Deep Within the Mountain

Morning, Kong Lo Village

Yesterday I journeyed to a tiny village in rural Lao whose fields were walled in by steep limestone mountains. Despite the remoteness I was in good lodgings that appeared to be brand new, there was still plastic on the fittings and the smell of sawdust in the air. On the downside there was no internet connection to access my university offer that came out yesterday. It was the real authentic Laos, that night I witnessed the slaughter of a pig (not a nice experience). In the morning I, with an English mother and son who were travelling the world, descended into Kong Lo Cave, a 7.5km subterranean water world that wound beneath the mountains. We traveled by boat, having to alight every so often and wade as the boat was pulled up rapids. Only the lights of our torches illuminated the cavernous tunnel, at times so big you could surely fit a 747 within. As the boat sped through the river cave it reminded me of the part from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory where they are hurtling on that boat between rooms in the factory. It was an exciting and sometimes surreal experience yet absolutely peaceful deep within the mountain. The passage goes straight through the mountains and is used not just as a tourist attraction, but as a way of connecting villages. On the way back it was slightly unpleasant to sit behind a monk who chose to smoke in the cave. This evening it was back to civilization to accept the uni offer: B.Political Economic Social Science at the University of Sydney for 2013.