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The Bolaven Loop

jeremymorris1812

The Bolaven Plateau is known for Waterfalls, Rural Villages and Coffee growing. Accessible from a circular road it takes a minimum of two days to circumnavigate, much like the M25 surrounding London. The elevated position should allow for a cooler climate, but Coffee wasn't the only thing being roasted while I was there.


The Smithy


First call, the blacksmiths in Pakse to buy a very large machete, this isn't strictly necessary but who doesn't want one that's hand made and shaped like an oversized Kukri under the bed.


There's an alarming amount of UXO (Unexploded Ordinance or UXB) around here because just over the Mekong and surrounding hills is the Thai border home to USAF airbase (Ubon operational 1965 - 1974) that was a front-line facility in the 2nd Indochina War. Planes never land with bombs so any spares were dropped just this side of the border. There's a whole lot more to this story including recognition following declassification that Laos is the most bombed country in the World.


 The anvils taking a beating below are repurposed UXO. I've also seen fenceposts and flower pots. The availability of cheap metal detectors is fuelling a dangerous trade in scrap metal.



Tad Fan


Deep inside the Bolaven Plateau is the Tad Fan falls, two Austrians and I arrived at midday, very hot and hazy, best not get too close to the edge.



Tad Yang

A personal favourite




The Village

Too hot, no one was in sight, or they heard us coming



The Coffee Plantation





Pakse


Pakse is the capital of the Champasak Province, much decaying French Colonial Architecture and some nicely restored, mainly into Hotels. For most travellers it's a base to go hiking. Some of it looks a bit rough but it is completely safe at any time.





Serious Mosquitos, I used organic spray in Cambodia, it was all you could get but effective. Here the strong scent of citrus lets them know you're coming.























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