‘Homestay’ with Lao family

The last 40 km of our road were among the most beautiful – we drove past many villages and had to slow down and watch out for all kinds animals that appeared on the road and made unpredictable moves and for children crossing, waving and smiling as they greeted us. We were offered a ‘Homestay’ and it turned out te be the most authentic experience we made so far!

First we were led by a local on a motorbike deep into the village past dozens of farms, coops, stables, wooden houses, greeting and smiling people and mud where we caught a flat tyre. Finally we arrived at the house we would stay for the night and met the seven family members: father, mother, four sons and their sweet little daughter.

We tried to remember their names which we obviously forgot and to communicate with the little of Lao language that we were able to speak (literally ten words), but here we could rely on some Lao beer and Laolao Whiskey that facilitated the conversation.

Soon we got our supper served – some sticky rice, a papaya salad and something we thought or rather hoped to be some beans or the like. After a few spoons full of them we discussed it quickly and both agreed that we got some larvae, bees and bugs served. Now, with the whole family sitting around you, smiling, having probably served you the most delicious snack ever and them, eating only rice, what would you do?

We couldn’t disappoint the cook. It tasted like anything we’d tried before, the white larvae slightly sour and soft under our tongues, while we were also pleased to find that there were some crunchy bigger bees and their transparent wings. We enjoyed commenting on our food to make it easier and put up the prettiest smiles we had to compensate just in case the housewife understood. And we ate it all!

The after-dinner walk right on time for  sunset showed us that the whole village was full of offspring – there seemed to be puppies, kids, chicken, piglet, calfs everywhere, running around, squeaking and playing in mud together. We slept on the semi-covered veranda which also served as living room and kitchen at the same time, and felt a little bit watched by the locals. At least they talked about us, because we heard the word falang quite often, which Lao people used for white strangers like us. The night was quite short; at 4am the oldest son got up, at 5am the rooster was awake, then all the other farm animals and we, of course.

Now guess what we got for breakfast. You’re right, the same as for dinner! Now for all the kindness, warmth and cooperation we tried to pull ourselves together, but we couldn’t eat up the bee-bowl at 7am. I hope we met half way, because they continued to eat what we hadn’t finished and I tried to make up with some cosmetics she will probably never use, but looked at least pleased to please me. After our hunger was satisfied we tried out our newly fixed tyre and drove out of the village to see one of Laos’ nature wonders, the amazing Kong Lo cave!