~laos/luang_prabang/falls/water

Third day in Laos. Today we woke up at 8am! Crazy, that is actually earlier than i get up for work! And still i have not had a full night's sleep. Sara and I caught breakfast (not literally) from the old couple who own the guest house. It consisted of baguette, butter and jam. Simple, but satisfying. (Story of my life.) We also caught a tuk tuk (again not literally) to the Khaung Si waterfall, THE attraction of Luang Prabang. We wanted to arrive early, because rumour has it that by lunch time the place is overrun by tourists and locals.

We arrived after about 20minutes drive on bumpy roads in the hills on an overcast and cold day to be met by the most spectacular waterfall (or more accurately, waterfalls) i have ever seen. The thing was huge, and as it rained heavily overnight, i think it was even more spectacular than usual. As anticipated, we were pretty much the firsts people to arrive. We brought our swimming stuff hoping to take a dip in the crystal clear pools at the base of the falls, but decided it was far too cold for any of that... a few photos later, we decided to climb up the rather steep series of a make shift steps to the top of the falls. Takes a good 10 minutes, and risk of slippage, and eatage of spiderage is high. Great!

Reached to top to find a series of deeps pools enclosed in the forest. The pools were precariously perched at the top of the falls, and the current was understandably strong. One slip and we would be over the edge... there was a unconvincing excuse for a barrier in place which i was not about to trust. I guess the drop from there would be about 100 ft, maybe more. Because the pools at the top were sheltered by the trees, it felt a bit warmer, so we decided to take a plunge. Avoiding the numerous spider's webs, and little things swimming on the surface, we went in. It was great! The water was so nice... After the climb down, and many slips later (well, actually, Sara would slip, and i would catch her) we met up with other Farangs (tourists) that we knew, and then took a swim in the ragin currents at the base of the falls. It was good fun for about 10 minutes, then we decided that 'too many farangs spoil the pool', and we left.

We've just eaten lunch now, watched some olympic swimming with Lao commentry, as you do, and then the rain started to come down. It has just stopped now, but i dont suppose it'll be long before it starts again. Being monsoon season, this is quite normal, although more common in Thailand actually.

Tomorrow morning we are planning on seeing some temples, watching monks pick fruit, and taking a bus outta this town and head north east to the Hua Phan province. The Lonely Planet (nicknamed by Sara 'The Lying Planet' because she is convinced that it tells lies!) tells us there is lots of magical stuff to see there, i'll save the details for when i get there, but i will tell you there is a snake pit somewhere where they throw live animals and dead people! Sweet, Indiana Jones styleeeee! Til' next time folks....