The Bolaven Plateau is an area where coffee is grown in
Laos. On the way there, we pass a large
factory for processing coffee. It is
owned by a Vietnamese woman, who also owns a lot of property in Pakse. The
factory hires predominantly Vietnamese workers, and has housing for the
employees on the property.
We arrive at the site of the Tad Fane Waterfall. After a short walk, we get a sense of déjà
vu. The waterfall is one we had seen
from the air 45 years earlier.
It is 120 meters (about 400 feet). There are actually twin falls here.
Tad Fane Waterfall Bolaven Plateau Laos
It is 120 meters (about 400 feet). There are actually twin falls here.
Another view of Tad Fane
During the Vietnam War, there was heavy bombing in this
area. The Ho Chi Minh trail, used by the
North Vietnamese to move supplies and troops to South Vietnam, ran through
here. We see evidence of the bombing in
the form of craters.
Bomb crater at falls
Not so itsy-bitsy spider
At our next stop, we walk through a coffee plantation on our
way to another spectacular waterfall.
Coffee is harvested in December and January. We pass some beans drying on the ground.
Coffee beans drying
Even though we are there after the harvest,
there are still some ripe beans in some of the trees.
Ripe coffee beans
We also pass a flowering coffee tree.
Among the flowers we see on the way is the Lapsura, also known as the Speaker Flower. This is a poisonous plant. People are sometimes poisoned by touching the flower, and then eating with their hands without washing first.
Flowering coffee tree
Among the flowers we see on the way is the Lapsura, also known as the Speaker Flower. This is a poisonous plant. People are sometimes poisoned by touching the flower, and then eating with their hands without washing first.
Poinsettieas are on the path, too.
After hiking for some distance through the coffee plantation and the jungle, we arrive at the site of the Tham Cham Pee Waterfall. At the top of the path leading down to the falls, we are greeted by a sign which reads ‘Good luck’. We’re not quite sure how to take this.
Poinsettieas
After hiking for some distance through the coffee plantation and the jungle, we arrive at the site of the Tham Cham Pee Waterfall. At the top of the path leading down to the falls, we are greeted by a sign which reads ‘Good luck’. We’re not quite sure how to take this.
Ominous sign?
There are two ways down to the falls. One is a rather steep ladder type
affair. The other is a stairway with a
more gradual descent. Neither of these
would be ADA approved for persons with disabilities.
The steep route
We do have good luck, and navigate down by the less steep
route. This waterfall is wider than the
Tad Fane falls, but is not as big a drop.
We are the only visitors there.
In front of the falls, there is a raft tied up to a small footbridge. A rope goes from the bridge to somewhere under the falls. We hop on the raft, and our guide pulls us along the rope until we are near the falls. We are not dressed for swimming, so we don’t actually go under the falls.
After a leisurely visit, we head back up, where our car is now waiting for us.
Tham Cham Pee waterfall
We are the only visitors there.
Ken (on right) and me at the falls
In front of the falls, there is a raft tied up to a small footbridge. A rope goes from the bridge to somewhere under the falls. We hop on the raft, and our guide pulls us along the rope until we are near the falls. We are not dressed for swimming, so we don’t actually go under the falls.
Our guide on raft
Area at the falls
Area at the falls
After a leisurely visit, we head back up, where our car is now waiting for us.
View of the falls from top of path
On the way back to Pakse, we stop at a village. There are men making knives for cutting
coffee trees. What’s interesting about
the process is they use old artillery shells for the base where they pound the
metal.
Making knife, using artillery shell for pounding surface
Back at Pakse, our guide takes us to the Mekong Restaurant
for lunch. We don’t tell him we had shoe
leather there the night before. Our
lunch, with no beef, is delicious. .
In the afternoon, our guide takes us to the temple where he
studied when he was a Buddhist monk for eight years. At the temple, we get another unexpected
pleasant surprise.
Right after our car pulls into the temple area, several
other vehicles filled with local people also arrive. It turns out there is to be a ceremony for
some men who are becoming Buddhist monks. The people get out of their cars, and a procession begins. The procession is led by a man
banging a gong, and another beating a drum.
Leading the procession
The monks-to-be are dressed in white robes, and they
follow the percussion section.
Monks in front of procession
The
crowd, all in a festive mood, follows along.
They walk three times around the temple.
Some of the crowd throws chrysanthemums, and those further back pick
them up. Our guide tells us there is
money placed in the flowers.
Part of crowd at ceremony
After the pleasant interlude at the temple, we wander down
to the market.
Delivery truck at market area
Food court at market area
By now it’s late
afternoon, so we go back to the hotel for a swim.
Pool at Champasak Grand Hotel
Dinner is at the hotel that evening. There are two restaruants at the hotel. I check the menu for the outside restaurant, which has some unusual items. We decide not to eat there.
Are duck mouths 'quackers'?
Not sure we want pork appendix
This has been a really good day.
duck mouths??? yum!
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