We did a 3 day trek in Dong Phou Viang protected area which involved staying with the Katang people who have different customs and language from the Laos. We stayed in these leaf-walled one-room houses with the whole extended families.
They took us to see silver langur—rare leaf-eating monkeys and to see their burial traditions which included hanging the bodies in trees then putting the bones in coffins in caves.
The bones from this coffin had long been taken by animals.They also demonstrated their biofuel extraction methods and water extraction from vines.
The treks were long and hot and most of the forest very disturbed and being burnt. The second family we stayed which held a baci ceremony for us which is done for journeys and major life events like weddings. They tie your spirits onto you so they don’t get lost during the change, and make wishes for you. You can see Willy getting one of his strings tied.
We took turns at singing each other folk songs. I was too crap at learning theirs but we have a video. I could post it but I don’t know how to make it small enough. The family’s son came in with this string of cicadas he’d caught to eat.
It was pretty difficult managing hygiene and menstruation with no privacy and eyes always on me.
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