Luang Namtha, located in the northwest corner of Laos and sitting upon the Tha River, is home to Luang NamTha NPA - National Protected Area.
I joined eight other travelers and with a backpack on our backs, we set off into the mountains on a two-day trek. After several days of rainfall, our first day of trekking was muddy! We stopped for lunch, all kneeling to the ground, and enjoyed sticky rice and vegetables served on a massive banana leaf. We continued our journey, slipping and sliding our way up the trail. With mud caked onto our shoes and clothes, we reached the village of the Lahu people by late afternoon. The people were shy and greeted us with curious stares, perching on the wooden benches in our bungalow and staring at us with interest. Some smiled and one young woman caught hold of a magazine, sharing it with her friends and laughing at the strange pictures and images. We played games with the children, laughing and giggling along with them.
The village was primitive, a handful of wooden huts sat atop the hill. Pigs grunt and roam the village, the baby pigs fighting for food and letting out squeals. Roosters and chickens squabble and peck at food and brush on the hilltop floor. Children play games, throwing stones at a larger rock, as other children stand by and cheer. Mothers and grandmothers sling children over their backs in brightly covered fabric.
The next day of hiking was also difficult, trekking through jungles and forests, swinging between bamboo shoots, climbing around rice paddies, shimmying across logs to cross small streams and finally arriving back home.
Luang Namtha is a quiet city, with several markets and restaurants. I joined a new friend and we explored the surrounds by motorbike. We hiked around a nearby waterfall, jumping from one rock to the next and dipping our toes into the cool water. We then sped through the mountain roads, later stopping for a snack and to explore a small roadside village. I enjoyed my time in this city, but was quite ready to leave behind the quiet mountain village for more adventure!
