View over the water back towards the Perth central business district.  I took this photo while on holiday in Western Australia a few years ago – it seemed as if everywhere I went was just one big photo opportunity.

There’s no doubt that for the independent traveller in Laos, any more than two wheels are a waste.  Buses, minivans or cars are a safe but boring and isolating option.  Hiring a motorbike for a few days is definitely the way to make the most of your time in this beautiful country.  With the dramatic improvement in road quality in recent years due to Chinese investment but minimal traffic, riding is a pleasure – even for people like me without much experience.  The ubiquitous 100cc scooters are powerful enough to take you anywhere on paved roads, and even some of the dirt roads would be fine in the dry season.  Nobody drives particularly fast, and there’s plenty of time to soak up the views, avoid wandering cattle and call out sabadee (hello) to the kids waving madly from the side of the road.  With all that in mind, it was time to explore the Bolaven Plateau.

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At over 120m tall, the Tad Fan waterfall in Southern Laos is believed to be one of the tallest in the country.  Emerging from the jungle high on the Boloven Plateau, the awesome power of the falling water can be heard for miles around.

Before I left on this current trip I toyed with the idea of doing a weekly summary of what I’d been up to for friends, family and anyone else that was vaguely interested.  It didn’t happen.  No problem, I thought, a fortnightly synopsis is probably a better option anyway.  Indeed it would have been, had I written one.  Hmm.  Oh well, never mind – at least a monthly review will let people know that I’m alive and give them some idea of the things I’ve been doing lately, even if it’s not particularly up to date.  Yup.  I guess it could have.  Stuff it.  Without further ado, hello and welcome to my not-on-any-schedule update.  Take a seat, make yourself comfortable.  Sorry the popcorn’s burnt.

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Ko Treung is a largish sandbar island in the middle of Mekong River, near Kratie in Cambodia.  I hired a bike to slowly pedal around the perimeter and came across this hayshed and cart by the side of the road.  Farming methods and technology haven’t changed much here in a long time…