Day four in Laos was a pretty chillax day, where we spent most of our time at the typical tourist hot spots. Personally, I didn't think it was a particularly rewarding day since I hardly got to experience the culture/lifestyle of Laos as compared to the days before.

Our first stop was to Ock Pop Tok Living Craft Center, where we got to see how some of Lao's silk scarves or embroidered handicrafts were made. This business was started by an English woman and a local, as they produced these textile products for international communities.
I thought it was smart that they utilized what skill sets some of the Lao people had with their handicraft to give them a stable job and wage, because not everyone in Lao had a proper paying occupation aside from the family farms they own or the food they make for their own personal use.

I could keep going on about this topic and my viewpoint on volunteerism around the world (a couple of us were discussing it during the trip) but I shall not start an argumentative essay...











After we left the craft center, we headed for the Kuang Si Butterfly Park and Waterfalls.

The waterfalls could've been quite the scenic view, but it was swarmed with tourists from all over the globe in their swimsuits, doing somersaults and life-threatening stunts I swore I saw a few of them injured lol. I think I would have gone swimming if I had the choice, but with the limited free and easy time given to us, some of us decided to go for the tramp up to the peak of the waterfall instead.

It was a super steep and slippery tramp up, I almost lost my footing a couple of times and it's a pity we did not actually get to complete the whole trail due to time constraints. We had to make our way back to the van to reconcile with everyone else when the sun was about to set.

I wanted so badly to take a photo at the edge of the waterfall!!













That's pretty much it for the day. It was relatively short and I wish there were more activities planned for the night but... I shall not complain. I do hope for more opportunities to cover more treks but I suppose not everyone's into that physically exhausting pursuit HAHA.


I had the intention to update this space at least twice/thrice a week but I've been battling some sort of skin allergy reaction to toxins lately, so I was occupied. It's one of the worst tortures ever, seeing yourself getting scarred from the irritating red patches, and I can't wait for this phase to pass. I just went to the doctor's today to get a jab, and hopefully the swelling will stop soon because my legs are already as ugly as it is now...

On a side note, I'm gonna start work in the coming week! Finally, I've got some things on my plate because I was starting to get bored with the ample amount of time I have on my hands. Which reminds me, I should probably kickstart my road to getting back my beach body before summer comes around... I have been so unhealthy lately.


We spent day five of Laos being farmers for the morning/afternoon!

Check out my other posts on Laos:

▶ Lost in Laos (Part 1) - Luang Prabang
▶ Lost in Laos (Part 2) - Hill Tribe Villages
▶ Lost in Laos (Part 3) - Kuang Si Waterfalls & Butterfly Park
▶ Lost in Laos (Part 4) - Lao Living Farm
▶ Lost in Laos (Part 5) - Xiang Men Village, Nam Khan & Mekong River

My third day in Laos was probably my favourite among all the other days, even though it was the most exhausting. We got up pretty early and made our way to the different tribe villages up in the hills.

It wasn't a very long van ride, but it was so funny cause one of our vans (the van I was in) actually broke down halfway up the hill?? And then for a moment, some of the guys and the guide had to push the van up the slope while the rest of us caught it on video. It was definitely one of the memorable moments of this trip.
Thankfully though, the drivers managed to start up the engine again after pulling a dangerous stunt that could have the whole van sliding off the cliff, so we went on foot for only a short distance.


I think that this is the photoset that I'm most pleased with too. There's just something about capturing people in their living spaces, and how their raw emotions gives you more than just a glimpse of their story.









We went to about six villages to visit their different ethnic groups in Laos. There was the Hath Hient Village, where we came across some of the villagers who were shaping metals and making knives. We also went to Ban Pickngai (home to the Yuan ethnic minority), Ban None Tan and Ban Kok Wan (home to the Khmu), Ban Bo Hae, Ban Tha Qui and Ban Kok Muang (which are also known as the Hmong villages).

I don't actually remember all the names of the villages I've been to because their names were so hard to remember... So thank god for the printed itinerary. But, I do remember a village or two because of the experiences I had during my short time there.
















At the Ban Bo Hae Village, I met these bunch of children who were so excited to be in front of the camera, even though most of the kids I met before were mostly shy. And I thought it was really endearing, the way they would giggle and get so thrilled after I showed them how the pictures of them turned out on screen (which says a lot since I don't really like children because of how annoying they can get... LOL).


I also met this man who was smoking what I believe is their Lao tobacco, through this huge bamboo pipe/tube called a bong. Apparently, most farmers and hill tribe people would smoke with a bong instead of cigarettes or rolling their own paper as it was more economical.

After asking for permission to take a couple of photos of him and his family, me and one of my friends tried to talk to him a little. Sadly, attempting to speak broken Lao was beyond my capabilities, so we settled with random hand gestures and exaggerated expressions.
But he was really nice, and I'm not sure if it's a tradition/custom that Hmong tribes in Laos follow, but he offered me and my friend their steamed sticky rice cake wrapped in banana leaves, freshly made as the snack was still warm when we received them. He was so hospitable during our short time at their village.

It wasn't extravagant, but being offered food made by the villagers in their very homes was quite the true Lao experience.






On the day of our visit, it also happens to be International Women's Day. Honestly, I didn't know of the existence of this day until well, this year. And apparently, it seems quite celebrated in Laos as a couple of businesses took a day off for the occasion, while some households had the women singing and drinking.
I remember some of us were actually offered beer at one of the villages by the women LOL.








It was a long journey, moving from village to village and I was so exhausted by the time we arrived at the fifth one. Initially, I was kind of expecting the tribes to be dressed in some sort of traditional costume... But I guess there's no occasion for them to be donned as such. Or maybe they have moved on with the times too?

After another good dinner at Nisha's (their Indian curry is just sooooo good), most of us then headed to the night market (again). It's a must-go if you're in Luang Prabang.

Check out my other posts on Laos:

▶ Lost in Laos (Part 1) - Luang Prabang
▶ Lost in Laos (Part 2) - Hill Tribe Villages
▶ Lost in Laos (Part 3) - Kuang Si Waterfalls & Butterfly Park
▶ Lost in Laos (Part 4) - Lao Living Farm
▶ Lost in Laos (Part 5) - Xiang Men Village, Nam Khan & Mekong River