Jungle

Wow! A lot has transpired since the last post. I made it to the jungle and back, had to fight off the lions, tigers, bears and leeches. Not joking about the leeches, nasty little, blood sucking annoyances to say the least. So I was in northern Laos and did a three day trek. On the trek were two guides and three trekkers, including myself. The other two people were a man and woman from France. Really nice people. So the trek begins in like 90 degree weather with about 90% humidity. In the first 100 ft you are already completely covered in sweat, I am thinking it could be a long day when you are soaking wet so soon and mosquitos are buzzing around waiting to deliver Dengue fever or malaria. Ok - I dont want to sound cynical as we were hiking thru the jungle and it was really beautiful. Lushous greenery everywhere. Jungle vines hanging off the trees with the occassional snake on the trail. As we approach our village accomadations for the night, a lady is bare breasted just checking us out. Not your everyday trekking sight! We get our own little cabin that all five of us sleep in. The food is fresh as can be, hand picked vegetables and the chicken is killed for us right before our eyes.
After a good night of sleep it was time to start day two, we were warned of the leeches on this day, sort of excited and worried at the same time. They are not going to give you any disease, but the thought of these things sucking my blood really does not excite me. So at the height of the leeches, the ground was literally alive with leeches, you could not walk 100 ft without having at least 2 or 3 having a go at you. I managed to only give blood 2 times! It made it hard to enjoy the trail when all you are thinking about is not to let these things get you. Sort of crazy fun. At the end of the day we were rewarded with a gorgeous village, on the approach we were walking through these vast rice fields with big views of mountains all around us. This night was similar to last night except this time the main course was fresh duck! It was actually really tasty. So day three it was all over and I can say it was nice to get out of the jungle, even if I was only in it for 3 days!