We have a second day here at our resort in the Lao jungle. This morning we did the Namkat Hanging Bridges and Waterfall Trek. It was a 40 minute drive in open-air bus/trucks deep into the park lush with bamboo, clinging vines, big banana palms, and towering trees. We had to cross multiple streams and climb steep hills – it was like being back on a Disneyland ride!

We trekked a few hundred yards into the forest then the fun began: 15 hanging bridges to traverse on our way to the Namkat waterfall. It was a blast!

We had lunch at the Interpretive Center back at the start; then most of us walked the mile back to the resort, not realizing we had one more stream crossing to make! No option but to get wet feet.

I kept walking for another hour or two: 1. for exercise, 2. to squelch the water out of my shoes!! I found another hanging bridge right across from the hotel’s pool, leading steeply up to a lookout tower. Unfortunately the views were limited by the huge trees but it was a fun discovery.

We were scheduled to have a Lao cooking class back at the Interpretive Center this afternoon, which we’d then eat for dinner. The problem is that it’s unusually cold here, darn right frigid when the sun goes down and the class is outdoors, the restaurant has no walls and the jitneys are totally exposed. I think 99% of us begged off the class so instead we had another afternoon free and we’ll have a group dinner at the hotel.