Kuang Si Falls

After another windy 6hr bus from Vang Vieng, I arrived in Luang Prabang late at night. We got a tuk tuk into town and found a guesthouse, ignoring the first one who wanted 300,000 Kip!! We paid 50,000 instead! I went out to the markets and found a dirt cheap mini Veggie Buffet, just 5,000 a plate. It was pretty bad actually but there were loads of people sitting down, including a guy from the bus, so we got talking and organised to head to Kuang Si falls the next morning. Sorted!

The plan was to get there early, and its a 1hr tuk tuk ride away so we left at 8am and had the place to ourselves for quite a while. I was concerned on the way with mention of a bear park, but actually its a reserve! They rescue animals from illegal wildlife trade and they have a number of asiatica black bears, and apparently also a Tiger named Phet but I didn’t see him. While fenced in an enclosure that wasn’t that large, they seemed happy enough and it was quite naturaly with a flowing stream and things to play on.

Then we started making our way up the various falls, swimming at most of them along the way! The water was beautiful. Clear and cool, very refreshing way to start the day!

While looking at the last fall I felt a sting on my foot, and realised it was a leech! I couldn’t pick the bastard off! Hmm I forgot my insect repellant and I’m fresh out of salt and vinegar. A dutch guy in our group had a lighter and held it near it and it let go but kept jumping back on, finally he held the ligher and I flicked it at the same time and it was off. The Dutch guy then proceeded to jump on it about 20 times. But don’t worry, he just shrugged it off and kept squirming around. He’s Dutch, so he’s about 7ft tall, and the leech was still alive! We were both amazed and just walked away carefully, keeping an eye on it!

At the top of the falls there is a sign to cave so we continued up there, a good 3km walk. When we got there, the area was empty. There was a cable running into the cave but no light on, and no where to get a torch. Maybe they only run this part in peak season cause we couldn’t see jack! Then we asked some locals that showed up if we could walk a different way back, they said yes and pointed. We were very suss but started and about 20min in decided this wasn’t getting us anywhere and the path was becoming less and less obvious. So we turned around, knowing the guys would be laughing as we went back. And sure enough they were at the first guy who ran back. I soon found another leech in the exact same spot as the first! (Lazy bugger) but was able to pick this one off easily. We then headed the same 3K road back. So don’t bother with the cave!!

Turns out holding a lighter or using a liquid to remove a leech isn’t such a good idea. While it causes them to let go, they vomit at the same time, into the bite! This increases chance of infection. Apparently the best thing is to run your fingernail down your skin towards the head of the leech and this will cause the leech to lose its suction and let go, then you can pick it off.

More swimming then back to our tuk tuk drive who was definitely ready to leave! haha

 

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