Nam Song 'Tubing'

Vang Vieng, Laos, April 25, 2005

This was a very full day in Vang Vieng.

After exploring several caves, Nee and I rented a couple of Inner Tubes and had a tuk tuk driver take us upstream where we began a four kilometre ride on the Nam Song (Song River).

Many of these pictures will seem hazy because I put my camera in a plastic bag to protect it from the water. These are a group of children who met us to wish us well on our journey. It was 3pm when we started out.

After about half an hour, we met up with some children who were diving from a bamboo platform so we stopped to join them. This was really fun but in the end, very expensive for me because it was here that I left my Buddha amulet and later had to pay a Ransom to get it back.

Nee snapped this picture of me as I jumped off. I went down so fast, I actually hit the bottom with my feet.

Here are some of the children jumping from that platform.

Nee has a very playful spirit and the kids loved her. She jumped off too but I didn't get a good shot of it.

We almost made it to the end of our journey but it was getting too dark to continue so we pulled up on shore and went back by tuk tuk the rest of the way. The experience of floating along and watching the shore and fishermen, was magic.

Mystic Cave

Vang Vieng, Laos, 2005

Nee and I decided to look at one more cave that day, and I am very glad we did.

We climbed a huge stone stairway to the entrance to this; the biggest Cave in the area.

The view from the top is spectacular.

The cave itself is filled with stalactite formations and has an enchanted feeling to it. This is my partner in crime, Nee, who joined me for the day. Nee is a 26 year old University student from Bangkok. She decided, on a whim, to take a trip through Laos for a week.

I would describe this cave as a stone castle, or a monastery in rock. The feeling was like a Temple and it felt alive to me.

As we arrived at the cave, we met a couple from Ottawa Ontario, Canada; Rob and Julie. As Rob was walking around I suddenly saw something amazing and had him stop so I could snap this picture. I had the same feeling of vibrant energy here and I spent some minutes just listening to the powerful sound current; a tinkling of bells and the sound of high tension electricity that was very soothing to my consciousness.

Even the walk down was breathtaking.

Laos Countryside

Loas, April 22, 2005

As I travelled to Vang Vieng, I shot some pictures from the window of our bus to give you some idea of what the country looks like in Laos.
I found it to be rugged beauty with many steep hills and valleys.

The soil is very red and I passed many areas that had been burnt to make charcoal to sell.

Here is an area that was burnt out for charcoal. Two women in the seat behind me had a long discussion about the reason for the burning, and I would have turned around and told them but I didn't want them to know I was eavesdropping on their conversation.

The road wound so much that we could hear our water bottles rolling back and forth on the bus and no one could really sleep.

The homes were very much the same all along this road. They were made from Bamboo and were usually on stilts. They were just left natural, without being painted or decorated. I found them to be very beautiful the way they blended with the countryside.

As you can see here, there were satellite receivers and electricity mixed with the old style homes.

I really liked this country of jungle and hills and valleys and especially with it's misty blue tinge of color.

Luang Prabang, Laos

Luang Prabang, Laos, April 23, 2005

As I was waiting to get my knapsack from the boat I met up with a fellow traveller from Osaka, who said he would show me a good place to stay.

Hiromi Saori is a writer for Lonely Planet and has been travelling for forty years. He has worked as a diplomat, a broadcaster and freelance writer. He is also a self professed hippie. He led a bunch of us from the boat, like the pied piper, to a guest house that rents for two dollars a night.

Here's the Guesthouse I stayed at. It was very simple, with showers outside the rooms, but very comfortable and clean.

These are two Japanese girls who arrived with us on the Slow Boat. I'm sorry I can't find your names but it was very nice meeting you both.

After settling in at our Guesthouse, Hiro took a couple of us to his favorite bistro and we had noodles for 1000 kip (one dollar US). Then we found a bunch of children playing, so Hiro made them some origami birds and butterflies.

These kids wouldn't let me alone until I took all of their pictures.

The next day, I just hung out and relaxed. I didn't realize how tired I really was. I found a copy of a book Nancy from Winnipeg had suggested: Atlas Shrugged and spent the day reading. It wasn't until 7am the next morning when I suddenly realized I was a day behind in my thinking. I sprung out of bed, headed for a travel agent, bought a ticket for 10am for Vang Vieng and grabbed a tuk tuk driver to give me a very quick tour before leaving.

This is considered to be the oldest Temple in Laos; 300 or more years old.

In my Lonely Planet guide, these carved walls are described as exquisite. I agree.

The Seven-Headed Naga is a common Motif in the Thai Temples.

The attention to detail, even in the pillars of these Temples, is staggering.

I noticed a strong Chinese influence in the Pagoda style structures.

As I was passing by, a young Monk called me over. I thought he wanted to talk about the mystic secrets of Buddha. What he said was: "Hey, you got email?"

I agreed to send my new friends, copies of these pics.

The face of this Buddha gave me shivers. It felt so familiar.

Vang Vieng: Blair Cave Project

Vang Vieng, Laos, 2005

My crew has been brought together to explore the strange stories that have been circulating about a cave here in Vang Vieng.
We have decided to call this expedition the 'Blair Cave Project'.

8am: My friends, Nee from Thailand and Josh from San Fransisco have agreed to come with me and try to get to the heart of
these strange tales of mysterious rock formations, bizarre lights and disappearances.

8:45 We approach the Cave by bicycle and it seems we are drawn by a magnetic force that wants us there.

9:00am We have our first look at the entrance to the cave.

Even the dogs here seem to know something is wrong. Or perhaps it's just my imagination.

9:10 Our guide shows us a wide circle of grass that has been flattened. I ask him what did it but he only repeats one word
over and over again: "chang...Chang...chang..."

9:23am We finally reach the mouth of the cave where we are met with a sign that seems strangely familiar from childhood.
Why yes, The Wizard of Oz and the haunted forest with the sign that says:"I'd turn back if I were you."

9:24am Our guide sees these rocks piled in this strange formation and runs away screaming. What could be the matter? We go
in...

9:32am We have been walking for several minutes further and further towards what, we do not know. Suddenly, Nee sees it; a
huge spider on the wall. We look around and see they are crawling everywhere.

Then I turn around and there is Josh surrounded by strange writing on the cave walls all around him.

I turn back to see that Nee is screaming. She is looking at Josh but is unable to calm down enough to tell me what she
sees.

I look back and see a strange light around Josh's head.

Then I see it too... It's... It's... I can't talk about it. We feel the spiders everywhere and we run as fast as we can out
of the cave.

10:13am Nee is now laughing as only a Thai can. And I am left horrified by what I have seen. We call to Josh but he never
shows up...