| 20 ° 4 'N, 102 ° 37' E May 21 2010, 11:13  We are already in Thailand but have not written anything about what we did yesterday before we got on the bus. The waterfalls of Kuang Si were so enchanting that I would want to return again. Yesterday afternoon we and some other tourists caught a tuk tuk and drove thither. This time we walked all the way up to a secret pool. And this had a track or trail to find the puddle was. It was not as easy as the trail went through / over a watertje but once we had was great! Just to get some photos to share this message. juutsel | Tags: Kuang Si , Laos , lunag Prabang , waterfall
Posted in Laos , Luang Prabang | No Comments » 19 ° 53 'N, 102 ° 8' E 21 May 2010, 6:08 Before we left Laos a little bit more about the elephant tour. How do you steer an elephant and you have the idea that a little work? There are many different commands for the elephants. They listen well to the command itself (especially if they are taking some physical urges) but the best listen to their mahout. The commands that we learned (written phonetically in the NL) PAJ: go / walk
Saj: Left
Quality: right
Soong: Leg lift (to climb on it)
Hauw: Stop
Whack Long: lying or submerged
Bong bong: drinking
Zoo: Sleep chain closer
Bonn: Take something from the road (high)
Toi: Reverse
Ben: Flip Further as a brief review of Laos and the Lao. We were shocked at the beginning when we were in Vietnam. The Lao people are very relaxed. They feel sorry for people who think too much or should do. Generally they are very friendly and not commercially oriented. Sometimes when we arrived and wanted to eat something or buy something, it seemed almost too much trouble for us to stand. This was not always so, and if you are getting help is the kindness is so great that they do good or help you enjoy eating. The elephants trip was really different in that respect. The mahouts have a tough job on one side, but also a dream job on the other side. Each morning before dawn in order to get the elephants, and when tourists are driving them back on the elephant, or next to it. It's a great atmosphere and if the elephants are "parked" somewhere to eat but to just snap the mahouts take a nap. They walk, talk and laugh a lot and the afternoon at 4 o'clock, they're ready. It is also very common throughout Laos to a shop house. Than you're so nice to watch television and if someone comes along then just run to the counter. Everything is very quiet and we have to get used sometimes. So we have during the tours of the interior and on the bike whole families hanging around with nothing was done. Inquiries revealed that they are a once a year, rice planting and harvesting and during the regntijd and essentially the rest of the year to do nothing. It has something to do with the setting, we think, can always make yourself useful. Most Lao want as much money for so little work as possible. Or preferably money for nothing. Laos is a relatively poor and corrupt country. Most projects (roads, bridges) are financed by others. The Lao themselves have enough vigor to do, unfortunately. We leave this evening from the beautiful and tranquil Laos to the current violent and politically unstable Thailand. Let's see how the Thai differences. juutsel | Tags: Lao , Laos , mentality , elephants , work
Posted in Laos | No Comments » 19 ° 53 'N, 102 ° 8' E May 20 2010, 15:41  This morning was a matineuze morning. In order to retrieve the elephants we would leave at half past six. Since the only action was what clothes was the alarm clock at a quarter past six. For six hours on our door was suddenly gekloptd ear guide and we were startled awake. Normally I'm really a morning person, but rather unexpectedly wake up does not much good for my mood. Half an hour later we left with a boat to avoid the long walk. Then we walked up the mountain and were amazed. Was this where we are today with these huge elephants had gone through? A little later came the reply. Of the bamboo groves that my Elephant (Ghumday) had hidden was not much left. By contrast, she had here and there nice compact digested bamboo on the floor. The elephants sit overnight to one meter long chain (otherwise they get to the villages or search) to their legs tied to a tree. The mahoet took the chain off the chain and the elephant went to a place so mahoet it gently on her neck could lay. Great that cooperation. Hup I climbed on the neck and we leiepn down where the elephant comm command interfering branches for taking away my head. After having briefly gebadderd was time to say goodbye to the elephants. Trunk with a hug, it was not an emotional farewell. After a hearty breakfast we climbed into the kayak because today was a busy schedule. The kayak trip was fun but we notice that we are a little tired. This was the first time we really were dealing with rapids and we have together released unharmed. On returning to Luang Prabang was the tour continues. With a minivan, we were driven to dee KuongSi waterfall. A trip of half hour in which we both eyes open barely able to keep. At the waterfall a short walk and there was that. Center Parcs in real life. Deep blue water with several plateaus where it came from. We walked up and ventured our first steps into the water. The blue of the water gave the tempereatuur again. Freezing. The water remained attractive and we have several times indented. At a lower waterfall, there was a waterfall where you could jump from, scary but also very cool again. The rope with which you could jump into the water, I used too enthusiastically. A paradise on earth, I hope the pictures a bit of a picture. I do not know if you have ever heard of 'Dr. Fish'. This is a special spa treatment in which fish the dead skin cells from your body so you eat a soft skin gets. These fish were in the water too and I tried them on to take a picture. Of course there were too few for a 'treatment' but it was really cool. Today Michael and I three years together. The things we have done today and given meant that it was a very special day. Tonight we had dinner and I fear that we are there for ten hours one day but what inset. Tomorrow we get on the bus to Chiang Mai (northern Thailand). The journey takes nearly 24 hours (with a boat trip across the border, border troubles and breaks included) so we'll be tired afterwards. Because the only night off, I think the chances are we again to go to paradise falls. juutsel | Tags: center parcs , kayaking , Cold , Kuang Si , Laos , Luang Prabang , elephant , jumping , waterfall
Posted in Laos , Luang Prabang | No Comments » 19 ° 53 'N, 102 ° 8' E May 19 2010, 16:15  While during the day the big animals dominated the night was primarily the domain of small animals. There were three nasty spiders in the bathroom when we wanted to go to sleep and was constantly bombarded by our mosquito everything with wings and hunger. Again, after a long day of elephants, I sit on the bed while all around me critters their evening run. But I will continue to keep silent, for there are "bigger" matters. Because we some were too lazy to 5 hours in the morning have to get up and an excursion into the jungle to go greet our geslurfde friends only at 8 hours, after passing through the mahouts on their nightly stay on the mountain were recovered. The slurfies had some sleep in their eyes and teeth not brushed, so a bath was necessary. And we could do with it. Bath with an elephant is a totally weird: everyone and everything is wet and a lot of called and pushed. Elephants have apparently instruction needed to know how to go bathe. Submerged on command, buttocks under water on demand and if you do not pay attention a trunk full of water sprayed over the back on command. Judica knew at an unguarded moment her mahout of the elephant in the water while pushing my elephant struggled to understand that the intention was that they would be under both buttocks and head dipping. Followed a breakfast with scrambled eggs, sausage and bread, and then feed the elephants to a place to ride. By noon we arrived at an empty rice field lined with many of the elephant favorite greens. In awe, we saw how far and how big branches were weggeknaagd our smart black noses with their trunks stripped the bark of the branches (which is simply the best part). What a clever animal. Yet they are also quite timid and frightened some. Because the way to the green one actually gone, we met occasionally at some trucks. And although elephants quite a good chance in a duel with a dieselfant called they usually prefer to do it on a run. The mahouts were so sweet to some of their own during a picnic lunch to share in the rice field, and we in turn return to the lodge for some of our lunch with the mahouts have shared. Nice, but sometimes a pity we could not understand each other. As if the life of a Fant is just about roses, we also began the afternoon with a bath, and then to fine a little hiking. It was three against and time to fry for a suitable place to spend the night. Which we found on a mountain slope, fairly steep, but the bulldozers among mammals, no problem. On our walk back we ran along a brick factory, where bricks were made from local clay and baked on the premises. We made some fun with the mahouts and then have us at the ranch is still in a boat to drop a piece of tubing. All very nice, especially since we are all in a most friendly Austrian couple could share. The evening meal tasted good weather and with some regret (but also full of scratches, scrapes and bruises), we look forward to the last day. Incidentally, that once the day and Judica me exactly three years together, so we will not dwell on the parting of our trumpeters and a lot of fun and enjoyment. It's fantastic! juutsel | Tags: Bruises , Laos , Luang Pabang , Mahout , elephant
Posted in Laos , Luang Prabang | No Comments » 19 ° 53 'N, 102 ° 8' E 18 May 2010, 15:41  The first day of our tour elephants. We picked up this morning and drove to the park. In a van with all day-trippers so we said we wanted to get into the eco lodge (as many bags). When we arrived we got our house allotted. A beautiful wooden building with a porch, two beds and a huge bathroom. The toilet is flushed with river water and there are only natural materials. It is onzettend luxurious yet very basic. In the house were waiting for our uniforms. If you stay longer than one day will get a kind of denim uniform, not charming, but you get every day for elephants give a clean mud off. After the clothes had been blown back by boat to the river to the elephants. There is another set (Austrians who live in Singapore) yesterday a 4-day tour and with whom we have started the next day doing the program. On to the elephants for the first 'ride'. This time it is with chair but I could sit directly on the neck while mahoet (which is the carer / person who rides the elephant) was seated on the seat next to Michael on the back. What are these creatures say high! Unbelievable, and then we had not even the biggest. You can actually stick to anything and the most logical is to get your hands on his head and put your legs dangle behind the ears. The other option isje legs to raise and jeknieen at the start of the ears to explain. After half an hour I had first seen it again here. It's very exciting trek through the jungle and sometimes went down. If you have nothing to hold you to feel very unsafe. The trip was also directly by water to the elephants brought us back to the eco lodge. Time to start training. We were given a sheet containing the most used commands (left, right, go, stop, lie down, paw at it to climb back, do not, reverse, etc.). After the verdict was to have trained from handy to memorize and we have done during a lunch. Then we could for the first time both itself on an elephant. Weather around the same lap but the elephant to try to get ahead. The route was familiar to the animals and it was not difficult because the mahoet also helped. On hot classification of the circle we were back at the eco lodge and took a few people first day with the elephants 'bath' in the river. Great to see some elephants do you natspuiten commande cup or just go down while someone sits. Now it was our turn. Again the same elephant, mahoet back and into the water. A bit strange as the elephant under water. We both had an elephant that could spray, so it stayed with head perish. From the water we walked directly to the elephants into the jungle to where they sleep. They are then fastened with a long chain to a tree in a bamboo-rich area so that the rest of the evening meal. The trip to the site took about 1.5 hours and in that time we had to send them. It's unbelievable how such a large elephant shrubs such close matches. Above, they were sort of 'hidden' by bamboo groves. A path which humans have not thought through well enough to be applied was an elephant. We walked back to the valley (through the jungle) and I am with the Austrians a little go tubing. We were 500 meters to the river put out and left us with the current push back to enjoy the eco lodge. After the shower awaited us a delicious dinner. It's now something for UUS 9 at night and we are extinguished. What one experiences all. We could choose whether we wanted to take the elephants pick up tomorrow morning in the jungle. Itself is very nice but at least one hour uphill 5:30 in the jungle for me a prescription for the rest of the day too tired to enjoy so we enjoy with them at 7:30 in the bath. As I write this I still feel the ponderous movements of these magnificent and huge animals beneath me. Is this what they call sick elephants (instead seasick)? In any case, it is unique! juutsel | Tags: bath , jungle , elephants , elephants sick , tour
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19 ° 53 'N, 102 ° 8' E May 17 2010, 14:13  For the lack of cultural affairs in Vientiane and achieve more because last night we tasted today to walk around the city. It feels like Europe here. This used to be the capital but has roughly 400 years is now Vientiane. The city therefore had the potential to grow but not as big. The French during their colonial period built here a lot and it feels more like an old French village than anything in the middle of the jungle. A walk through the city was so, we started well with a back street and a few nice temples. The palace was unfortunately just closed when we were coming, so we have ventured to the 328 steps to the top of the stupa and beautiful temple with great views. What a city! It's just a village with lots of greenery and more flowers. It breathes in spring. After this climb we were just exhausted and in the shade by the river enjoying a fruit shake. The walk we called off, although we have finally seen almost everything. Tomorrow we want to tour and see what is happening here in the neighborhood to be done. I had heard different things about kayaking, elephants, waterfalls and more natural beauty. After a couple of tour desks I would really like to not only be driven around one hour on an elephant, but they also prefer a bath. This was possible in 1.2 or 3-day version. After long consideration (it is quite expensive), we have a 3 day tour booked with us 2.5 days to learn how to own an elephant ride, drive, and execute them with a bath. There are also treks on the back of the elephant (on your own, you send yourself the mahout walking next to it) through the jungle. We go to some small villages and a monument of the Frenchman who discovered what Ankor. The last afternoon we will kayak back. All sounds very exciting and we therefore feel. That three days is gonna be good because at the moment we are understandably not very eager to go to Thailand. Overnight in an eco lodge on the river and we do not expect Internet heben so that means 3 days radio silence. Before we started the tour books, we got a little scared eeng rote. We wanted to log on internetbnakierne passes and Michael did not. There was a fire bell, what if the cards are not random, but the reader was broken? Fortunately, we have taken two and show my card to do it just yet. We are happy! After booking the trip elephants we went to the night market that was slowly walked up. Michael was a Beautiful bracelet in the shape of a dragon and we have two beautiful hairpins selected. Completely happy! juutsel | Tags: Louang Prabang , Market , Temple , walk
Posted in Laos , Luang Prabang | No Comments » 19 ° 53 'N, 102 ° 8' E May 16 2010, 15:48  The morning that we left from Vang Vieng village festival announced was a cloudy rather than sunny. It was as if the village grieved for our departure. That is a proud thought, but it definitely helped the departure more bearable. Our last breakfast VV was more extensive than the mornings before: Judica ventured to an American breakfast (baguette, omelets, french fries, but no bacon) and I enjoyed a "continental breakfast" (a baguette with jam). A fruit snack and ditto shake the whole there was a mighty meal. The bus to Luang Prabang we had to spend a little left to wait. All buses from Vang Vieng to get a VIP buses had been sold, so we expect a lot. The shaky old bus (no a / c) we got put over something disappointing, but did go fine. The warning that the Lonely Planet gave us on the trip itself was no exaggeration. The advice was: people with motion sickness should decide to take precautions. The road led to its full 240 km solely on winding mountain roads. Now, arrived in Luang Prabang, we see no hairpin! The trip took eight hours and offered little opportunity for a nap by the continued sway of the VIP vehicle. Incidentally, the ride itself beautifully, precisely through all the mountain passes. The road led us past beautiful scenery, karst mountains initially but later on less rugged mountains. Karst Mountains are a miracle in itself: some simply stabbing straight from the ground into the air, others have sharp edges and jagged walls. The mountains were higher as we neared Luang Prabang. Sometimes it looked like the landscape in a green cloth which air was blown, so all bumps and lumps had appeared erratic. About five hours this afternoon we arrived here eventually. Along the way we made two stops to eat, but we were hungry all the gehotseknots course not. Food was on arrival are not yet high on the agenda, a nice stable, immobile bed. That after some searching we finally found a small but cozy and most friendly guesthouse. For 6 euros we stay unrefrigerated in a slightly claustrophobic room - but with a shower curtain! Moreover, the city beautiful. In the last hour of daylight that the former royal settlement that we had already showered quickly. The city lies on the peninsula formed by a river which flows into the mighty Mekong. The atmosphere is warm, thanks to the many French-style dwellings, the cozy streets and the abundance of Mekong terraces. In the half dusk, we, on the waterfront of the Mekong, even romantic dinner. Picturesque beautiful. Anyway, so we save ourselves here a while. Maybe not as VIPs, but certainly as ordinary mortals backpacker. michiel Dewit | Tags: Bergen , bus , Hotsenknotsen , Laos , Luang Prabang , VIP
Posted in Laos , Luang Prabang | No Comments » 18 ° 56 'N, 102 ° 27' E 15 May 2010, 15:58  After our fun kayak trip yesterday and the evening that followed, we wanted a look full of festivities deposit gets it. Most will be partying during the day, you take a tube (large inflated tire) and let you bring to the starting point. Then you can wander the river and go to one of the stop bars. Vang Vieng March there is a point of letting the tubes, or it is a monopoly and it shows in the price. A day tube rental costs € 5.50, or more than our hotel stay for two. We decided to go without the tube as the most interesting but the bars are. Asked if we were there we were then at 11:00 in the water ... all alone. The rest of the tourists were still asleep. It was quiet and we have the sun in the shallow water counterparts. And after awhile it got a little busier and Michael went to the beer (after a free shot of alcohol). It was great in the sun, with music and busier as it was a lot of people jumped into the water eht high towers and the trapezes. We slowly drifted the river what (I had seen standing mud volleyball and could not resist). The volleyball was fun just very briefly. My teammates did not want their beer warm. Swim a bit further to see how very drunk people from the highest trapeze slide and slid to a hard (and painful) to end splash in the water. It was great to good to watch though we both noticed that we still greater cowards than expected. Because we did not want to go down the river all the way (even 3 km shallow water to the village) we walked back to the beginning (it's). There, we settled into the water and some buckets ordered anyway. Cool in the water with views of five harnesses and many drunk tourists. The only annoying were the local boys from the age of 9. In Laos is not common for a woman to wear a bikini, in fact, most girls go above 7 fully clothed into the water. It has been said that we happen to tourists as "Western whores". These boys had no respect whatsoever completely. As a tourist you do not slap a child naturally, but under the guise of play they were still very rude. First splash and when you go back splattered all together. and then they go to your angen which often prevents them from their feet under your butt, or just going to pull your bikini top. VERY annoying, embarrassing and especially difficult to handle because half of the girls were so drunk they could not normally respond. I obviously with an eye and arm gestures made it clear that they had to stay away from me. Michael has a kid later pushed down, which was a leeftijdsgenootje huilens up to bullying, hitting and pushing bad things to say (naja, it did not sound nice), and the boy certainly was three years younger. The kid was innocent first but then he will not come close. Parenting is not really one of the strongest points here. A couple of girls of about 20 came up with the idea that it was fun to grab each other's bikini top. Very funny until the local boys were there ... and even worse was that they just 'forget' that they were both also had their money in their tip. So broke. Oh well, we were soaking up the sun with our whiskey coke bucket. In the evening we had a farewell pancake removed and a little bar in the Friends sat. So we've done all that is stereotypical Viang Vieng. Really great, but too many party place for me. juutsel | Tags: bikini , bucket , boys , tube , Viang Vieng
Posted in Laos , Vang Vieng | No Comments » 18 ° 56 'N, 102 ° 27' E 14 May 2010, 16:09  Vientiane was a promise that was not fully met. If capital is certainly a wonderful place - relaxed, small and barely traffic - but there's not much to see and do. After two nights and I Judica hankered for some action. Temples and triumphal arches are great, but what is their relation to water and friendly people? Not a fair comparison perhaps, but a compromise that we were forced to do today. The program was a tour for today. According to the brochure were the highlights of the trip: the elephant cave, a walk through the rice fields, "tubing" from a cave and 10km kayak back to the village. The cave was small and not very special (apart from the temple that housed and a nice story about a flamingo), the rice fields were dry, but all the water activities were thick worthwhile. In a tractor inner tube (a 'tube') float through a cave is a fascinating idea. No idea who invented it, but it was definitely funny and cool. With a parade of tourists along a rope - lying on your back in a giant donut, ass in the water - a dead end cave in to drive is not an obvious activity, but who invented it is certainly richer. Lunch in a hut at the Cave, consisting of fried rice, kebabs and some bread and bananas, ceased the hunger and led the truck movement to the river. Kayaking between karst mountains is beautiful, but the huge contrast to what we found halfway - it felt like an anachronism - it was overwhelming. The local middle class had several bars along the river and formed a little trigger attractions built of bamboo, ranging from trapezes, cable lengths up to a giant slide. The loud music and the many swimming (and drinking) backpackers were a wonderful view. After a few minutes (and a bucket) we in the mood and all that we have been so well entertained. The last few kilometers to the village were then of course some more ... Now we're back in a kind of hippie sit-in in a corner of a bar with people from all nations to enjoy the warmth and coziness that people in this village can share among themselves. A great experience - not least the delicious pancakes with chocolate peanut butter and other delicious fruit shakes - and one that we certainly have a warmer feeling for the rest of our travel in Laos send. And to answer the question: donuts float, the nutties do. Dewit michelle | Posted in Vang Vieng | No Comments » 18 ° 56 'N, 102 ° 27' E 13 May 2010, 3:07 p.m. The bus left exactly half past nine scheduled one hour late. Nobody here seems to look at it, but I was surprised about it. What good is a schedule when you're not using? Anyway, I can not complain too long, the bus from Vientiane us neatly (or as they say here, Chang Wing) to paradise for revelers brought Vang Vieng. It took a little 6 hours, but the mini-fans and the breeze that brought about the many open windows were definitely bearable. We were planning to go to Vang Vieng, just because it's such a nice place for what seems to be sporty things. But we were not aware of the modern reputation of this place. When I walked in a circle around us to find a nice hotel I fell from one another in amazement. First, it is this very touristic (a backpacker way), but most striking were the many relaxing lounge areas, hammocks, cushions and other hang hang well. Vang Vieng offers onderdag to such matters as the illustrious Happy Shake, Pizza and the Happy Pancake Happy, fun for all enriched with locally grown marijuana, mushrooms and opiates. You just have to know, because in a corny mood otherwise you are committing just one error. Incidentally, all this explains the large number of hippie happiness is hanging occasions. Tomorrow we do sports, we decided. First some walking (a cave!), Then a tractor inner tube (or 'tube') through a cave (!) Drive and then in a village sticky rice and bread from banana leaves to eat in a kayak the local river back to Vang Vieng on to sink. We've been told that on that trip several bars are located on the side, all to increase the fun. There is also the opportunity to swing the vines, to "jump" in a weird swing to rock .... All included. Count down to a few nice pictures Judica in the foreground. Until then we are just as chilling. No Happy Happy Beer and sandwiches, but perhaps a few reruns of Friends (there is actually a bar that specializes them). What we do ... a gekkerds juutsel | Tags: Bus , Happy , Laos , Opium , Vang Vieng
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