We’ve covered a lot of ground since we last posted. After floating down a river in innertubes for two days, we switched gears and hit the road - hard.

From Vang Vieng, we took a 7 hour bus ride back to Luang Prabang where we stayed overnight. The next morning, we got up early and took a very bumpy ride in the back of pick up truck to the gorgeous town of Nong Kiaow. We probably would have hit the road the very next morning if the place wasn’t so damn beautiful.

Instead, we arranged for late check out and we spent that night drinking Beer Lao’s as the sun went down and befriended a Dutch couple, Linda and John.

We spent the next day exploring caves that were used by the Pathet Lao as a hiding place during the time the US was secretly bombing them back to the Stone Age. That evening, we packed up our bags and crossed the bridge to a restaurant where we sat playing cards awaiting the night bus.

We left Nong Kiaow by public bus (not as simple as it sounds). We were given a window between 7pm and midnight for its arrival. There was no real bus stop; you just had to hope that you could flag it down as it flew through the town. The bus ended up arriving at around 11pm. The ensuing bus ride was “unforgettable” and one of our most trying experiences to date. 

(This was the view from our riverside bungalow.)

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