A Failed Excursion

The past two days have been packed with outdoor activities and I truly feel like I am gettin it done here.

Today I spent the morning walking around and scoping out the scene in the main part of town as well as doing some antique spotting. After a noodle soup brunch while looking out upon the Mekong River, I went back to the guesthouse to see if I can hire someone to take me to the Tat Kuang Si waterfalls.

My guesthouse receptionist Phuo offered to drive me on his motorbike for 10,000Kip (a little more than $10). The drive was beautiful and I got to see some of the best scenery that Laos has to offer. The ride over was also like a slalom run but instead of rounding gates, your rounding cows and massive buffalo which made the ride very interesting. Within 40 minutes we arrive at the entrance of the waterfalls. Before actually getting to the falls you walk past a bear and tiger reserve. Both are endangered in the region and this shelter serves as a means to keep them safe until able to return to the wild. The shelter is basically a giant playground for the bears with giant tire swings, hammocks and climbing structures. I got to see two bears wrestling in a hammock which was fun. Though as much as I was enjoying the bear battle, I could hear the crashing of the waterfalls calling.

The Tat Kuang Si falls are a series of multi-tiered falls beginning with small blue pools. As you make your way up the track, pools branch off left and right, each one spilling over boulders into each other. I decided to keep moving to see the main attraction and then work my way back by stopping in as many pools as possible. The grand finale was not nearly as picturesque as I had hoped because the area below the falls have picnic tables and its flooded with tourists climbing all over. But don't get me wrong it was still extremely impressive, just not picturesque. As I walked around trying to find a view where I couldn't see anyone, I stumbled upon a shabby trail that leads straight up. So of course I felt compelled to see where it goes. I was climbing for about 20 min on nothing but mud steps and roots with no end in sight. I eventually caught up to some Chinese girls on their way down and they said there is no end! The trail just stops. So I sadly turned around with them and decided to dip into the pools.

The pools were ice cold which was actually quite refreshing after the failed excursion to nowhere. It was great swimming out to falls where the frosty turquoise water tumbles over the round limestone formations. At each pool I met different people from all over the world and we would sit under a small fall and talk of our travels and life. After the pools Phuo and I made our way back to the guesthouse. We got to catch a quiet sunset beyond the mountains while we sat at the edge of a rice paddy and enjoy it with a few other locals.

Tomorrow, elephant riding, trekking, and another waterfall!