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Published: April 8th 2007
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Thats my girl....
We get along just fine! Welcome back!
I am currently in Pakse, southern Laos, and catching up on a number of places throughout the travels. Due to the nomadic nature of the trip I have had little time to sit and write or a lack of internet/ electricity! I will start off in Northern Laos in Luang Prabang and work my way south to Don Det.
Elephants!!
The day before I was supposed to go on my elephant trek I ate some bad food and became deathly sick. Spent the whole day in bed or lying on the bathroom floor waiting to see which end I would need to direct towards the toilet! Yuck! After picking up some drugs from a local pharmacist, I felt well enough to keep my lunch down and head out to the elephant camp. Our camp was called All Lao Treacking and Rafting and had 3 elephants; one male and two female. Our guide spoke decent english, allowing us to ask questions about the elephants and their surroundings.
On the first day we trecked for 2 hours around the jungle sitting two up on one elephant. It was quite bumpy and a made me a
Your Guide Jordan hard at work
Working our way down the Makong in a bamboo raft little naucious. It was amazing to see these animals work their way up steep inclines, control on steep declines and agility on narrow paths. These creatures are truley spectatuclar! After a rest or me and lunch for the others we rode the elephants bareback into the jungle where they were to eat and sleep for the night.
In the morning we got up at 6 (too early) and went out and found our elephants. We then rode them on a different path through the jungle and to the river to bath them. This was quite an experience. Washing an elephant isn't as hard as you think. They walk right in the river and lay down, allowing you to scrum their back and sides. I did nto tend to the undercarrage, but I think I saw Golo getting in the nitty gritty!
We sattled up and headed back to camp to float down the river via bamboo raft. The river was't too fast so it was time to relax. By this tiem I was feeling better and could enjoy the experience.
A long drive back to Vientiane from Luang Prabang, on the bus for 11 hours. From there
we headed south to Pakse and then off to a romote island Don Det.
Dont Det / Don Kohn
As the LP puts it, "Just when you thought your blood pressure couldn't drop any more you arrive in Don Det. No Cars, no electricity...no worries." Don Det is a small village nestled along the mighty Makong river. It has no electricity, but allows their guests 2 and a half hours of light between 7-9:30pm via generator. After settling in we blasted off down the river to see Laos largest waterfall (they claime it to be the largest in southeast asia) and to see rare Irrawaddy dolphins. The dolphins looked good but were too far away to get a solid pic. The water fall on the other hand was massive. I was planning on swimming in it but there was no way. These pics were taken at the low season! Imagine it at high water.
Laos new years starts today, April 14 as well as Cambodia new years. There are people filling the streets throwing water and blasting the tunes. Little kids have squirtguns and are soaking everything that moves! I am off to Siem Reap
tomorrow by plane, to celebrate the new year at Ankwar What?, the local club. Then off to the real Ankwar Wat to explore for the next 3 days.
I hope everyone is doing well and not letting exams get the best of them. I miss you all and have a little something for all!
Take care, gotta go.
Your Guide Jordan
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Nicole
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Who's your girl?
Great picures Jordan, Ali just about had minor heart failure when she saw you got to ride and elephant! Must say I'm a little sad I seem to have been replaced by "Your Girl" the elephant...Miss you lots! Love, Nic xoxo