Waterfalls!!
Trip Start
Nov 01, 2006
1
19
24
Trip End
Apr 10, 2007
Tadlo, Lao Peoples Dem Rep
Sunday, March 25, 2007
The bus, Korean import (like the rest of righthand-side driving nations in the region), was slow and had faulty air-con that made the air worse than ever. The ride gave me rich opportunities to observe the ways Lao people moved. There are VIP buses that go up and down the major roads of Laos - which typically serve western tourists with lots of cash and less time. I was keen on travelling cheaply. The local bus stopped a lot at small villages. It also acted as courier, delivering sacks of produce. At one stop I saw two rattan baskets being put onto the luggage compartment. Then I heard "oink, oink". The piglets ceased to resist and accepted their fate by the end of the journey as they went silent.
Tadlo is a booming tourist spot. A nice change from ultra hot lowlands along the Mekong. Just about any home is converted into tourist accommodation. There is a well-known spot run by a man called "Tim". I found his place rather too expensive, and could not stand another night of listening to Nora Jones or Ben Harper to cater to the tastes of western tourists. Then I found a bargain price spot just a few houses away - run by a personible lady. She gave me water for free - which I appreciated very much. By nightfall the village is asleep. Great view of the stars.
Enjoyed strolling around the waterfalls and rivers. Checking out a few villages nearby as well. They were exposed to village tourism and learning to beg and to sell things in English. Refreshing to be so close to gushing water. Signs of mod-cons everywhere - almost all village house is equipped with satellite dishes.
