9-11/12 - Traveling the Bolevan Plateau

This was the best experience.....hands down....awesome. I rented a scooter and had my first taste of kah fe Lao (Coffee) ......which i have bought and will make you all one when i'm back. We got geared up on our scooters (Scott decided to follow my lead for one day) I showed him how to change gears etc. Basic moto skills. Bought some straps to occy straps to tie down my pack. Loaded up on water ...good to go.

Off to Patxong or Patsong (it seems x and s are same same in Lao). Patxong is the coffee capital of Lao. I spent a day looking at brilliant coffee fields and waterfalls. One waterfall had a raft that allowed you to pull yourself through the falls s you were in the cave behind them.,.,,...awesome experience and good for a photo too.

The next day i decided to head all the way to Attepeu ...in the sticks. I went in search of the Kalumtok Waterfall. Very remote amongst the jungle. The dirt road was so crazy. I checked my odo and rode 20 kms as an estimate (from the main road). I began looking for a track. Then it was there, the track, i turned off my bike. I listened and heard the low rumble that i was hoping for. Off down an even worse track for 500m. There it was ...untouched. The viewing platform consisted of one plastic chair, a dirt patch and spent cigarettes on the ground. No-one for miles. I just sat there in awe. I couldn't believe i found it.

The light began to fade and i got back on the bike. Rode into attepeu in the dark found a guesthouse drunk a beer and slept.

Another day, another random meal.....fried veges and rice....sweet. Went to the bank to change some money. The locals don't really like the US dollar out here. The bank consisted of a nice building with one desk, loacted in the center of a large room and two people serving.

Rode to yet another waterfall Tad Lo. It was over run by tourists and I could eat lunch at a restaurant overlooking the falls. G喔喔 <- Stupid computer is trying to write in chinese. LOL

Got majorly sunburn't on the ride .... on my arms. Headed back to Pakse and managed to see the end of a local soccer game on the way home. Great day in the sticks. Loving it.

Onwards i go.

next day back to pakse kids choccy coffee. attepeu. falls. dirt road 4x4. sabdee 2

In this 3 days i saw 5 white people and heard english only on HBO on a TV in a room i had. It was truely great ..,. I ate whatever i was given...pretty sure i ate dog and water buffalo. LOL. The people are so poor but yet so happy. They do not worry about there disposable income like us western scum ...they have none. They are in a constant struggle to survive and I guess this is rewarding. In some ways i envy these people and there lives it is simple, relaxed and beautiful. I don't think I will view the world in the same light after this. :) Glad i got amongst it.

12/12 - Pakse -> Si Phan Don

13/12 - Si Phan Don -> Siem Reap