Laos Waterfalls

During our stay in Luang Prabang, we did outings to 2 waterfalls. Kuang Si is more impressive in terms of waterfalls, but Tad Sae is also a worthwhile trip to see elephants wading in pools.

Tad Sae

Getting to this waterfall involved a roadtrip, followed by a short boat ride to the other side of a river. Our driver dropped us off near the river bank, where several old men waited for passengers. We had to assume that they would also be waiting for us upon our return from the falls.

Elephant rides and bathing are offered in the lower half of these falls. On our way in, we saw a woman happily bathing a gentle younger elephant, and OD started saying he wanted to see me bathe an elephant (just me -- he had some excuse not to go himself).

However, we then watched a mother and two daughters with the elephants, and I decided squarely against it. Not only did the elephants like to dunk their passengers, but they also took large poops in the water. Already sick with a respiratory bug from Bangkok, I would not have been happy to be thrown off an elephant's back into dirty water (there were elephant-free pools in the levels above, which OD took a dip in). We did get some good video footage of the action.

After watching the elephant rides/bathing, we bought some bananas and sugarcane to feed the elephants, which was enough interaction for us for the day. I couldn't recall ever feeding elephants before and I was struck by the pointy shapes of their mouths and trunks.

Kuang Si Falls

These waterfalls cascade down over various levels. In the lower levels, there were a number of people swimming, with a couple spots with ropes for swinging into the water. Due to minerals, the water had a particular turquoise blue color.

Near the waterfalls is a sanctuary of sunbears, who were too busy to pose for a shot. These bears are endangered in parts of Southeast Asia, due to deforestation and the bear bile trade. The bile of these bears is extracted for use as an ingredient in Traditional Chinese Medicine. Bear bile farms in China and other regions keep bears in small cages, allowing easy access to their gall bladders. The bile extraction process is believed to be extremely painful for them. Sanctuaries such as this one are an attempt to conserve the species and educate the public about their abuse. 

More Around Angkor

Beyond temples, here are some of miscellaneous shots taken around Angkor.  I must admit, I'm not one to get carried away studying architecture and fawning over ruins, but even I could appreciate the aesthetic details.

Gods pull a snake on one side, demons on the other

Terrace of the Elephants

Asparas

Near one of the temples, we decided to make an offering to a Buddha statue. After putting down some money, an old woman tied a red ribbon around my wrist and burned some incense. OD then went to take a turn, but the woman expressed some displeasure that he wasn't going to make an additional offering. 

Transportation around the temples isn't limited to tuk tuks. However, we decided against an elephant ride, which just seemed unnecessary and I wasn't sure how happy the elephants seemed. 

Other animal sightings around Angkor included wild monkeys and domestic livestock. One of the monkeys ran right by us, which made me a bit nervous, as they can get aggressive and like to snatch food and other goods right off you. 

Despite the heat, and the sickness that followed us home, we're glad that we got a chance to check this off our bucket list. And if you are ever in this part of the world, you might be able to convince us to give it a second go around. Just be sure to pack a sun umbrella and don't be afraid to wear elephant pants. 

Singapore: Water City

Water was a major theme of the McL. visit. Rainy season was already in swing upon their arrival and it showered many afternoons during their 2 1/2 week stay. Coming from Seattle, they are not phased by rain, but there it often drizzles while here it is usually a full-on downpour. On a rainy Saturday, we headed to one of Singapore's megamalls, Vivocity, for some indoor activity. C. loved the pet store on the top floor; she crouched in front of the animal cages with another little girl, pointing and repeating each other's words (which were either in Chinese or toddler language). The $2 Japanese store was also a hit with its abundance of toys and knickknacks. C. is such an experienced shopper that she pulled a basket off one of the shelves and put her items in. While the rest of the group finished eating at the foodcourt, I took C. out to the roof deck for a break. I wasn't sure how to entertain her at first, but it turns out that catching raindrops is endlessly fascinating for a toddler! The elephants on parade exhibit was also on display and the statues looked quite whimsical in the rain.

What's great about rainy season in Singapore is that mornings are often still sunny and warm enough to splash around in the water. The Jacob Ballas Children's Garden, part of the Singapore Botanic Garden, has a wonderful (and free!) water park. We went on a Sunday morning and it seemed to be the hotspot for expat kids. C. got more water-catching practice and learned how to redirect the sprinkler with her foot.  

The sunglasses seem to be affecting her aim.

One foot in the action.

Water activities were never far away, as our apartment complex has a very nice pool and the McL. were sure to take advantage of it. One of the best things about living in Singapore is definitely year-round swimming. In Seattle, you are lucky if it is warm enough for outdoor swimming 2 months of the year. I was a little worried that fair red-headed C. would get burned with all the sun exposure, but she was very cooperative in putting on sunscreen (I wish OD would be as obliging about it).

Another water-themed activity was the Ducktour; I have a slight addiction to Groupon and so I just couldn't resist their package deal. The Ducktour is also very popular in Seattle and when I lived there the McL. always joked that they wanted to go, but would feel lame being locals. Well, OD and I often look like tourists here (mainly because OD is partial to carrying his hiking bag and his camera on almost any outing) so we had no shame in taking the Ducktour. It was a pleasant ride through downtown and around Marina Bay as the guide pointed out landmarks and offered factoids about Singapore, but I'm glad we didn't pay full price. We took a lot of photos of the sights, but it being an overcast and slightly rainy day, they didn't come out great -- except for the ones of C. playing peek-a-boo with OD.