Lost in Laos....part lost!

[Mr Earl]

After two nights in Luang Prabang my traveling companion and I were ready to escape the tourist hordes.
We decided to head north for OudomXai and spend the night in Muang La which had an interesting blurb.
Road to OudomXai was spectacular.
Through mountains and many villages.
Typical view:


OudomXai is like a typical Thai town without any of the charm. The french guide book I had blames the americans for bombing the shit out of it.
We decided to give Nuang Lamtha a miss because it sounded like another backpacker central.
We arrive in Muang La and it indeed was quite the picturesque little village on a lovely river. After driving all around town and asking directions numerous times we determined the so called quest house had been bought and converted to a private residence. It looked nice, but the new owners were hardly acqueillante.
Wasting over an hour an needing to overnight somewhere we decided to soldier on towards Phongsali our ultimate destination.
Driving was slow due to the numerous villages where you had to slow for people and livestock.
Like I said before the NGO drivers seemed to speed right through these villages honking their horns. Anyway the day was waning and wanting to make some time I tucked in with a pair of trucks cruising fast.
The lead truck pulled over to let his passenger puke and I continued to haul ass behind the second NGO truck.
We drive at a breakneck clip sending children and chickens scattering until dusk when we pull into a larger village. The NGO truck heads off down some small street and we spot a hotel. We get a room and walk down toward the river to eat,
Shortly after checking in I realize we had no idea where we were.
The next morning I figure out that it was Muang Khua:


We had a pleasant night at a very adequate hotel, a bit pricey at $30usd.

We had to backtrack some to hook up with the road to Phongsali.
Ok so we weren't very lost, but I felt lost checking into a hotel and not having a clue were I was.