18 th Oct Shanghai
Lao and The Elephant Camp
After a pretty
good nights sleep felt ready for today's adventure.
We head off about
8.30 am up the mountains along a dirt road. But the construction is enormous. They
are building bridges making a huge highway through to Vientiane the capital.
It will take a few years to build but will
take off hours from the 12 hour journey it takes now. we arrive at the camp
which is on the Khwan river. Phone is our guide here for the 2 days.
We have mulberry green tea in a gazebo overlooking the
river and get briefed for the day. Shown our luxury tent which is divine over
looking the river , an outside shower , huge inside bath ,lovely balcony and
beautifully decorated .
We then head off on our adventure. Down the
steep river bank to our luxury raft! Very quaint does have a loo, but I keep
falling done a hole on the floor of it! A short ride across the river where we
see our elephants crossing the river in the water.
We then climb up a ladder to a landing and I'm
first on! A bit scary, one foot on his head another on his back snd then onto
the howdah. I'm with Sun.
An 1.5 hr ride through the jungle, teak
forest, with stunning views on the way.
We get off at a stunning waterfall. The
elephants go into the water and cool off then head off home
We have lunch in a covered hut surrounded by
lush jungle and the sound of rushing water. This is rather divine.
Yummy lunch with
wine! Now for our trek through the jungle.
The staff cut
walking poles for us which I'm very grateful as due to the heavy rain yesterday
it was very muddy and slippery.
We walk up and down narrow tracks along the
river which is pretty, cross it a few times on tree trunk bridges.
Up and up the hills we go, it was a seriously
good work out and I was sweating but not finding it hard which was pleasing for
me.
Wew arrive at the
top of a hill and a boy with a horse is there to take our backpack sdown for
us!
We eventually get
back to the Khwan river and our raft was waiting for us!
A half hour ride
down the river was relaxing. Vegetables grown on the side of the river, long
boats going up and down and fishermen fishing. Home, a shower, swim and now
sitting on the verandah writing this listening to children laughing and singing
in their long boat. Watching the sun go
down and the changing colours of the mountains across the river. It's so
serene and beautiful and very romantic!
BBQ dinner in our gazebo on the river shortly!
It funny my room
is called inspiration and here is the
inscription
12thsept 1885
" creativity
inspired, after midnight I started writing my notes"
This tent was
built in memorial to Dr Neis. The theme describes his duty to issue a daily
report of his journey through Laos, which he usually did after nightfall.
The inspiration
desk in thi s tent reminds you of his duty and brings you back in time to this
romantic era of explorers and pioneers .
A perfect room for
me and uncanny that I got it!
Dr Neis was a
surveyor, mapping the river, and it was here that at the sight of the Elephant camp that he made his
camp back in 1885!
No comments:
Post a Comment