After a long day on a bus it was so nice to be outside for the entire day! We meandered and found a quick bite to eat (nothing special, eggs and toast) and then grabbed a moped.
Since we had already mapped out our day with our host yesterday, we hit the ground running off to the Blue Lagoon and Poukham Cave. We did some reading on these places so we were expecting a ton of tourists and it to be somewhat annoying, but it wasn't that bad.
We started by hiking up to the cave, which was basically just a huge set of stairs to the top. We rented some headlamps that smelled like an old gym bag, but we figured it'd be the safe thing to do. On the list of rules before heading up it tells you not to get lost so we were a bit worried about the cave.
Once we got up there it wasn't really as bad as we thought it would be. It was super dark and wet, but it was interesting. We went in until it was completely dark, but then turned around. There's something about walking into complete darkness with an average headlamp that doesn't seem fun.
We were happy to get out of the cave and go for a swim. The cave was cooler, but so humid we were drenched in sweat. The hike down wasn't easy.
The water was sooooo refreshing. There were a lot of people around it, but the water itself wasn't too crowded. There was even a sketchy tree to climb if you wanted to jump in - it was definitely higher up than it looks.
(The lagoon)
Despite its name, the Blue Lagoon, it wasn't the bluest water I've seen. However, it's definitely bluer than the Mekong...
After so many activities we worked up an appetite. On the way in we saw a spot that looked local and organic so we made a point to stop there on the way back. It ended up being awesome! There were little kittens and a puppy to play with while we waited for our food.
Aside from the animals the property was really cool. It's called Sae Lao Project. It started in 2008 and focuses on creating a sustainable community. They started with English classes, and have grown their property to be completely self sustainable, including drinking water and energy. They use biogas as fuel for the ovens to cook the food we ate, which was delicious! We had spring rolls, veggies in a tomato sauce or sorts, and traditional Lao lab. And of course, sticky rice. All the produce came from their own organic garden! In addition to the awesome restaurant, they teach free English classes (as well as job trainings and other things to help locals build skills), and they house four students right now so they can continue their education and go onto college! Anyone who wants to can volunteer there. It's a minimum requirement of two weeks, but you live and work there and have all your meal provided for.
Overall a super cool place with cool people (and animals). After lunch we took the scenic route back which was just a big loop in the middle of the mountains. The roads were a bit rough but we took it slow to enjoy the views.
Once we got back into Vang Vieng our butts were sore from riding around all day so we needed a quick break. We grabbed a snack and water and relaxed for a bit before heading up to the waterfall.
We knew the waterfalls here wouldn't be as spectacular as those in Luang Prabang, but we had the moped and more time so we strapped on our tevas for round two. On our way to the falls we saw a rainbow against the mountains and were confused why it was there. It hadn't rained...
...yet. Luckily we got to the parking area for the falls when it started to pour. We hid under a shelter for about 15-20 minutes while we watched other mopeders ride down the hill to the shelter. Considering ourselves lucky to avoid the rain we quick took a loop around the falls once it had let up, and hopped back on the moped. We were hoping to beat any other rain on our way back to the town.
After an exhausting day we returned our moped, grabbed a bite to eat, and walked to the hostel. We had a 9am bus to make the next morning and the sun took it out of us after being out all day.
On the way back, I couldn't resist myself from getting a banana and Nutella crepe. They taste better than I look I promise.
Another hot day, looking forward to Vietnam in the coming days, but not before a quick spot in the Capital city of Vientiane.
"See the world. It's more fantastic than any dream made or paid for in factories. Ask for no guarantees, ask for no security."
- Ray Bradbury
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