We were picked up early in the morning by our guide for the day, Coh, and his driver, Ding, for a day of treking. The trek started in a local coffee plantation. Most of the coffee is of the Robusta variety and according to Coh has played a vital part in the recuperation for the local people from absolute poverty. Laos was until recently one of the 20 poorest countries. Wandering through a small village nested in the coffee plantation, we noticed a local farmer washing a pair of denim jeans using just a brush, some washing powder and a couple of large buckets (a similar style to that we saw in Cambodia). Coh informed us that this is still the common way Laos people wash their clothes. With Coh translating for us, we showed the
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