| 20 ° 4 'N, 102 ° 37' E 21 May 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 again want to return. Yesterday afternoon we along with some other tourists caught a tuk tuk and drove thither. This time we walked all the way up to a secret pool. This required and a "track" or track to find the puddle was. It was not easy because the trail went through / over a watertje but once we had was great! Just to get some pictures 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 20 May 2010, 15:41  This morning was a matineuze morning. In order to retrieve the elephants we would leave at six thirty. Since the only action was what got clothes on the clock at a quarter past six. At six o'clock there was suddenly at our door gekloptd ear the guide and we were shocked awake. Normally I'm really a morning person but rather unexpectedly wake up does not much good for my mood. A half hour later we left with a boat to avoid the long walk. We then walked up the mountain and were surprised. Was this where we are today with these huge elephants were walked through? A little later came the reply. From the bamboo groves that my Elephant (Ghumday) had hidden was not much left. However, she had here and there nice compact inverted bamboo on the ground. The elephants sit overnight to a meter long chain (otherwise they get to the villages or search) to their legs tied to a tree. The mahoet made the chain and the elephant pulled the chain to a place so mahoet this could lay down on her neck. 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 briefly having gebadderd was time to say goodbye to the elephants. With a trunk hug was a not so 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 had to deal with rapids and we are co-released unharmed. When you return to Luang Prabang was the tour continues. With a minivan, we were driven to dee KuongSi waterfall. A ride of half an hour where we both could keep their eyes barely open. At the waterfall a short walk and there was that. Center Parcs in real life. Deep blue water with various platforms from where it went. 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 are repeatedly indented. At a lower waterfall there was a waterfall where you could jump from, scary but also very cool weather. The rope with which you could jump into the water, I also used enthusiastically. A paradise on earth, I hope the photos a beetj 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 of your body so you eat a delicious soft pellicle will. In this water were these fish also and I tried them on the picture of it. Of course there were too few for a "treatment" but it was really cool. Today Michael and I was 3 years together. The things we have done today and having made sure it was a very special day. Tonight we had dinner and I fear that we are but what inliggen for ten hours a day. 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 will then be tired. Because the only evening depart, I think the chances are that we again go to that heavenly waterfall. juutsel | Tags: center parcs , kayak , Cold , Kuang Si , Laos , Luang Prabang , elephant , jumping , waterfall
Posted in Laos , Luang Prabang | No Comments » 19 ° 53 'N, 102 ° 8' E 19 May 2010, 16:15  While during the day the big animals dominated, the night was mainly the domain of the little critters. There were three nasty spiders in the bathroom when we wanted to go to sleep and our mosquito net was continuously bombarded by everything with wings and hunger. Again, after a day of elephants, I sit on the bed while all around me critters their evening run. But further on I will mention, for there are 'bigger' matters. Because we are what were too lazy to 5 o'clock in the morning whether to stand and an excursion into the jungle to go, we greet our geslurfde friends only at 8 hours, after passing through the mahouts of their nightly stay on the mountain were recovered. The slurfies had some sleep in the eyes and not brushed their teeth, so a bath was necessary. And we might do with it. Bathing an elephant is a completely weird: everyone and everything is wet and there is much called and pushed. Elephants seem to have instruction necessary to know how they should go in the bath. Submerged on command, buttocks under water on request 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 at once under buttocks and head dipping. Attended 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 thick branches were gnawed away our smart gray noses with their trunks stripped the bark of the branches (because that's just the best part). What a clever animal. But while they are also quite timid and what spooked. Because the way to the green actually was a way, we met occasionally at some trucks. And although elephants a pretty good chance in a duel with a dieselfant, they put it anyway usually prefer to run. The mahouts were so sweet to some of their own during a picnic lunch to share in the rice field, and we in our turn to return to the lodge some of our lunch with the mahouts have shared. Cosy, but sometimes a pity that 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 piece to go hiking. It was three against and time to fry for a suitable place to spend the night. That 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 on the ranch still in a boat to drop a piece of tubing. All very nice, especially since we all with 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 immediately the day and I Judica exactly 3 years together, so we will not dwell on the parting of our trumpet players 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 first to the eco lodge (as many bags). When we arrived we were assigned our cabin. A beautiful wooden building with a veranda, 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 also waiting for our uniforms. If you stay longer than 1 day will get a kind denim uniform, not charming, but you get every day because elephants give a clean mud off. After we have jumped in the clothes was back with the boat over the river to the elephants. There is another couple (Austrians who live in Singapore) held yesterday a 4-day tour started and with whom we do in the coming days the program. On to the elephants for the first 'ride'. This time out but still with chair I could sit directly on the neck while the mahoet (which is the carer / person who rides the elephant) was seated on the seat next to Michael on the back. What are these beasts say high! Unbelievable and then we had not even the biggest. You can really nowhere to hold and the most logical thing to get your hands on his head and put your legs behind the ears dangle. The other option isje legs to raise and jeknieen at the beginning of the ears to explain. After half an hour I had just seen the front or back. 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, with the elephants brought us back to the eco lodge. Time to begin training. We received a leaflet with the most used commands (left, right, go, stop, lie down, give paw to climb, backwards, do not, reverse, etc.). After the verdict was to have practiced it useful out of your head to learn and that we have done during a delicious lunch. Then we could for the first time both itself on an elephant. Weather around the same circle but the elephant itself trying 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 went a few people first day with the elephants 'bath' in the river. Great to see some elephants natspuiten you do commande or just go under while someone sits. Now it was our turn. Weather on the same elephant, mahoet back and into the water. A bit strange when the elephant going under water. We both had no elephant could spraying, so it remained to go under. 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. It is unbelievable how such a large elephant shrubs such close matches. Above, they were kind of 'hidden' between bamboo groves. A path which humans have not thought through it was wide enough to fit an elephant. We walked back to the valley (through the jungle) and I'm still here with the Austrians go tubing. We were 500 meters up the river put out and left us with wonderful flow to push back the eco lodge. After showering, we got a nice dinner. It is now something for 9 UUS evening and we are exhausted. What an experience all. We could choose whether we wanted to take the elephants pick up tomorrow morning in the jungle. In itself, very nice but at least one hour to 5:30 uphill into the jungle for me is a recipe for the rest of the day too tired to enjoy so we are good at half past 8 with them in the bath. As I write this I still feel the sluggish movements of this beautiful and huge animals under me. Is this what they call sick elephants (instead seasick)? In any case, it is unique! juutsel | Tags: bath , jungle , elephants , sick elephants , tour
Posted in Laos , Luang Prabang | No Comments » 19 ° 53 'N, 102 ° 8' E May 17, 2010, 14:13  For the lack of cultural affairs in Vientiane to catch up and since last night tasted more we walk around the city today. It feels like Europe here. Previously this was the capital, but since roughly 400 years is that now Vientiane. The city therefore had the potential to grow but is not as big. The French during their colonial period here substantially built 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 and so we have ventured to the 328 steps to the top of the stupa and a beautiful temple with great views. What a city! It's just a village with lots of greenery and more flowers. It breathes spring. After this climb we were just exhausted and in the shade on the river enjoyed a fruit shake. The walk we called off, though we have finally seen almost everything. Tomorrow we are on tour, so look for things around here to be done. I had heard different things about kayaking, elephants, waterfalls and more scenery. After a few tour desks, I wanted very much not only one hour driving around on an elephant but also the dearest to them in the bath. This was possible in 1,2 or 3-day weather version. After much consideration (it is quite expensive) we now have a 3 day tour we booked with 2.5 days to learn how we can own an elephant ride, drive, and carry with them a bath. In addition there are the 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 Ankor Wat. The last afternoon we will kayak back. Sounds all very exciting and we have therefore excited. That 3 days is gonna be good because at the moment we are understandably not quite as eager to go to Thailand. We stay in an eco lodge on the river and we do not expect internet inquiries and news so that means three days of silence. Before we started the tour books we got here eeng rote horror. We wanted to log on internetbnakierne passes and Michael did not. There was a bell on, 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 walking around the night market that was slowly established. Michael found 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 feast was announced a cloudy rather than sunny. It was as if the village mourned our departure. That's a prideful 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 without the 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 bring 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 (without a / c) who proposed that we got something to disappoint, but did go fine. The warning that the Lonely Planet gave us about the trip itself was no exaggeration. The advice was: people with motion sickness should decide to take precautions. The road led to his full 240 kilometers solely on winding mountain roads. Now, arrived in Luang Prabang, we can no longer see hairpin! The ride took 8 hours and offered few opportunities for a nap by the continuous motion of the VIP vehicle. Incidentally, the ride itself was beautiful, even more so by all the mountain passes. The road led us past beautiful views, karst mountains initially but later on less rugged mountains. Karst Mountains are a miracle in itself: some simply stabbing right out of the ground into the air, others are sharp and jagged walls. The mountains were higher as we neared Luang Prabang. Sometimes it seemed the landscape in a green sheet which air was blown, so all bumps and lumps had appeared erratic. Around five o'clock 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 on arrival was therefore not high on the agenda, but a nice stable, immobile bed. That we finally found after some searching in a small, but cozy and most friendly guesthouse. For 6 euros we stay unrefrigerated in a slightly claustrophobic room - but with a shower curtain! Incidentally, the city itself is beautiful. In the last hour of daylight that the former royal settlement that we had poured out quickly. The city lies on the peninsula formed by a river that flows into the mighty Mekong. The atmosphere is warm, thanks to the many French-style dwellings, the cozy streets and abundance of Mekong terraces. In the semi-twilight, we, on the waterfront of the Mekong, yet romantic dinner. Picturesque. Anyway, so here we save us some time. 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 » | |
