holidays.
But after having walked some 30km, it is afternoon, the sun is high and temperatures are around 40°C, I'm of course running out of water and next village is likely quite a while away. So when a truck driver passing me makes sign for me to jump in, I don't hesitate much! He is going to the Chinese border but I ask him to leave me before, at Luang Namtha, as I didn't decide yet whether I'll stay a bit in Lao or go directly to China. I'm starving also, I had forgotten to eat that day, so I gladly accept the boiled egg he hands me, but turns out to be the kind with the embryo in, it's alright but I wouldn't recommend it on an empty stomach :D
Luang Namtha turns out to be quite relaxing place, it's a small town at the crossroad in between China, Thailand and the rest of Lao as the only road to the main towns of Luang Prabang and Vientiane is here also. So there are all sorts of cultures mixed up, travelers also which are already a better kind than the standard tourists in Thailand. I'll stay one more day there to enjoy the atmosphere and decide what to do next...