Get up at 5am and wander along to see the monks. Craig didn't sleep too well after ropey uncooked slop last night but we pass the tour groups and go into town. We find a spot further along and see the monks in their hundreds receive rice from locals. The irritating part are the Korean tourists who like the Japanese are obsessive with photographs. Their selfie sticks are long enough to see the monks pupils dilate. 2 other monks standing with the locals are interesting. iPads, SLR cameras, smart phones and a large wad of cash that they are distributing to the monks collection alms.
We catch 40 winks and arrange with the hostel to go to the main waterfalls. A packed bus and we get to know a Korean girl travelling through Laos. We've met a number of Koreans but her English is excellent and seems well travelled. There is a small village built at the bottom of the falls, but we pay our 20000 kip(£1.50) and head into the park. There is a bear sanctuary for rescued moon bears. I've seen the smaller sun bear and these are larger with a white stripe. The waterfall is tiered. 3 main swimming areas with misty blue water. The fourth you can't swim in but the water fall dropping into it is a worthwhile sight.
We swim in each of the pools, the small fish nibble at your toes. A fantastic spa treatment until they discover my scabbed mozzy wounds. I use my foot to block my ankle and continue the treatment. The cleanest my feet have been on this trip.
I sit at the hostel and talk with a guy I met here from Denmark called Kim. There is a Canadian tour group in the hostel consisting of 31 people. A logistical nightmare and we laugh at the prospect of the moving queue. I ponder what young Canadians would do if the word 'like' was not part of the English language. I have never heard a word so overused by one nation.
We head to Utopia, sitting by the river on soft mats, crickets and lizards chirping. As the sun starts to go down the crowds start to come.
I speak with a Belgian called Anton with a sore foot, another casualty from tubing. The guy is a walking chemist on a combination of Valium and strong codine.
We chat and stay for a few beers, Craig still not feeling well, saving his energy for my Birthday. We head home and grab some apple pie from one of the many bakeries.
Back at the hostel we oddly see Anton and his friends, our hostel appearing to attract many people we have seen. I sit up with them for awhile talking and watching mopeds whizz by.