February 12, 2004

Avez vous un chambre?

Sala Bin Houn, Laos

I awake in Sala Bin Houn to a delightfully warm and clear day. Destination today is the four kilometre cave through the mountain. I hire a bike for a dollar from the guest house and head off for Ban Kong Lo, down eight kilometres of rough road.

I arrive to find a quite substantial village. I use my usual technique and wander around for a while looking lost until someone comes to help me. Turns out to be Mr Khoummy, a 55 year old french speaker. He directs me to the river and before long I'm off with two boatman heading towards the cave.

The cave itself was not spectacular in terms of formations but the experience of floating through darkness for such a distance in such a large chamber was quite intriguing. After an hour we emerged on the other side and stopped by the river for lunch.

After lunch I visited a nearby village with one of the boatman. No-one, including the boatman, spoke a word of english so interaction was limited but he seemed to know a few people and there were smiles all round.

Then it was back through the cave once more and back to the village, where Mr Khoummy was patiently waiting. Is it possible to stay in the village? I asked. Why yes, he said, at my house (well, actually, "moi maisson"). Some more broken french and it was agreed that I would stay tomorrow night, arriving sometime "apres midi".

With that I cycled back to Sala Bin Houn. The bike was much too small for me, I was wearing my bright Aussie boardshorts and my boots, and was waving frantically at all and sundry. It occured to me that I must look just like Krusty the Clown.

Arriving back at Sala Bin Houn as I head to my candle-lit room I notice that the staff quarters has a satellite dish. We each desire the others world.

Posted by David at February 12, 2004 10:07 PM