AdventureCPA

Over the years I've seen a lot of waterfalls.   Oregon, Wisconsin, Niagara, Argentina, Chile etc.  But yesterday we saw one of the best. Fifty minutes out of Laung Pabang, Laos is the  Kouangxi Water Fall. It is a 60 or so meter drop with multiple pools.  We climbed to the top and down.  Swimming ok in some areas but didn't do that.  Reports it is cold as Spring for flow is very near top of falls. Next time you are in the neighborhood go see it.  (But don't take taxi, ride your bike as it is only 22 km from town.)

From the Plain of Jars we took a 7 hour Minivan ride to Laung Pabang in northern Laos.  Up and down, around the hill country. Remembering that Laos was once a French colony, this city by the Mekong has a history as a desirable French Colonial outpost.  Guest houses, french pastries and good restaurants has made it an important tourist location as a UNESCO heritage site.  For 5 days we have rested, wi-fi'ed (everywhere) caught a waterfall and relaxed. Here are a few facts about Laung Pabang: At the national museum you can see the Lincoln Continentals the US gave to the king in the 50s and 60s. Every year they build a bamboo bridge across a small river and every year during the rainy season it is washed out. Main street is taken over by vendors at 5PM every evening. Best meal so far is 10000 kips buffet plate (Small plate but all you can pile on)and 2000 kips for small bottled water. 12000 kips is $US1.50.  Rice and about 10 different vegetables. Hotel wi...

From a historical viewpoint, ancient history and recent history crashes headon. Seems that in days of old locals in this remote Laos area had time to carve large conglomerate stones into..well...jars which probably were used for funeral vessals, remains after cremation or other religious  purposes.  Interesting in the way Stonehedge is interesting.  There are several hilltop locations of these in the area.  They all look much the same.  We visited three of the locations. But the other history is more interesting to me. Seems that during the Viet Nam war (or American War or now politically correct term 2nd Southeast Asian War) North Vietnamese solders went thru the porous border from North VN to South VN via Cambodia and Laos.  Since Cambodia was an ally of the US we left it alone until near the end of the war then Nixon released US forces to enter Cambodia. However, Laos was declared neutral during this time (By Geneva Accord signed by US) but bot...

In case you were wondering, Vientiene is the capital of Laos.  It is a big city, hot and busy.  Much less English spoken here, including within the tourist industry.   But very much French influenced with good bread, pastries etc. I put the Lao economy about 10 years ahead of Cambodia due to the 10 years of the Kumar Rouge atrocities in Cambodia during the 80s. Lots of building going on here, both governmental and private/commercial. For the last few days our hotels ($15 to $25) a night have had cable TV with CNN, CNBC, BBC World, and usually several Asian news channels such as China, Japan, Australia and Singapore.  The Brussel airport attack is now on most of the time and from this distance it seems a different world.  Somehow this allows for a more skeptical view of the commentary than usual.  (Maybe because I don't have these outlets at home has some influence too.) I believe I have finished my CFP training course....just waiting for the final g...

Along the backpacker trail is a group of islands (4000 or so) within the Mekong river, just above some non-navigable waterfalls of the Mekong.  So no commercial shipping in the area, only fisherman and tourist transport to the islands.   Just above the Lao-Cambodia border seems to be a peaceful hippy type of vacation place.  One dirt path along the river edge take in pedestrian, bicycle, motorbike and occassional small truck traffic.  No ATM's seem to be on the island. (Business opportunity?) Slow pace, relaxing location.  Popular activities by most of the young backpackers seem to be river trips by renting truck inter tubes, party overnight on an uninhabited nearby island or renting scooter/bike to explore previously mentioned waterfalls.  Swimming on beach also recommended. Now that really big whole body tatoos seem common place.....going to beach to admire the youngsters is a little disappointing.  The artwork just isn't that good. Two da...

From Siem Reap, Cambodia we took a 14 hour daytime bus ride to the Laos border and the town of Paske. Imediately after crossing border Laos (or Lao and locals seem to refer to it) seems slightly more prosperous and prices are higher. Perhaps higher due to stronger currency. Laos is a closer ally to China with considerable joint border and it shows in more Chinese influence.  More Viet Nam banks, more Chinese goods and numerous red flags with a yellow hammer and sickle hung on businesses and homes.  Still less police presence observable by us (compared to USA) but some must be present.  Lots of army uniforms walking around with no noticeable job to do. After the night in Paske, them a small town 30 km away where Denyse visited an unrestored temple/shrine next day was short bus trip to the area known as 4000 island.

With one open day here in Siam Reap, Cambodia I did something different.   But first I shopped for really small padlocks to secure the openings on my small backpack that contains the really important stuff.   Few nights ago after all night bus trip I left keys on the bus for the padlocks I had so I had a neighborhood lock kid open them (by distroying them) in about 2 minutes.  So I needed new ones.   The old ones cost $1 each in Chile. Here in Cambodia I kept running into stores that had nice shiny ones packaged in that clear stuff that is harder than steel.....at $4 each.  But today hardware booth # 6 had them just hanging on a pegboard for the $1 each I was willing to pay. Second different was to go to a Cambodian cooking class at the "Peace Cafe."  Three dishes in 1.5 hours.  All seemed to use same ingredients but each one tasted different.  Of course after class you get to eat the three entres.  Excellent spring rolls, chutney over ...

After Inle lake decided we had seem enough of Myanmar (Burma) so overnight bus (another restaurant stop 1.5 hours into the ride) back to Yangon, taxi in AM to Yangon airport and Flight to Bangkok.  Figured out that we could fly to Siem Reap, Cambodia and grabbed a seat for another flight arriving in Cambodia about 9PM.  Asia now covered by budget airlines so this last minute flying is possible. Siem Reap is town nearest Angor Wat and its Cambodian tribute to the Kumer culture from about 0 to 1500 according to our calendar.  Impressive but not much talk about the culture during the last 50 years.  I've been told they dislike the French colinizers much more than the US bombing.  We do see a few poor fellows with amputations...maybe land mines or traffic. Speaking of traffic in Myanmar and Cambodia I am amazed in watching it the same way I find it amazing that in a flock of birds you seldom see collisions between individuals.    Even the hotel staff s...

From Bagon another overnight bus, this time arriving at 4:30AM at the town near Inle Lake.  Inle Lake is 2nd biggest lake in Myanmar and a major tourist attraction in its own right. Apparently this rowing with your foot ia a big deal here....seems like a new oarlock design would work better.  Lake is very shallow  is transportation is by longboat with propeller half in and half out of water.  We did a full day tour which allowed for lunch at a restaurant on stilts and numerous changes to buy tourist junk.

Bagon, Myanmar is a poor cousin to Ankor Wat in Cambodia.  Large area in which it seems for centuries susceeding kings each tried (and succeeded) to build a bigger and better temple, wat and or pagoda.  Impressive brick structures some of which have been restored....some restored well and some not so well.   But a great place to watch families out for an outing in the country.   Staying at an old style motel/guesthouse.  Something you might find along US 36 in the middle of Kansas in 1952. We used the VIP overnight bus to travel Yangon to Bagon.  Cold Air conditioning, small snack and blankets and those U shaped pillows  for sleeping.  Interesting, there seems so be a huge bus stop for dinner about 1.5 hours out of town that every bus stops at.  Restaurant serving hundreds of people within the 30 minute alowed time limit.

OK, so it was really not on the road and really not to Burma but the country now known as Myanmar.  So we went from one gleaming new airport in Chiang Mai to a gleaming airport in Bangkok to a new gleaming airport in Yandon (Formerly Rangoon.)  Pleasant flights aboard Boeing and Airbus planes. Arriving in Myanmar's Yangon found a busy city of millions of people but compared to Thailand has a much more "Little India" flavor.  Perhaps because it shares a border with India and Bangladesh.   More cars, fewer motorcycles but still bicycle peddled richshaws for short trips.  The sidecar is one passenger wide so if two passengers they sit back to back. Another young country working hard to attract tourism but if you think the USA has a great disparity of wealth you should come here.  Many of the country is poor as in bamboo roofs squatting on railroad land but courtesty seems to be plentiful.  I took the local circle railroad line which makes a cir...