Islands traveled: DON KHONG, DON SOM, DON DET, DON KHON
Last days in Laos. And it’s the very first time that the whole day’s path (of two days, to be precise) is all on dirt. Alternate stretches of gravel road, beaten land, hills of sand to be overcome by pushing the bicycles by hand. We ride in small and narrow country lanes, sometimes flanked by lush green rice fields, and face rickety wooden bridges. And what’s more, we have to take numerous little boats to go from one island to another.
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We immerse ourselves in this wonderful nature, and we thrilled to live these last stages so adventurous. The fatigue is rewarded by the welcome of the people, the incredulous gaze of the older and the irrepressible liveliness of the little ones. Everyone is happy to see us.
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We soon learn that “falan” means “foreigner”.
(The term “farang” – pronounced “falan” because of their difficulty in saying the letter r – was coined in 1600 during the French colonization, and identified the people from the white skin, and therefore “the white stranger”)
We hear people screaming “Falan! Falan! Falan!” hundreds of meters away. And the little kids come out of the houses, run to meet us and give us the 5 when we pass close to them. It’s pure emotion! It’s pure energy! ☀️🙏😊
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Our eyes are filled with dust, and burn with sweat, but they are full of wonder. Our skin is covered with sand, and is gently caressed by the typical Lao wind of the south. The hands hurt us to keep the handlebars steady, but they never give so many 5 like these two days.
They are the last “sabaidee” and we’re so sad. It’s difficult to say goodbye to this beautiful country. It gave us so much, really so much. But every time the melancholy makes itself felt, we always repeat that we will come back again! ❤️
