Muang Ngoy

After Muang Ngoy, you can only get there by boat. We checked in and set off for a hike to a waterfall (which is actually back towards Nong Khiaw), walked past it, turned around, found it with some difficulty, and then decided to end our hike at a nice spot where we could swim. We would have had to walk further, but it was getting late and dark soon. We walked back in the dark, which made the cow herds a bit more eerie, and I was glad not to be alone at that moment. During the hike, we felt like we were really in the middle of nowhere and passed through small villages. I believe life out there is quite tough, and tourism is not always a blessing. I enjoyed the hike a lot, and we could see the stars well again in the dark.

Later, we walked briefly along one of the streets of Muang Ngoy and had something to eat. The wild cats can be quite persistent when they are hungry, but they are adorable.

The next morning, we wanted to do a sunrise hike, but the viewpoint was locked, it was foggy, and we just sat by the river. Unfortunately, I lost the key somewhere, but I’m quite proud of myself for not being too hard on myself and accepting that this can happen, and I was grateful that problems can be solved and that I have the means to do so. I am also glad that the whole trip with Logan was so pleasant, and we get along well. In the end, we had a long journey ahead of us, with the boat back to Ning Khiaw, the minibus to Luang Prabang, and the train to Vang Vieng.

On the way, we reconnected with Mark and Matt and were happy to be together again. We all laugh a lot together, and I am very thankful for that.