Ratanakiri trek and on to Laos

Stayed at the Star Hotel, a place of very faded grandeur. But had a very good local guide, Jimmy, who took us on a 3-day mystery trek into the jungle. First was 40km on the back of a scooter over the red dusty dirt roads, then ferry across the river, then 7km more on the scooters down rough paths and tracks to a native village. Here we picked up our ranger/porter and loaded with food and water for 3 days for 4 people and hammocks we set off into the jungle.

Very hot for the first few hours, but after encounters with pig-hunting natives we waded across another river and stopped for a cooling dip - bliss! One more hour to our camp site by a waterfall with a good swimming hole. Food cooked over a fire, water boiled in bamboo, hammocks hung then early to bed to the sounds of frogs, birds and occasional gibbons.

Next day woke to the sound of gibbons in the trees, then through the jungle down barely identifiable paths and frequent use of the machete to loop back to the river. Cut bamboo to make a raft then floated down the river to our next camping spot. Climbed a hill to admire the view over the forest into the distance as the sun went down.

Third day after washing in the river we tramped back past small cultivated patches with bamboo huts to the village where we started. Back at the hotel covered in orange dust a welcome shower then off for cold beers.

Decided go leave Ban Lung next day so another 3 hours in a rattly minibus (everyone had their own seat this time) over dirt roads, a long wait for the minibus up to the Lao border and a very easy exit from Cambodia and entry to Laos. First night on one of the 4000
Islands which are very scenic. The island Don Det is where kids come to chill, smoke hash, drink beer, hang about in hammocks or in tubes on the Mekong. We had a nice day in a wooden canoe, but moving on when the laundry is done. Lao is very slow.