16th January - Sunday

We had breakfast at our guest house and set off to the jetty on the beach. Boats were full to get people to main land, then we were put on buses for the shorter than usual trip to Pakse. Arriving there we were dropped at the bus depot, everyone had to squeeze into a transport with huge bags to get into town, something you get used too! They like to do as little travel for as much money as possible not surprising! We found a place to stay and headed out for food finding a great Indian place, run by an indian family food was very good! We tried to find a place showing football but we gave up, girls opting for a film boys headed off to try once more, they did not find a bar but happened to come across some locals watching tv in a hotel lobby, they were more than happy to watch football with them.

17th January - Monday
We took a while getting sorted in the morning but eventually we had our motorbikes and hit the road. Our first stop, Tad Suay, lonely planet stated was a spectacular fall, we think maybe in the wet season! We headed on to Tad Lo, with slightly numb behinds after 85km, we got a room at a guest house where the owner plays blues & jazz all the time 'Tim's', rooms were bamboo huts. After a spot of lunch a bit late we headed off on a trek on foot. There were 2 amazing waterfalls Tad Hang and Tad Lo, locals use the top of one for there bathing area and the bottom people were fishing for dinner. We watch as a group of ladies and a young girl finished work took a short cut, crossing the rapids in a chain up to there waist in water in places and struggling with the current! We decided to walk back on land! Sleeping in the huts was quite strange lots of animal noises and very cold too, so it was nice to have our first hot shower for almost a week first thing,

18th January - Tuesday

We set off on our tour 150km ride to Attapeu, it was a long ride, and great time to think and plan things! We stopped on route to take some scenic shots the scenery was the most amazing yet! On route we went to see another fall, Tad Feek it was off down a dirt track Paula & Jon took a little tumble due to a bit of loose rubble, luckily just a cut knee to deal with. Waterfall was worth the trip though! We expected more from Attapeu but Unfortunately the book is out of date and hotel & tourist office were being redeveloped and numbers were invalid. We found a nice place & even located some ice creams! Heaven! We had a hunt and found a restaurant but language barrier caused a problem, luckily a guide was eating there, he assisted with our order and got the man from tour office to meet us to arrange a trek.

19th January - Wednesday

We headed out at 7 to find breakfast, failing to find anything other than bread! As we returned the guide told us to head to Vietnamese cafe, unfortunately the language was a problem, we managed tea & coffee nothing else so Jon headed to the Market & picked up some bananas to go with the bread. The guide eventually met us and we all set off on a 50km ride to the national park, on route the guide took us to a food market where he helped us find some lunch to take with us, sweet rice & pastries with veg inside. We were going on a new trek to the guide he had to ask permission from the village and directions to the trail, unsuccessful in locating it the first time he had to go back to the village. After finding the track we headed off for a few hours, occasionally loosing the path along the way getting bitten by evil ants and scratched by the brambles. On the way back we were taken to a villagers farm house, the children were beating the rice, dad was in the field but the dogs non stop barking made him come back to the house, the guide told us the reason for locals being wary is they think we are going to take there land and skills on the land. We tried to explain that's not the reason for westerners visiting, not sure if they accepted this. We set off on the ride back stopping to take pictures of some amazing views across to Vietnam, one you can even see the agent orange marks on the Ho Chi Minh trail where nothing ever grows.