15th October 2010 I stepped cautiously onto a log balanced precariously across a small stream that winds it's way through a thick forest. On our third day of trekking guided by Mr Bunleod we experienced the real jungle environment we had been expecting to hike through. We had planned to leave early in the morning so that Aaron and I could catch a bus to Nakon Phanom in the afternoon, but after two days of brilliant sunshine this morning we woke to the gentle drumming of rain on the metal roof. We waited till around 11am for the rain to let up and seeing as we weren't on a tight schedule we delayed our onward journey till the next day. We set out on scooters on the short (3-5km) journey to the nearest entrance to the Pua Wau Wildlife Sanctuary. The track was very muddy, so I had to hop off the bike several times and suggested we might as well have walked! After parking the bikes we entered the jungle and took up a winding trail. We crossed a stream using a narrow wooden po

14th October 2010 As impossible as it might seem we had even more fun adventures with Mr Bunleod on our second full day with him. In the morning Mr B jumped on one of his scooters again and Aaron and I on the other. We drove out of the village and back to the main road where we took a left and headed slowly, but steadily up to the north entrance of the Phu Wau Wildlife Sanctuary. We had to take the long route by road since tracks through the park are not easily negotiated. We did however take a shortcut through the NW section on a relatively easy dirt track. I only had to hop off the bike at the end of the track where an expanse of sandstone formed a bridge. We hiked a short way into the jungle before through the trees we saw a huge expanse of gray rock with a waterfall tumbling down it. We had reached Cha Nan Waterfall. We waded through part of the river at the bottom of the waterfall, then gazed up at the impressive sight. Water streamed over the rounded surface, hit a pool w

13 October 2010 “The brakes are no good on that bike, we won't go fast,” Mr B. assured me as we pulled away from the little shop and petrol drum that serves as the village filling station. A few minutes before we had arranged to leave the house to do some elephant trekking Mr B. had confirmed that I knew how to drive a motor bike. I said I did and was glad that I'd taken the opportunity to do some scootering in Nong Khai. Spending the last several months in India, Sri Lanka, and Thailand had also reinforced driving on the left side of the road. Rest stop at a rubber tree plantation With Jean behind me, we made our way down the rutted village road to the smooth tarmac of Highway 212. We cruised along between 30 and 40 Km/hr (20-25 mph). The shoulder was wide and the traffic (which was mostly just other motorcycles) was light. With no wind screen we caught a fair number of bugs. I got stung in the neck by something en route. The stinger was so deeply embedded that I did

12 October 2010 We left Nong Khai this morning bound for Kham Pia, a village on the Thai side of the Thai/Lao border and on the edge of the Phu Wua Wildlife Sanctuary. Towards mid-afternoon the bus pulled over on a lonely stretch of road in the country and the attendant told us that we had arrived. Jean and I hoisted our bags and deboarded. As the bus pulled away we surveyed the new environs. A house, couple of open air wood-framed structures, some water buffalo and rice paddy fields and pasture land as far as the eye could see. There was also a faded blue and white reading “Elephant Trekking Village 3 KM.” Below that was another sign with an arrow “B & B 3 Kilometers.” The arrow pointed in the direction of small, rough road disappearing around a bend. We'd missed out on visiting an animal reserved in India so the blurb I saw in our guide book about home stay in Kham Pia and wild elephant trekking piqued my interest. With the village being on our route it seemed p

"For legs good. Two legs better" - Animal Farm My Ride 11 October 2010 In south east Asia, two wheels seems to be the way go. Capable of toting whole families, merchandise, livestock, the 110cc motor scooter is a versatile workhorse. Excepting, our nightly dinner forays at Cherai beach it had been a while since I had been on a motorized set of wheels. Foreseeing some scootering in our future I thought it best to get reacquainted. While Jean was taking an internet job (sic) search day I decided to rent one of these steeds and take it out for a spin. At the cost of $6 for the rental and another $2 for petrol I was on my way to Than Thong waterfall some 75 kilometers away. The open road. Most Thai roads are well paved and not busy It proved a good refresher and the waterfall was nice too. We're in transit tomorrow following the Mekong to a little village called Kham Pia. The Mekong River Than Thong Waterfall  

For you all west of the Atlantic Tesco is British and apparently Thai version of Wal-mart Jean was thrilled

"Curiouser and Curiouser"                                                                                          - Alice in Wonderland   10 October 2010 While there was no white rabbits involved, Jean and I did find ourselves in a bizarre wonderland of sorts this morning. Nong Khai is a quiet town on the Thai/Lao border. Its one tourist attraction is a sprawling sculpture garden on the edge of town.    We rented bicycles and took off along the promenade in the morning. Cutting inland Jean and I passed through town and were soon weaving our way through country lanes.  Then we saw this giant seven headed snake towering overhead and we knew we'd found it. Sala Kaev is the lifetime project of the Shaman Luang Pu. If the Shaman had decided to pursue a career in the film industry rather than building sculpture gardens I believe Tim Burton would be out of a job. It was odd and interesting place that blended elements of Buddhism and Hinduism with amazing creativity