Damn the man! Save the Mekong!

So we're going to take a little step back to SE Asia for a minute so that I can make what I'd like to call a public service announcement. 

The fate of the Mekong River is in jeopardy and it will essentially all be decided by the Joint Committee of the Mekong River Commission on March 24. I want you to help show that there is worldwide opposition to plans to create 11 (more) dams along the river causing sweeping changes which would devastate the lives of millions in Thailand, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam. 


Here's the gist:

In Transit: It took me 18 hours to get here, but I'm in Siem Reap, Cambodia!

I have been in and out of Internet access and when I've had the access, I've been using the time to e-mail my family or call my parents. I'm trying not to be so dependent on the Internet when there are so many other amazing things around me.

Found these suprisingly incredible knock-offs of Pringles on the Laos-Cambodian border crossing.

Si Phan Don: Four Thousand Amazing Islands between Laos and Cambodia

I took a ridiculously long "bus" ride to the Mekong River where I caught a tiny boat to Don Det one of the many islands on the river between Laos and Cambodia.

I essentially alternated between sleeping and reading in a hammock for a day and half prior to drinking and dining at night with complete strangers.

Then I went Kayak for the first time ever. Not sure if a first time kayaking experience should be on the Mekong River during the high season, but it was awesome.

Details to come soon.

In Transit: Laos - Tha Khek to Don Det via Pakse

I lived a charmed life, I know.

After my super long and wonderful trip to Kong Lor I was exhausted but time was still of the essence and I had to get on the road the next morning. That said, I still ran a bit lazy all morning. I took my sweet time getting out of bed, eating breakfast and repacking all my freshly laundered clothing. (Oh my goodness, I love cheap laundry service.)

The Half Loop: My 400km round trip adventure to Kong Lor Cave

I took an amazing 200km motorbike trip to Kong Lor Village. I slept in the home of a Laos family. I rode a long-tail boat through one of the most amazing caves in the world. I trekked through the mud... and got covered in it. I made an equally amazing 200km return trip.

This was probably the most incredible adventure of my life (at least up 'til now).

On the road.

In Transit: Hue, Vietnam to Tha Khek, Laos.

I realized that I completely left out Laos in all of the tales of my Southeast Asia trip thus far. That's sad considering Laos was probably my favorite country to have visited in that part of the world. 

(Just to be clear, I don't know that I will ever be able to pick a favorite place in all the world so at this point I'm sticking to the idea of having a favorite per continent.)

I really had to book it going through Laos and that was unfortunate. Honestly the nature of the country has nothing to do with speed. Everything is done at its natural pace and typically that tends to be quite slow. Something that those of us living in the States have a problem with. 

It certainly helped me realize how impatient I've become, especially after living in such an incredibly efficient place as Taiwan. 

Either way, Laos was amazing. Slowing down really helped me take everything in. It's an amazingly beautiful country. 

Simple and yet simply gorgeous.