Laos
In Laos I continued the trekking in one of the most beautiful reserves: Bokeo National Park. The Gibbon Experience organises trips to this reserve and this is only accessible by canopy bridges and zip lines. The feeling of flying over canopies, valleys is fantastic and good to start with in a new country. The rest of Laos definitely did not dissapoint; the weather did. Heavy rainfall forced me to change the trekking into a one day mountainbike tour in the little villages. Friendly kids waving and greeting you along the way really made up for it. I repeated this in Vang Vieng with similar results, but this time the environment was immense: caves, lakes and small river crossings. Despite the fact that Vang Vieng is famous for tubing I abstained myself from this horrible activity. I spent my time better with rock climbing. Good results, since I made it to the top on all three routes!
So the only way is to the top… I traveled south to Vientiane and Savannahkhet where there is not much to do, nor to see. I decided not to linger too long in these cities. The weather wasn’t still at my side and I was missing already parts of the country. In Pakse I wanted to go to the Bolaven Plateau. I didn’t… it was just too risky on my own by motorbike on slippery and bad roads. And then there was Champasak; an old ruin in Ankhor Watt style. This was just too expensive to go to on my own.
Alone is not always alone as I was soon to find out. There was luck: a tour to the Bolaven and a cheap tuk tuk ride to Champasak. I think it is a matter of meeting the rght people on the right moment. I met very nice people to connect with. Both ended up as enjoyable trips; better than I expected. After Pakse we headed all the same direction: to 4000 Islands. How should I describe this place? Like a dessert after dinner? Relaxing? Beautiful with waterfalls and idyllic places to hang out? Staying in a bungalow on stilts in and overlooking the Mekong River. Complete with a hammock on the balcony? Watching birds, flowers, insects, and meeting the locals? Good weather? And some great Laos cuisine? You know what… it’s all of this!
I couldn’t wish better how to finish my travels in Laos. On this page I share the impressions with you. A country I am going to miss soon!