Mengla (Meng La) - Menglun – 75 km
After a leisurely start along the new highway, Ernest had a flat tyre, which barely
took a few minutes to fix. The road north was lovely past untouched rainforests
and past Dai ethnic communities.
Halfway to Menglum, a pavement eatery lured us in; not because I was hungry
but to experience the cuisine. An abundance of food consisting of sticky rice and
various exotic dishes of unknown origin (including chicken feet soup and pig ears
stew) appeared. As soon as one bowl was finished, another immediately replaced
it. Although all were delicious, eventually, we could eat no more and signalled as
much. Almost the entire village had gathered to watch this unusual occurrence.
Though uncomfortable, I guessed the scrutiny came with the territory. Being the
sole customers and the owner not wanting any payment, it dawned upon us that
the place was, most likely, not a restaurant but a private home! Embarrassed,
the two foreigners slinked away, waving and bowing profusely.
I wasn't feeling my usual energetic self. Still, I struggled onto Menglun, where
accommodation was discovered minutes ahead of a massive thunderstorm.