Hello Laos

Our first stop in Laos was in Muang Khua, and - because we know that roads in the north are treacherous - we traveled south to Nong Khiaw and Luang Prabang by water. These cities are connected by the Nam Ou river and the ride in a home-made canoe-type vehicle was absolutely spectacular. We are buying a boat in Manhattan as soon as we get back. Is anybody selling one by any chance?

Muang Khua and Nong Khiaw are both quiet, tiny towns, with a very laid-back atmosphere, limited tourism, spectacular landscape, and great food. Obviously, we enjoyed all of that. We also did some very hardcore partying, to the extent that it was possible...

Look, we're on a boat

Foot picture. Classic

Nam Ou river views

Nong Khiaw

This is the most formal map that we found of the area

There was not even phone service in the area

Views on Nong Khiaw from the second highest peak

PARTYING PICTURES:

 

View from our hotel

That's the life

Jeremy peeking out the window from our Muang Khua bungalow

Nong Khiaw by day

Nong Khiaw by night

Biking to nearby caves, which were used for shelter during the Vietnam war (which, we now know, spilled over into Laos, making Laos the world's most bombed country, per capita.  Fun fact: more bombs were dropped on Laos during the Vietnam War than were dropped by both sides in WWII.)

Crossing the river to go to the caves (FYI: turns out the entrance to said caves was locked)

Our Nong Khiaw bungalow