Generally we felt the strain from travelling for so long.
After the 12 sick and recovery days in Luang Prabang (LPB)
We finally found some energy and decided to really leave the broad tourist trek and make the (almost) round trip

Luang Prabang – Nong Khiaw – Muang Ngoi Neua – Nong Khiaw – Vieng Thong – Sam Neua – Vieng Xai, Pathet Lao Caves – Phonsavan, Plain of Jars – Vang Vieng – Vientiane.
On looooong and winding roads.

First going to Muaang Ngoi Neua according to the guidebook “even more remote than Nong Khiaw”.
To go there one has to go to Nong Khiaw and then take a boat up the Nam Ou river.
The village only has generator electricity and can only be reached by boat.

Once there we found out you still can get spaghetti but there really are no rooms with AC.
The setting is really really spectacular.

The next day we did an afternoon trip even more upriver, where actually the landscape is best.

If you ever go there, either take a boat downstream to begin with (i.e. not from Nong Khiaw) or make a tour upstream like we did.
We walked from one minority village to another with a local guide that spoke very little English.

Always the kids flocked because they were bored I guess:

This evening we had lunch on a terrace to see the sunset.

The next day we booked a full day tour to a cave and back through some rougher terrain.
To the caves was along a dirt road, not really interesting. But the caves were great.
Very well hidden and not even a path to go there.
A little river flows through the cave and to get in one has to crawl almost.
The we waded upstream up to knee deep some hundreds of meters. Great.
Lena was piggybacked by one of the guides.
We had a general guide and a local guide. The money has to be spread.

Lunch in a village served by the chef of the village in person.
Then it started to rain. And rain. And never stopped.
We were lucky to make it back to the river along the road the mud sticking everywhere. Soaking wet.

The next day we left.

Well. The village got electricity 6 Month ago, the hospital opened 3 days ago and a road is about to reach that village. Soon not so remote anymore.

Actually written 15.06.2013