The far north - The Rough Guide to Laos - page 286

few desultory Buddhas. For an extra fee, you can watch a documentary on the Akha's role in
opium cultivation, and how they've adjusted to life without it.
Wat Sing Jai
Next to the Tribal Museum, on the main road
The town's principal temple is the brightly restored Wat Sing Jai , which has a wonderfully
rustic sim painted in festive hues and festooned with long, colourful prayer flags. If you come
in the morning there's usually a lot of activity, mostly the village ladies coming to pray and
make offerings - at other times, the temple is often locked.
ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE: MUANG SING
Bybus The bus station is in the northwest of town opposite the morning market, though you
should be able to ask your bus driver to let you off on the main road. From the bus station, it's
just a 5min walk to the main road - turn left out of the compound, then left again at the first
major intersection; this will eventually bring you onto the main road, next to the Tribal Mu-
seum. Alternatively, shared tuk-tuks charge 10,000K to the guesthouses (minimum 30,000K).
Destinations Luang Namtha (6 daily; 2hr); Muang Long (4 daily; 2hr).
INFORMATION
Touristoffice The Muang Sing Tourism Office (Mon-Fri 8-11.30am & 1.30-4.30pm; 086
213021) can issue you with a useful map of the town, and carries some informative printed
leaflets, but is largely concerned with booking people on tours and treks . Chief tourism of-
ficer Mr Xaiyaseng can be contacted on 020 5578 6824) out of hours.
Internet Internet access is available at the tourist office (10,000K/hr).
GETTING AROUND
By bike and motorbike The Biking Man ( 030 526 4881, [e-mail] ) is
a small agency opposite the tourist office which has a few local bikes (20,000K - but not
much use unless you don't plan to leave town), mountain bikes (50,000K) and motorbikes
(80,000K) for rent.