April 9, 2016
Luang Prabang - more tourist stuff and housekeeping
Another lazy day in Luang Prabang.
It seems like celebrations for Pii Mai (Songkran or the SE Asian New Year) have started early. By midday yesterday the kids in the street were squirting or throwing water at passers by and today has been no different. No complaints from me - it's 40 degrees out there!
We visited the stupa on Pu Si hill overlooking Luang Prabang (not worth the 20,000 Kip entry) followed by a trip to the national museum (good value at 30,000 Kip).
We have not been able to find a gas cylinder for our tiny Kovea stove and have missed out on those early morning cups of tea (for Leigh) and coffee (for me). So today I made a simple alcohol stove out of a Beer Lao can. I don't know why I took a month to do this. We could have been enjoying hot early morning beverages for the whole trip. The plan I used was the YAC design from here:
http://www.bikepacking.com/gear/hop-can-stoves-how-to-make-5-ultralight-bikepacking-stoves
I've actually made two (well, I had two empty beer cans).
At about 7pm the storm that had been forecast arrived with thunder and lightening and a short sharp shower lasting about 30 minutes. Five days before the official start of Pii Mai. It felt like being back in Africa. Those long hard hot oppressive days before the first summer storm that marks the end of the hot dry season which, when it arrives, produces a feeling on contentment that can't be explained. I went out into the street and simply enjoyed it.
Today's ride: 10 km (6 miles)
Total: 1,169 km (726 miles)
| Rate this entry's writing | Heart | 0 |
| Comment on this entry | Comment | 0 |