Day 3 - an early (ish) rise to have breakfast at the Pakse Hotel which was adequate but not great. We ordered a tuk tuk from the hotel to the southern bus station which was some 8km out of town. Just as we turned into the bus station we think we saw the dcene of an accident as a policeman was painting white lines around a moped which had fallen over in the road, not sure but looks dodgy!

Worse was to come as we arrived at the bus station and after being dropped off we walked around in a daze before plucking up the courage to ask at the booth. We quoted Tadlo which the guy seemed to understand but didn't say anything, he just started writing a ticket out and then pointed in a random direction towards about 25 buses! Again, a bit dazed, a nice Lao chap pointed at a bus for us to get on. Our bags were loaded in and off we went. Before even getting out of the depot, Lao kids were running alongside the bus shouting, "hello hello" to which Alice replied with a wave like the queen!

We got about 200 yards up the road before we stopped for what felt like an age to load up with rice, bread and a.......hedgetrimmer!!!

Not a bad journey except for the constant honking of the horn. Eventually after 2hrs we heard a shout of "Tadlo" so we hopped of the bus. After a bit of searching we saw a sign to Tadlo so set off on foot swiftly followed by a German couple (from the bus) on the back of mopeds?!!!!! We carried on walking in about 30 degree heat which was taking it's toll but we made it.

We checked into a really nice bungalow overlooking the river before heading down for lunch at another local place, the Saise Guesthouse. This overlooked the Tad Hang waterfall which is amazing. We then chilled out for a few hours to let lunch go down and to escape the heat. Chris then decided, after seeing a local do it, that it would be a good idea to have a wash in the river! Then the highlight as the local elephants made their way down to the river for their daily wash which was literally 10 yards away! great photo opportunity (Alice got a bit carried away!)

Had dinner at the Tadlo Lodge restaurant which is perched up high looking over the falls - not a bad spot!
Then off to bed to construct the mosquito net!