Lao-sy no more

After that grueling hike, I worried over the intensity of the next day. After another hour hike downhill, we came upon a clearing. Kayak time!

Tong, the guide who sold us the hike, came along for the ride this time. I was too tired and excited about the water to give him a piece of my mind. I told him again that I didn't know how to swim. His response, "... but you know how to swim a little bit right?" Terror pierced through my chest... very briefly. At this point, if I had overcome the day before, I could overcome anything!

We put on our helmets and safety vests. I was paired with a guide that knew all the rapids.

Yay for not having to paddle too hard and a minimal risk of capsizing. Some of us look more awesome in our gear than others....

I tried to take as many pictures as possible but after the first rapids, it became clear that my camera was better off in the dry pack. 

What goes up must come down

Huge fronds!

When you're climbing up a mountain for two plus hours, eventually you have to start descending back down. First, we were treated to a sumptuous lunch of sticky rice, tomato sauces, eggs, and beef. I'm pretty sure while we were eating Gareth said that food tastes so much better when you have to work for it... and it was so true. 

Environmentally friendly plates!

Feast!

We hiked upward for a small period of time before we finally stopped. We paused to take a group of photo before we started heading downward. 

At first, it was calm and peaceful, a long jaunt slanting down the mountain... and then things started getting crazy. I have no idea at what point the trail stopped, but it started with a very narrow path that faced a ravine and never got any better. One slip, and I pictured myself tumbling down a very steep incline. Phoebe tried to comfort me by telling me that I wouldn't fall straight down... that the bamboo trees would break my fall, but at that point, all I could do is grip David Lee's hand in terror.

Oh, you didn't know? I'm terrified of heights. It's not something that comes up. I love epic views but when I'm crawling backward on all fours in the jungle and praying that my foot doesn't slip, and thus, I slip down into brush and wild weeds and death..... I was crying. Whenever I could manage to rest on solid ground, I'd have to stop and weep. It's a nasty sight. Be glad you weren't there.

I hated this man the first day... loved him the second. He was my kayak partner, but for now he just silently watched me panic. 

I remember being so angry at the end. It's really frustrating to look forward and NOT even see a trail. You're just straight up traversing through uncharted ones. Tom said later that he thought we were the first group to do the trek after rainy season. You know that your trek is hardcore when there are no Aussies and Israelis on it as well. 

I finished the trekking portion of our Laotion adventure a full hour after all the boys. Lucas and Tom were playing with fire when we finally arrived at the camp. They are very special.

Thank you, David Lee, for being my rock on this hike. Thank you for letting me hold your hand for two hours. Thanks Phoebe and Monica for being amazing moral support and trying to make me laugh while I was terrified. Thanks for putting up with all my crazy voices and my descent into insanity. This hike was definitely something that I've never done before... and a learning experience indeed. 

.. But there's more! The second day we kayaked! 

Laos, so lao-y

The blue team! A surprising number of us wore blue shirts. I thought we should take a picture.

Remember how the trip to Dali was one of decadence and luxury? Well Laos is the opposite of that. Although we were in Laos for 2 days, I can truly say that I did things here that I've done before and... could possibly do again. 

The night that we arrived in Luang Namtha, a border village in Laos, JUST this side of China, we signed up for an adventure trek. Adventure and me, usually don't get along, unless you're talking about perhaps an adventurous top? or... an adventurous shopping spree in New York?

Keep in mind that I somehow ended up on this trip with super athletic and enthusiastic guys: Lucas, Tom, Gareth, John Kuo, Ken, David Lee.  So.. signing up initially was a struggle because there are about half a dozen trekking guide companies, all with about the same tours. Somehow, we settled on one. Then, Lucas and Tom wanted to go adventure cycling instead of hiking... all Phoebe and I wanted to do was go on a boatride... Feebs didn't even bring shoes. 

I quickly realized that I was outranked, outvoted, and going to be out-adventured. So... I stopped paying attention and shelled out the cash when it came time to pay the money. In the back of my consciousness, I remember John Kuo saying to our guide Tong, "We want to go on your most difficult trek." Of course, my mind rejected the idea that that would have held true after so much talking... but I was wrong. 

We awoke the next morning, jumped on a tuktuk for 40 mins, where we were promptly put on a kayak, and taken across to a small landing. From there, we climbed uphill for seemingly forever. When we asked when the terrain would even out, the guide told us it wouldn't. Afterall, this was the most difficult hike that they had. A sharp pain began throbbing in my chest. I think it was me breathing hard... PANIC!

Before I knew better

No one thought to correct John Kuo?