We woke up and headed for more caves these ones you swim through, same turquoise color tunnels heading into the mountain. After an initial recci, Lawrence the Canadian, myself (Craig) and the boys wrapped the one headlamp we had in a left over blue barf bag from the bus and descended from the 40+ degrees outside into the bowels of the earth, a combination of cool water and chilled mountain air. Great adventure ahead!
Once you go round a few bends with the odd bump of your head or toes the natural light disappears completely. Now we were reliant on the headlamp, Lawrence and I took turns swimming one handed with the torch held aloft. Eventually after a few forks it dawned on us that if the torch dies or if we drop it we were going to be in big trouble and reach a silent unanimous cave decision to turn round and head back to the light!
Headed back to the caves from the previous day- the scenery is SICK (stupidly beautiful)– time for the meditation lesson. On the way I (Lou) got a flat tyre, everyone was ahead so Nicky jumped off and we drove/ walked slowly until I got to a guy who? – fixes tyres. The old way with a hot iron compressor thing. Craig by this time arrived in a cloud of dust to see what happened. I waited patiently until my tube was repaired (R20) whilst Craig and Nicky went ahead to a rickety 4 table restaurant to order noodles and papaya salad. In these little places everything is made from scratch in a tiny kitchen so food comes out fresh in dribs and drabs as each dish is completed. You get to taste everyone else’s food whilst waiting perfect!
Its one thing going caving with a slightly gung ho Canadian and quite another leading your wife and 2 boys in sans the psycho, no warnings, no signs, no guides, no entrance fee you are on your own, needless to say we never got round to meditating but everyone’s comfort zones were stretched to the limit by the end of the caving expedition.
Another long beautiful day of adventure. At the end of the day I think it was Janine that suggested we kayak to Vientiane to avoid another 3 hour bus trip - through a combination of swirling endorphins, cold Loa beer and too much sun we made a decision to go for it!
Once you go round a few bends with the odd bump of your head or toes the natural light disappears completely. Now we were reliant on the headlamp, Lawrence and I took turns swimming one handed with the torch held aloft. Eventually after a few forks it dawned on us that if the torch dies or if we drop it we were going to be in big trouble and reach a silent unanimous cave decision to turn round and head back to the light!
Headed back to the caves from the previous day- the scenery is SICK (stupidly beautiful)– time for the meditation lesson. On the way I (Lou) got a flat tyre, everyone was ahead so Nicky jumped off and we drove/ walked slowly until I got to a guy who? – fixes tyres. The old way with a hot iron compressor thing. Craig by this time arrived in a cloud of dust to see what happened. I waited patiently until my tube was repaired (R20) whilst Craig and Nicky went ahead to a rickety 4 table restaurant to order noodles and papaya salad. In these little places everything is made from scratch in a tiny kitchen so food comes out fresh in dribs and drabs as each dish is completed. You get to taste everyone else’s food whilst waiting perfect!
Its one thing going caving with a slightly gung ho Canadian and quite another leading your wife and 2 boys in sans the psycho, no warnings, no signs, no guides, no entrance fee you are on your own, needless to say we never got round to meditating but everyone’s comfort zones were stretched to the limit by the end of the caving expedition.
Another long beautiful day of adventure. At the end of the day I think it was Janine that suggested we kayak to Vientiane to avoid another 3 hour bus trip - through a combination of swirling endorphins, cold Loa beer and too much sun we made a decision to go for it!
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