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Published: August 9th 2007
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Black bear cub at Gibbon X
mistaking my arm for a nipple When did they send the pamphlets out telling everybody how many people live in their country? Im pretty sure it wasn't during school, although we did spend a lot of time wagging and going to 7-11 for slurpies. It definatly wasn't during orientation at any workplace we've ever worked at either. "The kettles over there, press 1 to dial an outside line and Australia has 21 million people". So how the hell does everyone in the world except us know how many people are from their city and country. When we where in Cambodia for instance a little Cambodian kid who was trying to sell us somthing said "where you from?" upon telling him from Australia he goes "G'day mate, capital Canberra, 21 million people" How the hell did HE get the pamphlet? We wouldnt have any idea how many people are from Melbourne. In fact at many times during the last few years we dont even know how many people have lived in our house. "How many people live in Melbourne?" "Dunno but at the moment I think there's 5 at 14 Lalor St, is that any help?"
And on that matter when did this become the number one backpacker
question asked after where do you come from? where you going? How long for? then how many people live in melbourne? What is your name never comes close to the top five as you could be talking to someone for over an hour say good bye and good luck and then think f*@k I never got their name... Oh well at least i know how many people live in Mississipi.
Public transport in Loas is not world class but to think that they try and entice travellers to make the jorney from Lauang Prabang to Hoey Xai by means of a "slow boat" doesnt really evoke much excitement. We met a few people in the bakery before we went to board the slow boat and ended up asking how was it? Really slow? They replied it was faster than they'd expected... although we didn't take into consideration that they were coming down stream and we were going to be tredging up it. The two days (yes two days on a wooden cannoe) were a mission that not even 574 games of asshole could solve. Upon finnaly arriving in Huay Xai 6 years older, we head to the gibbon-x office. The
organisation was named the Gibbon Experience because when they first built the tree houses in the jungle it was situated amongst little Gibbon communities. As more and more visitors come and loose themselves in the feeling of flying free over dense jungle on a zip line 150m high and with lengths of 1km these little creatures decided that it might be time to move on.
We sat in the office filling out our liability form and signing our lives over to these people whilst we watch a video on the safety measure you need to use the cable systems. At this stage I felt my stomach turn over. Being afraid of heights I'm starting to seriously doubt if I can do this. Going up is fine but the fact of throwing my self of the edge and coming down scares the absolute shit out of me. I look over at Age and he gives me the 'toughen up you'll be ok' signal. I nod as he said to me before the trip that this is the time to face our fears.... not that i know what his are yet.
The three days and two nights spent in the jungle were
an experience we will never forget. The tree houses themselves were built in trees 50 metres above ground with their own kitchens, bathrooms, bedrooms, entertainment area and bees nest. Of all places the nest could have been the bees decided it best to live underneath the squat toilet just incase there wasn't enough reasons to not want to go to the toilet. Needless to say no prunes were consumed on this trip.
The trecks themselves were quite hard due to the slippery clay surface on the paths and the fact that Age and I once again werent in the appropriate footwear. The leaches were out in force too (even if the Gibbons werent)
The zip lines however made the trip worthwile in itself. Being able to shoot across the top of the jungle canopy (and as a bonus avoiding leeches) was as breath taking as it gets. Not sure wether we will ever get the chance to do anything like that again but heres hoping.
Missing home and all our buddies. We have recived a few comments from the regulars but would love to hear what everyone is up to.
Exciting news to come
lots of love
Kym and Age
Still excited
but with bigger biceps
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Johnno
non-member comment
What's wrong with your guns?!
All that hard work in the gym was all for nothing! Your guns look woeful even when you're trying hard to make them look big. Pathetic. Kimmy, do something about your BF's guns.....or at least stop taking photo's of them thinking they're huge. Remember, you're comparing them with Asian gun's now. It's time to come home.