Day 17: Fri 07 Nov – Kiew Ka to Luang Prabang

Day 11: Kiew Ka Cham to Luang Prabang (78km) After breakfast. We begin our cycling heading to Luang Prabang. We pass through lush forest and many small H’Mong villages that sit dwarfed by the amazing landscape of limestone mountains that surround them. Enjoy lunch with some snack, local fruits, and drinks. Then we have a 20 minutes power nap before continue cycling to Luang Prabang.  After lunch we are faced with what is without doubt the most difficult part of cycling but also one of the most rewarding with two huge uphill climbs. Dinner and overnight in Luang Prabang. (B,L,D)

Cycle Tour Day 11, 40km, average 23km/h. 

Both the bed and pillow were like boards, but I slept well nevertheless. The pitter patter of rain on the roof all night was an indicator that we would not be riding first up in the morning. The first 20km was a steep downhill and it would have been far too dangerous with the ever present rain, thin layer of dirt/mud on the road and trucks, buses, stray cows/dogs/goats etc. 

So after fried eggs and toast we hopped on the bus. As we descended the weather improved to the extent that we offloaded some bikes and most of us rode the rest of the way. The first 20km here too was a very fast downhill, what fun, real glad I rode. 

As we rode closer to Luang Prabang it got busier on the road but we all made it in one piece. They took us to lunch at a local restaurant overlooking the busy ferry crossing on the Mekong River. We just sat down and the sky opened up and it pelted down for a good half hour; great timing! It was then onto the motel, The Dream Resort, a very nice little place, good pool, lovely rooms and leafy, about 10 minutes out of town. We enjoyed a swim in a brilliantly clean pool and then a lounge around. The rain continued on and off so we were glad that the cycling had finished for the day. 

The afternoon was filled in with domestic chores, snoozing and a wander around the suburbs of this busy place.

They took us to dinner at a very nice restaurant near the city night markets. What a tourist Mecca, I have never seen so many different nationalities in on place since visiting the Opera House. The night markets seem the big attraction, but I do hope there's more to the place than just that. We'll see.

Walked home and early to bed, again.

Dog and monkey at play at rest stop

Complete contrast to last night - our room at Luang Prabang

Nice pool too

Temple near the night markets

Luang Prabang Night Markets