Kong Lor Cave

After rushing through Vientiane (our "hotel" boasted an impressive current infestation of bed bugs and previous problem with cockroaches, a cockroach nest and something about swarming in the night - this was all spelled out on the wall of our room by a prior guest) we made our way to Ba Na Hin a tiny village tucked away in the huge limestone hills of Laos to visit Kong Lor Cave.

Discovered in the 16th century the cave has a 7.5 km river running through and under a range of limestone mountains. It also connects several villages on the other side of the mountain range to the main town.

Yes, that is a satellite dish being transported to a remote village.

Riding on wooden boats that were equipped with a plastic pail to scoop out water we took on and driven by our fearless guide (who was probably only 15 years old) we sped along the river and the pitch black passages of the cave.

At some points the cave has ceilings 70 to 80 meters high and huge stalactites and stalagmites.


Getting off the boat, we wandered around and with the effects of the lighting we felt like we were intrepid explorers walking to the center of the earth (i'm not exaggerating, it actually felt like that...minus the scorching temperatures and lava etc. that the core of the earth is supposed to have)

After almost an hour we arrived on the other side and were surprised to find a small village - the new home to the satellite dish and a very large LCD computer monitor.

Although Laos (pronounced "Lao" without the "s" by locals) has been a completely different experience to what we were expecting, the natural beauty and scenery the country has to offer has been incredible. And although I spent the whole ride to the next town vomiting in the back of a pick up truck along the winding roads - the cave was worth it.