It turned that we needed a stop over en route to the Gibbons and Luang Namtha in the hills near the Chinese Border and home to many surrounding Hill Tribe villages was perfect.
Even better, was that hotel was opposite the amazing night market where all manner of food options could be discovered.
As Andrew was a tad unwell I shouldered the responsibility to talk to the stall holders and ask about and sample as many of their offerings as possible. I gave the gave the bugs and wild life a miss…as far as I knew.
We booked a private tuk tuk and guide to take us on a day tour the following day taking in as many of the sights as possible in a day.
First stop was the morning market which was as fabulous as the previous night market in terms of fresh produce and lively activity
(See previous post).
Our guide bought us mini pancakes and take away lunch in plastic bags with pre-cooked sticky rice (of course) to accompany it. (Kappow)
The museum of Hill Tribes was next on the itinerary and was a great introduction to the diverse groups, living totally quite separately in the area, with distinct cultures, languages and traditions. It was a great introduction and we learned a lot about each of the different groups and what handicrafts they specialised in.
Some dying, some weaving, some basketry.
All the traditional clothing was quite distinct for each but I did recognise one group that I had seen before in the Thai hills.
Our excursion was to include the Lanten and Akha villages so we headed out of town to a beautiful waterfall, a trickle in the dry season, that bordered the Lanten village, a tribe who specialising in their indigo dyed cotton fabric.
Natural ingredients for the indigo dye
The cotton threads drying before dyeing.
They villager women and children were keen to sell us souvenirs which we they were happy to barter for a photo opportunity.
Of course we obliged.
Here we watched the family weaving and threading the bobbins and a loom.
Such intricate and tine consuming work.
An old lady, probably my age, 🤣 was keen to sell us some of her hand made goodies and was also happy for us to take her photo.
What an amazing face.
No need for the women to worry about what to wear each day, as all wore the same indigo dyed clothing and the exact same hair styles and matching earrings and silver hair pieces.
Sadly they had no earrings to sell but were able to direct us where to go in the market to find them. 👏
En route to the next village our guide stopped to negotiate the purchase of a cow, (as you do) while Andrew helped unravel the tangled tether that the owner had used to tie her cow while yhe negotiations ensued.
The guide was not able to conclude this complicated transaction due to his tourist responsibilities so he promised to return later to continue the negotiations.
Meanwhile in the stream below the bridge, we watched a couple of friendly, waving kids try their luck at netting some fish and frogs.
We then visited the nearby Akha village that had been moved by the government from their previous domicile in the hills, closer to the city and as an enticement had been provided with brick houses and a school.
They still however, regularly return to tend to their crops in the hills. These folk are animists and have a gate at both the entrances to their village which protects them from evil spirits.
Hills gate
This gate is re-built every year and requires the sacrifice of an animal to seal the deal. Don’t touch the gate or it will bring bad luck to the village and a new gate and sacrifice will be required.
Town gate
We visited their school to give them the books and pencils we had bought, an activity which elicited much excitement and enthusiasm from both the children and teachers.
In Asia, small children seemingly wander unattended on the footpaths and roads, so in order to protect this little one from our reversing vehicle Andrew stood nearby, and a little hand reached up to grab his shorts. 😳
Today civilisation and the accompanying roads have reached out to touch it so we were able to avoid the walk, and drive….to enjoy our delicious packed lunch, the rice paddies and quiet! Ahhh!
Peaceful rice paddies awaiting the rain.
On the return we detoured to look over the town from the golden Stupa on the hill which was of course lovely, tucked amongst the newest Laotian takeover crop, a rubber plantation.
The mandatory Stupa visit.
We spotted this ingenuous use of bicycle rims.
It’s lottery night and the streets are again full of patient teenagers waiting to sell you a tri-weekly chance to change your life with a 400 million kip prize if you’re the lucky winner.
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