Pale Yellow Butterflies
Our second and final day in Luang Prabang was spent on bicycles – two grey
girl bikes.
A nice, refreshing trip outside the city – 32 kilometers away – is to Kuang Si Falls. Ninety-nine percent of the tourists who visit the falls go by bus, minivan, tuktuk, or scooter. Scott wanted us to earn our dip in the waterfalls by biking the 20 miles there and the 20 miles back. Our last biking adventure in Bundi, India had gone well and was quite fun so I agreed. I was a bit nervous about the distance and the potential for hills, but Scott reassured me that we’d just go for a ride; actually getting to the falls would be a bonus. Plus, we were both interested in getting some real exercise. Any weight we’d lost while in Nepal has been gained back and doubled since arriving in Southeast Asia and allowing my eyes to dictate what we eat.
After biking through the initial morning traffic of the city, the road became quiet with only the occasional scooter or car passing by. There were small hills that I sweated through by pedaling and there were bigger hills that I walked my bike up, but through most of it all, I couldn’t stop smiling.
Overall, our bike ride took us through the old town of Luang Prabang, into the new, past small town after small town, past bight green rice paddies, wats, and, the best ever, through hundreds of flurries of white and pale yellow butterflies. We stopped only a few times on the way there for small water breaks and to pick up some street food. But mostly we watched the kilometer markers to Kuang Si Falls get smaller and smaller.
The falls themselves were quite beautiful, especially the pools of aqua-blue water. We ate a little food, took a dip in the cool water, and watched the sun bears kept within the park play and rest. I loved the feeling of refreshment, of the lingering coolness from the water on my skin long after we’d gotten out.
By the time we were leaving the falls, it was peak time for other tourists to arrive. We picked up the only two bicycles in the parking lot full of scooters and minivans and set out for another 20 miles.
A nice, refreshing trip outside the city – 32 kilometers away – is to Kuang Si Falls. Ninety-nine percent of the tourists who visit the falls go by bus, minivan, tuktuk, or scooter. Scott wanted us to earn our dip in the waterfalls by biking the 20 miles there and the 20 miles back. Our last biking adventure in Bundi, India had gone well and was quite fun so I agreed. I was a bit nervous about the distance and the potential for hills, but Scott reassured me that we’d just go for a ride; actually getting to the falls would be a bonus. Plus, we were both interested in getting some real exercise. Any weight we’d lost while in Nepal has been gained back and doubled since arriving in Southeast Asia and allowing my eyes to dictate what we eat.
After biking through the initial morning traffic of the city, the road became quiet with only the occasional scooter or car passing by. There were small hills that I sweated through by pedaling and there were bigger hills that I walked my bike up, but through most of it all, I couldn’t stop smiling.
Overall, our bike ride took us through the old town of Luang Prabang, into the new, past small town after small town, past bight green rice paddies, wats, and, the best ever, through hundreds of flurries of white and pale yellow butterflies. We stopped only a few times on the way there for small water breaks and to pick up some street food. But mostly we watched the kilometer markers to Kuang Si Falls get smaller and smaller.
The falls themselves were quite beautiful, especially the pools of aqua-blue water. We ate a little food, took a dip in the cool water, and watched the sun bears kept within the park play and rest. I loved the feeling of refreshment, of the lingering coolness from the water on my skin long after we’d gotten out.
By the time we were leaving the falls, it was peak time for other tourists to arrive. We picked up the only two bicycles in the parking lot full of scooters and minivans and set out for another 20 miles.
posted by Siapiau | 9:53 PM
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