I Will Never be a Mahout. But Addi Might. (rope swing video added)

Addi is so calm on top of this giant creature that it truly amazes me. She spent half of the ride on the elephant's head with the Mahout (a life long trainer/ handler to a single elephant)- looking around, reaching for a giant flapping ear, and talking. She spent the other half telling me not to be afraid on the steep parts because "if I just watch, I will see that he won't fall down...and if he seems like he is falling down...well...maybe he is just resting". I'm not sure I follow the logic, but I am not the future Mahout, so who am I to question it?!

We each had the opportunity to sit in the Mahout's spot on the elephant's neck for a minute, which was fun...but I was secretly just wishing he would get back in the drivers seat- FAST!

It did not remotely compare with the experience Addi and I had in Sumatra, but it was fun and I am glad we finally got Jim on top of an elephant! (He was not nearly as nervous as I was, but I did hear several gulps and gasps from his direction!)

After the elephant trek, we headed to the Kuang Si waterfall. It is multi-tiered and wide (vs high and narrow like most we have seen). Much to our surprise, the water is turquoise blue- like the Caribbean or Indian Oceans. Addi found 'her own little waterfall' to float leaf boats down and we all swam in the cold blue water. There was a rope swing which Jim braved several times. Attached is (or soon will be) video of his first jump! :-)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B3jv7BM5QHc

We leave Laos tomorrow and are not ready to go. It ranks with Sumatra as one of our favorites. This country is beautiful- with smiling people and beautiful countryside. Brilliantly, Laos is taking the Eco-Adventure approach to tourism so it is really easy to get into nature and find the 'undiscovered' places. From Luang Prabang, one can arrange single or multi-day foot, elephant or kayak treks, village homestays, rock-climbing, ect.

I am hopeful that this tourism approach will preserve some of this country's charm. There is so much of the north we have not seen...and we haven't touched the south (rumored to be even more beautiful). Perhaps when Adventure Addi is older we will come back and trek into the wilder corners of Laos!

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