Bentonhimalaya - Roof of the World: Day 43 Mon 09\08 - Houay Say to a Village Homestay in Ban Namthong

Today Distance : 53.5 km Total : 2581.4 km
Today Weather : 26 - 43C Morning rian but hot in afternoon
Time on Bike : 4 hr 01 min

Ave Speed : 13.3 kmh         Max : 68.5 kmh
Ave Climb : 5%                   Max : 12%
Trip Altitude : 765 m            Max : 808 m
Today Spend : 57000k        Total : 172000k

The first taste of Laos hospitality is a surprise homestay in a village of Ban Namthong. I was really exhausted and running out of steam,having tasted the true colour of Lao mountains. Although my start was delay to 9.30am due to morning rain in Houay Say but turns extremely hot in the afternoon,with temperature a record high of 43C. There is a vast difference cycling in Laos compared to Thailand. You got a lot of attention here when riding passed a village,shouts of "Sabaidii" comes from every corners,children ran out from their attap bamboo houses,waving their hands to have a glimpse of a "falang" riding a funny bike. I had to slow down at times in respond. The Route 3 is considered a main highway,but found many portions of the road were damage and scrapped off, while waiting to re-paste with new tar. Nobody know when till the next sponsorship comes in. Unlike Thailand, there is little crops planting, the villagers are poor and barely living on very basic without much support from the Government.At the village of Ban Namthong groceries stall, I had to distribute 25000k of sweats and biscuits to over 20 kids who surrounded me while I enjoy my drinks. One of the man named Santhon,in his 30's speaks very little English, invited me to his house nearby. He is a doctor but his house is not much a different from the rest. He take cares of the health of about 150-200 villagers. There is no pipe water supply but stream water from the mountain. There is a generator to generate electricity,but no one is paying the petrol to run it. Had the chance to experience a real Lao traditional dinner with the whole family members: Santhon,his wife, baby and father. A dinner if you can called that ; no chicken or pork but eel soup ; no choy sam or kai lan but leaves and sooths from the jungle,unknown to me. But I am not complaining and eat more than them. In return I brought my MSR stove out to boil hot water and makes hot 3 in 1 nescafe for them. No light, no tv, no music, the whole village in total darkness and quietness, mind you it's only 7.30pm !! My earliest sleep so far...