After two days on the lake in our comfy raft houses it was time to say goodbye and get back to the mainland.
Category Archives: _Asia_
A Day around Chiaw Lan Lake
The second day on the Rafthouses included a number of activities.
Already before breakfast we left for a morning boat tour to see and hear nature waking up. Later in the morning we boarded the boats again to get to the starting point for a jungle hike. After a short hike we arrived in a small village, where we changed to a bamboo raft to cross a little part of the lake to get to and later into a cave.
The afternoon then was spent at leisure – so simply relaxing – or for the more active by swimming, kayaking or reading.
Heading for Relaxation around Chiaw Lan Lake
We left Bangkok this Sunday evening by night train, making it into Surat Thani in the early morning. After breakfast we were transferred to the banks of Chiaw Lan Lake.
Here we transferred to boats for the the one hour trip to our home for the next few days – the Pleanprai Rafthouses. On the way we already could get a feel of the setup around the lake with limestone carsts.
The days on the rafthouses themselves were quiet relaxing with little activities. We enjoyed the included food, some boat trips to get closer to the wild and options for swimming and kayaking.
Back to Bangkok
It was now back to Bangkok – which by now somehow feels like coming home 🙂
After breakfast in the Imtrav hotel I got repacked to finally meet up with some of the others to catch a taxi over to Khao San Road. From there I made it by foot to the good, old Viengtai hotel. Here I met parts of my new group in the evening. On Sunday morning we met up for a Khlong (canal) tour, followed by a visit of the Grand Palace.
Pakse Market & Good-Bye Laos
Our last day in Laos.
Due to the closure of the Bangkok airports we had to leave early and prepare for a 14 hours bus drive. We did the first stop of the day – and the last in Laos – at the market in Pakse.
Don Khong Island: Mekong Cruise, Dolphins and another Waterfall
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Today was another adventure packed day. We boarded a slow boat on the Mekong to get to Don Kong Island (the one without ‘H’), here we had a jeep ride through the jungle to get the Southern tip of the … Continue reading
Roadside Impressions from Laos
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In the course of this tour we used ferries to cross the Mekong multiple times … this always somehow felt like an adventure in itself … below some Impressions.
My last Ride on an Elephant …
This afternoon – after our exploration of Wat Phu – we had the opportunity to go elephant riding – the activity was actually included in the tour.
The ride went through jungle uphill to some ruins; during a break at the ruins we had the opportunity to have a look around – and opt out for the ride back. Having been on an elephant before, I knew that this was not going to be the most comfortable and safe ride – I did it anyhow … and decided to use my own feet for the way back to the village.
After the elephant ride we walked over to the local school to hand over exercise books, pencils, erasers and other stationary items to the students and teachers.
Wat Phu – Khmer Temple
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This morning we were picked up after breakfast by songthaew to get to Wat Pho, an ancient Khmer temple ruin.
Hinboun River Cave
After breakfast (which consisted of rehydration fluid for me) we got transferred to the nearby six kilometer river cave – an unexpected highlight of the whole trip.
While inside, many of us had an actual “Lord of the Rings”-esque feeling, somehow expecting a dragon or a dwarf coming around the next corner – out of the dark … a feeling best described as eerie.