Motorcycle Tales (Part I)

Two hours into the trip, straddling our rented 250 Honda Baja, we began asking ourselves if this really was worth it. Our butts and back hurt and legs were cramped. Dirt bikes were not made for touring! Then we reached the mountains, completely forgot our sorrows and realized why we wanted to do this trip. Stunning limestone cliffs graced by clouds and dotted with caves, strange almost monument-like rocky outcrops, mountains wrapped in jungles and 15 foot “broom” grass, rice terraces in the lowlands, and the sun’s rays streaming through scattered clouds, decorated our route. Road 13 snakes its way along the mountain sides which perfectly suits motorbikes. For buses, cars and trucks it can be treacherous both in safety and to the stomach. The entirety of the mountain journey we found ourselves thrilled to experience the beauty from the saddle of a bike!

Starting Stance

Mountain Road to Luang Prabang

 This Christmas Kaarina and I traveled to Luang Prabang, a historic northern Lao city. When Lao was a kingdom this city was the capital of Lao. The royal palace, now a museum, is surprisingly well preserved. One room (Kaarina’s favorite) has its walls adorned with murals depicting Lao village life. The throne room is also stunning as it is adorned with murals of elephants, wars, villages, people and animals made solely out of different colored mirrors!

National Museum and Wat

 A strong French influence remains in Luang Prabang as stucco-ed villas and French-Lao food create an atmosphere that is strangely European. The night market reminds you that you really are still in Lao. An entire street is closed nightly when merchants set up tents and spread out their wares for sale. What makes this market uniquely Lao is that it is probably the quietest and most low-key shopping experience, second only to the silent auction.

A Side Street of the Luang Prabang Night Market

Many fair trade shops sporting elegant fabrics in the form of clothing, wall hangings…you name it, can be found throughout Luang Prabang. Most of the textiles will remain in our dreams as many things came with heavy price tags. However, Kaarina did buy the most beautiful sihn in the world at one such shop, Gobnoi (Small Frog).

Another enterprise that both of my grandmothers would get a kick out of is Big Brother Mouse. This organization has translated and written many books in Lao for kids. We have also used their books to help our Lao learning. They employ local young artists and writers, usually collage age. The books are either sold or if they receive enough donations are distributed in various rural villages and schools where children don’t have books. Some books even reach their village on elephant back!

At the National Museum

 As some of you might expect, the city bustle wasn’t the only attraction for us. Luang Prabang is renowned for its picturesque waterfalls! We spent a perfect afternoon exploring jungle trails, reading by serene waterfalls and playing Tarzan, swinging off trees to splash into blue-green pools. The pictures tell more.

Tat Kuang Si Waterfall

Posted by Jeffrey