{"id":1375,"date":"2018-07-27T08:45:56","date_gmt":"2018-07-27T06:45:56","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.cyclefoodfun.com\/?p=1375"},"modified":"2018-07-26T11:35:20","modified_gmt":"2018-07-26T09:35:20","slug":"adventures-on-the-road-to-vang-vieng","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cyclefoodfun.co.za\/?p=1375","title":{"rendered":"Adventures on the road to Vang Vieng"},"content":{"rendered":"

The thought of road from Luang Prabang to Vang Vieng made me very nervous.\u00a0 Everything I read and everyone I spoke to said that only the brave will tackle this on a fully loaded bicycle.\u00a0 Cyclists who had completed it commented only on 2 things – the steep mountain passes and the magnificent vistas.\u00a0 I agonised over whether to cycle or whether to put Bobbie on a bus and be driven over the mountains.\u00a0 At one point I was losing sleep over this issue.\u00a0 I really wanted to attempt the ride and I definitely did not want to have to confess here that I had chickened out and caught the bus.\u00a0 However, I did not want to start and not be able to finish. I started telling people that I would catch the bus and everyone agreed it would be a good idea except for a couple of cyclists I met on my way into Luang Prabang.\u00a0 They\u00a0encouraged me to give it a go. Their advice,\u00a0 “Just take it slowly, you have time and it is do-able” convinced me to at least try.<\/p>\n

So, with my heart in my mouth, I packed up in the rain and slowly rode out of Luang Prabang on the old road.\u00a0 I had planned to ride the 76 kms to Kiu Kacham on the first day but I did not understand how slow I would be.\u00a0 I left after breakfast, just as the rain started to ease.\u00a0 The first 15 kms were relatively easy and I gained confidence but then the mountain pass began…………….it was very slow going with lots of stops “to admire the view”\u00a0 :o)<\/p>\n

Around lunch time I stopped at a roadside stall to buy a drink.\u00a0 There was a group of people there who where setting up a picnic.\u00a0 It turns out that they were on their way home after a family wedding.\u00a0 They generously invited me to lunch with them.\u00a0 The food was really good.\u00a0 Fish and fish roe, green leafy vegetables, pickled bamboo, sticky rice with dips, dried meat and bananas.\u00a0 I’m glad that I had done the cooking course in Luang Prabang because I learned to eat sticky rice properly so I did not disgrace myself while sharing their meal.\u00a0 Again – the kindness of strangers<\/p>\n

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Lunch with the wedding party<\/p><\/div>\n

After 35 kms I mistakenly thought I was at the top of a mountain so I stopped at a view point to rest.\u00a0 There are three platforms that have been constructed by a family who live nearby and who run a small shop at their home.\u00a0 The idea is that you buy something to drink and snack on while you use their platforms to admire the view.\u00a0 I lay down on one of the platforms panting from exertion thinking I was doing well as I was about half way.\u00a0 The family came over for a chat, organised a pillow for me and said I was welcome to have a nap which I duly did.\u00a0 When I awoke there was a plate of bananas and some herb tea next to me and the family all sitting round waiting to chat. I was told to eat and drink because I was going to need my strength.\u00a0 When I said my destination was Kiu Kacham, the mother promptly invited me to stay the night.\u00a0 The family was adamant that I’d not make it there by nightfall. They made me supper and rolled out a mattress and a blanket for me (it’s high in the mountains and gets cold at night).\u00a0 What an incredibly generous and open-hearted family.\u00a0 For the second time in one day I had been blessed by the kindness of strangers and both of these tales have been recorded on that page in this blog.<\/p>\n

\"The <\/a>
The amazingly generous and kind Ouanvileuth family. From left to right, daughter Si, mother Jeu, daughter Serm and father Tsathon <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"The <\/a>
The family home <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"Serm <\/a>
Serm gazing at the view <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"So <\/a>
So beautiful <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>\n

After breakfast I took my leave amidst fond farewells and entreaties to come back and sit with the family again.\u00a0 It was then that I discovered that the mountain top was still 5 long slow kms away and the ride to Kiu Kacham began.\u00a0 The mountain passes were long and steep (15 and 26 kms) but so was a delightful downhill (15kms).\u00a0 It took me 7 hours\u00a0to reach Kiu Kacham that day. (Thank you family for insisting that I stay overnight!!)<\/span><\/p>\n\n\t\t