Day 7, Tuesday 25 October - Pakxong
Departure for Pakxe....... As the sun rises over the Mekong's east bank, I'm thankful I didn't miss it as today I'm heading back to Pakxe. By 7 am the dusty road is starting to fill with school children. They start school early here but take a long lunch break, 11 till 2pm. I skip breakfast, packed and ready. Transport to Pakxe starts early too and soon I'm on the road again. 1 hour 15 minutes later I am in Pakxe. And on to the Bolivan Plateau. At the local market I'm directed to local transport for Pakxong, 50 kilometres to the east. I have a good hour to spare; time to change money and get some breakfast. The local market also houses a food hall. Suitably refreshed with Laotian coffee I pick up some bread rolls, jam and other fillings as I gradually figure out how things work here.
Up to the Bolivan....... The scheduled departure for Pakxong gets delayed by at least 45 minutes as the truck fills with more passengers and the usual mixture of boxes, bags and miscellaneouc cargo. Then it's off up the plateau. I'm soon introduced to the spectacle of coffee trees. The Arabica beans are now ready for harvest, October to December, and are seen drying in the sun. The driver knows of a place to stay, owned by a relative and I'm prepared to check it out. I'm aware there are not too many options here, so I accept a room at Simile Guest House for just 60,000 kip knowing that I don't need air conditioning here on the plateau. It is less than ideal so I walk around looking for other options.
Koffee's coffee....... I read somewhere that a Dutch guy and is Laotian wife has a coffee business here and the centre of Pakxong appears to be where his coffee shop is. I meet with Mr Koffee who is happy to discuss local issues especially about coffee, and to give advice. I am warming to move accommodation to Savannah Guesthouse tomorrow after I check it out. Looks ok. I finish my notes as an anti-climax which is how things seem to me here. Nothing much happens after 6pm. As I don't have independent transport, which is most essential here, I decide to skip school and leave Mr Koffee to his coffee!
Departure for Pakxe....... As the sun rises over the Mekong's east bank, I'm thankful I didn't miss it as today I'm heading back to Pakxe. By 7 am the dusty road is starting to fill with school children. They start school early here but take a long lunch break, 11 till 2pm. I skip breakfast, packed and ready. Transport to Pakxe starts early too and soon I'm on the road again. 1 hour 15 minutes later I am in Pakxe. And on to the Bolivan Plateau. At the local market I'm directed to local transport for Pakxong, 50 kilometres to the east. I have a good hour to spare; time to change money and get some breakfast. The local market also houses a food hall. Suitably refreshed with Laotian coffee I pick up some bread rolls, jam and other fillings as I gradually figure out how things work here.
Up to the Bolivan....... The scheduled departure for Pakxong gets delayed by at least 45 minutes as the truck fills with more passengers and the usual mixture of boxes, bags and miscellaneouc cargo. Then it's off up the plateau. I'm soon introduced to the spectacle of coffee trees. The Arabica beans are now ready for harvest, October to December, and are seen drying in the sun. The driver knows of a place to stay, owned by a relative and I'm prepared to check it out. I'm aware there are not too many options here, so I accept a room at Simile Guest House for just 60,000 kip knowing that I don't need air conditioning here on the plateau. It is less than ideal so I walk around looking for other options.
Koffee's coffee....... I read somewhere that a Dutch guy and is Laotian wife has a coffee business here and the centre of Pakxong appears to be where his coffee shop is. I meet with Mr Koffee who is happy to discuss local issues especially about coffee, and to give advice. I am warming to move accommodation to Savannah Guesthouse tomorrow after I check it out. Looks ok. I finish my notes as an anti-climax which is how things seem to me here. Nothing much happens after 6pm. As I don't have independent transport, which is most essential here, I decide to skip school and leave Mr Koffee to his coffee!
Champasak Province, Laos
Mekong Sunrise at Souchitra Hotel, Champasak
Dusty Main Street, Champasak
Local Transport, Pakxe