This was a four-day whitewater rafting/kayaking trip down the Nam Ha River in Laos…each day, we stayed in a different hilltribe village. The cast of characters was varied and quite hilarious…there were eight of us on the trip, and seven even made it to Thailand. 
(The eighth left us after the second day.)
Credits: About half the photos on this page were taken by Michelle, one of my fellow rafters. In particular, all the good shots of people were taken by Michelle.
Click here for Hilltribe Visits, Part 2
Click here for Hilltribe Visits, Part 3
Remember the body painting for Farang! magazine? Remember my saying "Well, at least it won't get to Laos before I'm gone, and even if it does, no one's going to recognize me?"
Famous last words...
This photo is with me and the guesthouse proprietor (who indeed recognized me). A later traveler told me she's been showing the magazine to everyone passing through the guesthouse: "She stayed here!"
Between that and the motorcycle incident, I'd better get plastic surgery if I ever plan to visit Luang Namtha again...
We went off in a raft and two kayaks...
...through misty mountains and trees...
...with close encounters of the water buffalo kind...
...and gorgeous sunsets...
Left, one of my fellow-rafters; right, Noy, our guide.
Michelle, who took all the good people photos on this page.
Here's Noy, our guide.
...off into the unknown.
The first day we stopped at two villages. Here are some photos from the first: Nalan Tai, inhabited by the Khmu hilltribe.
The first thing we saw was a woman skinning live frogs. She very carefully removed the skin without killing the frogs, and put them into a bucket, where they jumped about and looked REALLY unhappy. When we asked why she didn't kill them first, she said they tasted better if skinned and left alive. (I have spared you the photo of the skinless frogs, and of her eviscerating one, pulling out its still-beating heart. Even I was feeling queasy.)
The village was a fairly normal village, so I unfortunately didn't take many photos. (I don't feel like I did justice to this village, honestly. I've been teetering both ways on whether to include the few photos I do have.) ) But, here is a bamboo-worker, putting the finishing touches on a dinner-table. Food is eaten at a low table, dipping into communual dishes.
Sadly, I also saw my first tiger here...the village had shot a tiger cub about a month ago, and hung its skin to dry in the sun. Apparently the hilltribe villagers are allowed to shoot tiger--but no one else is, fortunately.
Poor thing...
We went on again, past several other villages....
....watched by kids along the bank...
...finishing up in Nam Koy Village, inhabited by a Lanten (Mien/Yao) hilltribe. Here is a young mother, in typical costume.
The kids were cute. I mean, really cute.
Mien people are renowned for their embroidery...
...here (behind the shot of me spinning) is a typical village house. It's elevated above the ground on stilts, and looms, pigs, wood, etc. are stored underneath the house.
This device is used to husk rice. Rice is put in the container to the left, then someone (or multiple someones) pushes down on the right side to raise the pounding-stick. When the beam drops, the stick comes pounding down on the rice in the container. It takes about half an hour of pounding to husk enough rice for the day, so a rhythmic thump-thump-thump is the first sign of life for the day.
Click here for Hilltribe Visits, Part 2
Click here for Hilltribe Visits, Part 3
