181206-010107 north lao pdr

final route:



blue = planned route
green = detour via Pak Nam Noi, Udomxai & Pak Mong

special khop3 jai1 der4 to:

• 'been there befores': luthien, kairin & orange's pierre, for tips & advice
  
• contact persons aka. 'base camp support': supergarf, fuchsiahalcyon & orange
  
• ang moh guy on Chiangmai-Chiangrai bus, for jaga-ing cat barang
  
• Chiangrai bus station guy who helped the cat reach Chiang Khong before dark
  
• Sichuan guy & Kunming guy on the Huay Xai-Luang Namtha bus
  
• Saitama guy & Kyoto guy on Luang Namtha-Muang Sing songthaew
  
• Sendai guy & Belgian guy on Muang Sing Guesthouse rooftop, & Wat Sing Jai monks & novices for our evening entertainment under the stars
  
• Muang Sing bus station lady who helped the cat reach Udomxai before dark
  
• lady on Luang Namtha-Udomxai bus, for endless offers of food
  
• Udomxai Tourist Info office guy for directions
  
• monks, novices & their friends at Phou That, Udomxai
  
• mute girl from Phongsaly, for wonderful dinner 'conversation'
  
• Udomxai-Phongsaly bus driver & wife
  
• SKST of Phongsaly Provincial Tourism Office, for info on Phongsaly Akha
  
• French-Thai couple in Phongsaly, for advice on notorious Pak Beng
  
• Luang Prabang lady bank employee & guys from unnamed Nam Ou village on Hat Sa-Muang Khua boat
  
• Nam Ou boatman who sold fuel to our drifting fuel-less boat
  
• Nam Ou boatmen at Muang Khua, for frank advice on getting to Nong Khiaw
  
• PSBM from Ban Buammo village, for help in Pak Mong
  
• Boten grandpa on his way to Sam Neua, for help in Pak Mong
  
• Pak Mong-Nong Khiaw songthaew driver & wife, & other Pak Mong locals
  
• Church Chanthavong & staff of Sunset Guesthouse, Ban Sop Houn
  
• monk & novice of Wat Sop Houn
  
• Khamsouk of Nong Khiaw Tourist Info Centre
  
• Belgian guy in Nong Khiaw & Luang Prabang
  
• Mrs Vandara Amphayphone & her high school friend & Udon of Vanvisa Guesthouse, Luang Prabang
  
• monks & novices of WHS & their NX village friend
  
• 6.30PM slot English class of school near Souansavan Guesthouse, Luang Prabang
  
• Souphanouvong University students, Houa Panh guy, & Phongsaly guy & monk at Lovanh College, Luang Prabang
  
• Done & GK of Big Brother Mouse, Luang Prabang, the latter for your attempt (in vain) to teach me the 7 tones of Hmong language
  
• ang moh Manivanh College teacher & monk & brother from Hong Sa, Sainyabuli
  
• Paul from NZ on Luang Prabang-Pak Beng boat
  
• Stefan, Steffen, Richard, Carl & others on Pak Beng-Huay Xai boat
  
• many more wonderful Lao people for their kindness, Lao language lessons, laughter, generosity in sharing what little they have, & attempts to stuff the cat to death with food
  
• the monumental one for loan of xD cards & Olympus Li-10B & Li-12B batteries
  
• those who believed in the cat & didn't try to stop it from doing strange things & living life
  

never has the cat felt so overwhelmingly blessed on a trip before =)