I'm in Bangkok right now, and just chilling a bit. This place is huge and bustling, reminds me a lot of Beijing, just cleaner and warmer. Anyway, I'm only here for a few more days, then I'm heading to Ko Tao (an island off the Eastern coast of the Thai peninsula) to do absolutely nothing for as long as I damn well please. For all I know I'll curl up in a hammock one day and wake up in 10 years. So if you don't see me for the next decade, I'm probably still on Ko Tao, don't you dare come looking for me though, because you'll fall under the island's spell and be lost like me. Sounds pretty amazing doesn't it?
Alright, here today I'm going to talk about one of my favorite cities so far, Luang Prabang, Laos.
After I left Vang Vieng, still bruised and sore mind you, I headed out on the bus to Luang Prabang. Its the 2nd biggest city in Laos, but its still pretty small. For a country of only 4 million, I suppose it makes sense. Its considered a hotspot of Buddhist teachings though, and I saw monks everywhere. The city is really beautiful, its up in the mountains and the countryside is very unspoilt.
The bus ride to the city was breathtaking. The mountains in Northern Laos are famous throughout the area and for good reason. I took as many shots as I could from the window of my bus, but they still don't do the place justice. Apparently the road from Vang Vieng to Luang Prabang is only 200 kilometers long, but it has over 700 curves to it. Still though, the ride went fast because I was too busy looking out the window.
Once I arrived in Luang Prabang I walked around the city, checked out a really nice night market, saw some old friends from the road, and basically just took the place in. The 2nd day though, was a lot more exciting.
The 2nd day I was in Luang Prabang I slept late and didn't get up until lunch time. As I went out for lunch though, a man on the street just walked up to me and asked if I wanted to go check out a waterfall today. Ordinarily my alarms would be going off, but I asked a little and it turns out he was taking a tour group there in his tuk-tuk and just wanted more people. I asked the other travelers and it sounded ok. So I ran back to my room, grabbed the things I would need, and ran back. Turns out I didn't need to run as we were still waiting for others though.
In the end, it was a fantastic decision.
After a tuk-tuk ride and a quick boat trip down the Mekong River, we arrived at Tad Sae Waterfall. The place was straight out of a dream.
Turns out, its not one waterfall, its a big stream that goes back into the jungle. As it flows out it passes right over a bunch of limestone boulders. Over time, the water has created an amazing place with dozens of small waterfalls, lagoons, larger pools, and plenty of places to frolic or even just to sit and feel the water flow over you. Some pools were the perfect size for your own personal jacuzzi, others were so big you could dive in headfirst and still be ok.
I explored the place as much as I could, going upriver well past everyone else. I never reached the end though, the system was enormous.
After my exploring though, I came back and did some swimming, lounging, and even some jumping. It really was a great day.
But, as I was swimming in the largest lagoon, something big, hairy, and gray stalked right towards me; it was my first ever close encounter with a full grown elephant.
Right alongside the waterfall system there is a small elephant park. I only saw 4 elephants there but you could pay extra to feed them or even to ride them around in the jungle for a bit. It was too much money for me (I'm so overbudget its obscene) so I passed. Turns out, fate was kind to me. If I couldn't go to the elephant, the elephant would come to me.
As a bunch of us were swimming in the lagoon, one elephant was brought down to bathe. Now, I was told later that she (definitely not a he) was a small elephant. That's kind of like saying Earth is a small planet, its still frickin huge! Once I saw her coming down the path I freaked a little, until I realized that I she had no intention of eating me (phew!) and all I had to do was move aside.
All in all, we all spent about 30 minutes just playing in the water with her. We got to pet her and one girl got to ride on top as she stood up out of the water. The girl freaked a little, and fell into the water, but was just fine. I couldn't take any pictures of me with the elephant so I had to take all my pictures after I got out.
However, this was not the end of my elephant adventures, as you'll see in the next update.
Until then though, keep watching your inbox. Adios for now.
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