Finally, I have found a wifi signal strong enough for me to get online. The best I’ve been able to do is download three or four emails at a time. Electricity only arrived on this island within the past three years and they are still figuring out what to do with it.
For example, I splurged yesterday after walking in the hot afternoon sun looking for a bungalow with hammock. Since this place has been “discovered”, the prices have inflated while the properties continue in a state of neglect. Eventually, I came back to a property that was a bit more expensive but clean, private bathroom, big bed and close to the village. Great!
I turned on the AC and it ran for five minutes before shutting off. I repeated the cycle several times and finally, turned it off with the remote control and removed the batteries. Suddenly, the AC came to life and worked “mildly” during the night. Tonight, I couldn’t get it to work at all. The lady from the office came to help me and after pushing a number of buttons, decided it was “weak energy”. So many people are using electricity at this time of night, the power is too weak to work the AC properly! Once she explained, she handed me the remote, said “OK” and left. Well, OK!
It’s me cooking here not doing the cooking! The weather patterns here sound like they have been strange like the rest of the world.
I rented a bike yesterday and today, discovered that the dolphin experience is more marketing material than reality, and found the only way to get there was an all day kayaking trip. I didn’t talk to anyone who had actually seen one. After my gibbon experience, “we haven’t even heard one in this area for a very long time”, I let that go. Cycling along the edge of the Mekong River, seeing sunrise and sunset, watching local life outside the tourist areas, that has all been really wonderful. The people strike me as polite but not especially friendly. Several people I asked for help yesterday have been the exception.
Recapping my trip here: pick up from hotel at 6:15 is, 8:30 pm bus departed at 7:55, we arrived at Pakse at 7:00 am, another bus took us the rest of the way around 9:00 and we arrived at the “ferry” around 11:00. On the island, the heat was already intense, loads of backpackers were strolling looking for places to stay and complaining loudly that rooms were costing $10!!!
Last night, I had dinner with three ladies from Germany I met on the bus. Later, I met friends for a beer: Neema from Toronto, Amber from Amsterdam, Anna from Seattle and me. We all just met up, had a lovely evening, exchanged Facebook information and then bumped into each other throughout today. I may see them later.
Tomorrow, I’m retracing my steps slightly. I’m on the 11:00 am ferry for a bus to Paksong which is on the top of the Bolaven Plateau where I’ll rent a motor bike and explore for a few days. It’s the highest and coolest spot in Southern Laos, home of coffee and tea, and home to multiple waterfalls. Some places offer coffee tours so I’ll check that out!
For now, here are a few photo’s from the past days. Hopefully, there is enough electricity for me to get them downloaded!
Ciao!
