The mission my travel mates and I have chosen to accept is a four day motorbike ride around the Bolaven Plateau in southern Laos. This region is very near the Ho Chi Minh trail so we bombed the hell out it during the Vietnam war. The country side is still littered with unexploded ordnance that the locals like to collect and sell as scrap metal... or blow themselves up, whichever comes first. It's safe to say that unless you're looking to become another Laos statistic, this region is not a good place to come with your pick and shovel for some freelance archeology. Our trip began with the gang ..there are ten of us...renting bikes from the local hotel. Carlos and I opted for the bigger 250cc Hondas so we could go off-road and look for old bombs to sell. The rest of the crew rented the smaller, scooter style motorbikes that mobilize the masses here in Asia. The plateau is home to many waterfalls, coffee farms, native villages, and simply amazing scenery. And it was good fun to have a riding partner with the same motorcycle...Carlos and I could really get places on these things. It's a good thing we can't read "No Trespassing" signs in the Laos language. Unfortunately, we did not find any bombs to bring back to the city and sell which would have paid for our trip. But we also came back in one piece, which is nice since I want to be alive to receive the $600 bucks George W is giving me for..... ummm, why the hell are they doing that again? Economy something something??? Some of my photos are from Carlos' camera since he's traveling with this monstrous Nikon digital SLR with a zoom lens that extends out like a rocket launcher and makes my little camera look like a cigarette pack with silly round beak. Great photos .... a great ride!