Laos Hilltribes
| When we finally arrived in Muang Sing the first thing we were offered was opium. Yes, we were in the infamous Golden Triangle and it showed. We just stuck to the tea and papaya the friendly couple from the guesthouse gave us. When you travel long and hard sometimes you haven't got a clue where you really are. |
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This place was as far from western civilisation as I've ever been and I was wondering what Muang Sing would bring us. We watched the sunset from the roof of the guesthouse and somehow knew that this place was special. We rented bicycles from Mouse Mr. Ping and rode to the Chinese border, only 6 miles from Muang Sing. This was easier said than done, the road was very bad, the state of the bikes even worse. There is nothing to see at the border, but because you lose 3 litres of sweat to get there, you have the feeling that you have accomplished something very special. The guard understood a few words German and he let us past the barrier for a few metres.
A few hundred metres of the "main" road lies the Adima guesthouse. This place is the starting point for treks into the hills.
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This sort of eco-tourism left me with an uneasy feeling. Of course, everybody welcomes you when you enter the village. And all the children run up to you. But in this village (Nam Ded Kauw) the begging was incessant. |
| It seems like tourism has made monkeys out of the kids. They demand money for pictures and ask for pens and coins. |
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| I waited for the kids to calm down on the outskirts of the village. That is where I took these pictures.
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Sure, these scenes make great photo opportunities. But still... tourists don't belong here and I was relieved to leave this place and just walk on. |
