Chasing Waterfalls

I woke to the most horrendous nightmare this morning, I dreamt I had to get up and go to work, I’m not joking it was truly awful. After a shower I headed off to my café for their great fruit salad, I need it after all the meat I eat in the food market stalls at night. 

After breakfast and catching up with my WWF I wandered past some tour operators and was looking at a sign when one asked what I wanted to do. There are two waterfalls to visit and I was thinking of seeing one today. Long story short I splurged on a mini van and guide to see them both today so I had to rush back to my room, pack for the day and be back in half an hour, though we are in Laos, there is no rushing! Spontaneity is so exciting. 

Along the way I needed an ATM and being Monday morning they are all being topped up, I managed to sneak this shot of the armed guard with the machine gun overseeing the operation. 

Bag packing checklist – towel, camera, zantac, panadol, floss, MP3, tissues, handcleaner, cash, I think I’m ready. I meet Dak and off we go in the brand new air-conditioned van with leather seats, I ain’t no cheap backpacking kid anymore. The panadol and floss are for a sore tooth I have (yes Zoe, six weeks in Saigon and I get a sore tooth now!) it is healing today though. We don’t use the air con in the van, I am more of a windows down kind of guy. 

An hour drive, a quick thank you to "O beautiful one" at a local temple then a five minute boat ride across the river to the first (small) waterfall and a beautiful fresh swim in my underwear, I couldn’t be bothered with swimmers. I swim under the falling water for a “natural” shoulder massage then laugh at the tough guys that are younger than me, showing off to their girlfriends trying to swim against the current to get where I was and failing, yeah it takes more than tattoos to make you cool man! 

I have ridden an elephant before but for twenty dollars I figure it is worth supporting them rather than having them neglected so I go for a twenty minute ride. Mines name was Soomnee, and she was beautiful, truly majestic creatures.

Instilling confidence with the constant bailing of water.

Another hour and we arrive at the second (big) waterfall. There is a Bear sanctuary here, a great thing for them, sad to see them in an enclosure but with out it they are hunted or kept in two metre square cages and taken to China to “perform” for tourists. A nice feeling to know they are safe but sad to think of how horrible we humans can be. 

The waterfall is spectacular, I ran into Jess and had a short chat. Back in the water in my undies and again I swim against the current and sit under the falling water only to watch the young guys unable to make it to where I am yet again, I love emasculating them in front of their girlfriends, and I’m a freaking smoker dudes!! 

I thought there were some really nice curves on this tree.

There is a part of the waterfall where you can jump into the swimming pool and a rope swing as well, those of you who know my love of showing off and risk taking from heights would be proud of me, I did not attempt either one. 

She Jane.

Back down to the car park, Dak and I have lunch, charcoal roasted chicken and rice with a nice cold beer.

We drive back to Laung Prabang and part ways, Dak buys me some bananas and a coffee and I give him a tip. After a shower I head down to the waterfront for a beer with Ingrid at sunset, she is leaving the day after tomorrow. 

 

After sunset she heads off with her friends and I wander up to the main street for some dinner, tonight will be western food. I settle on Carbonara Pasta and it was great, entirely worn out I head back to my room with ice cream and a donut for A movie and sleep.