Lan Ten

For the girl’s October break we went to the north of Laos to Luang Namtha. Luang Namtha is located next to the Nam Ha National Forest, one of the biggest and most diverse national protected areas in Laos. We went on a kayaking excursion for 3 days, kayaking during the day and sleeping in villages at night. We went down the Nam Ha river in the National Park. The first night we stayed at a Lanten village. The Lanten are one of many ethnic groups in Northern Laos. They came down from China about 500 years ago and settled in the area. They speak their own language but those who can write do so in Chinese. The closest road to the village we stayed in is a 5 hour walk and then another 5 hour walk to the nearest town. Needless to say there is no electricity, no running water, they rely on the river for water, fish and transportation.

We are so glad we went with the kids. The local children just got a kick out of Miranda and Eliana. In the Lan Ten village they kept teasing Miranda by catching spiders and slowly pulling off their legs and mock throwing them at Miranda who would shriek in fear (and delight). I don’t think they get to see many falang (foreign) children. We spent what felt like hours just checking each other out. They would just walk into the hut we stayed in and hang out and watch us eat, hang out or sleep. All cooking was done inside the hut with an open fire. Our guides Noi and Tsai made incredibly delicious food. All food was eaten with fingers, the Laotian way.

Right next to the Lanten village is a Khmu village. In this village they had the local school (with the flag in front) for all the kids in the “neighborhood”. We had brought some notebooks and pens to give out and this presented the perfect opportunity as the kids were in class. The village leader wanted to meet us. He is the guy with the military vest. He was very fond of the girls and asked if we had pictures of them. It so happens Charlotte did and we gave them to him as a present.

KHMU

The second night we stayed a Khmu village. They are a Laotian indigenous ethnic group with their own language.  It was rice harvest time and everyone was out harvesting the rice. This is real subsistence farming. The village was next to a dirt road although it was not hooked up to the electrical grid. People still used the river for bathing, laundry and cooking water. 

At the end of the kayaking trip both Eliana and Charlotte got sick so we laid low for the next 2 days in the town of Luang Namtha, a ghost town frequented by backpackers heading out on hiking trips and Chinese traders. Luang Namtha is surrounded by villages of the various ethnic groups in the area.  

NAM LIK