The secret pool of Kuang Si Waterfall

The secret pool of Kuang Si Waterfall -

"Will you want to join us tomorrow to see the falls?" Asked the girl across the table.

"Sure!" I replied.

And just like that, I had position, I met with three girls to Luang Prabang famous Kuang Si waterfalls for dinner.

Go Ask to Luang Prabang for more than two seconds, and dozens of tuk-tuk drivers, if you want to go to the waterfalls

and they only mean one thing: .. Kuang Si

In a town not much to do (what a blessing), it is the most popular attraction for travelers.

were

waterfalls listed in my guidebook as "must-do", and every traveler I spoke before the city told visiting me I would be crazy, falls can not be seen.

Normally, when so many people to talk so excited about a place I'm skeptical. This is going to be a tourist trap, I think. It will be one of these beautiful places, so overwhelmed by the masses jostle for the perfect selfie, I will not be able to escape the rest for a moment.

But I love immensely waterfalls. They are incredibly soothing.

So by early the next morning wake up, I waited at the appropriate place for my new friends. When they were late, gave to make arrangements time to sit me with one of the many tuk tuk drivers around the large roundabout. It comes to me and we began our dance. We haggled joked, threw his arms in frustration, walked away and then came to a price he was faking too low and I still knew little high was

arrived to my friends, we boarded our shared taxi with a few other foreigners and drove the hour out of town to the falls. The air cooled, while we passed through small, dusty towns in schools, where children played and shouted at the door and beautiful Buddha statues, rice fields and green mountains in the distance. It was my first real look at Laos since I landed the night before. It was a simple, pristine beauty.

After arriving and our 20,000 kip ($ 2.50 USD) admission, we pay first at the famous bear sanctuary stopped. Asiatic black bears or moon bears are an endangered species, as their bile is used in traditional Chinese medicine to "relieve internal heat" (it is also everything required hangovers to cancer and is common bath products found). This sanctuary rescues and houses 23 bears now allowed to wander and enjoy life outside a cage. It made me want a bear. They were so cute and furry. Just look:

We watched them climb up and down trees, play together, and drink water. A collective "awwww" swept the audience every time a bear came near term.

The past flirtation, we continue to the waterfalls, eager for a swim.

Kuang Si is a giant waterfall, the lime-rich jungle and empties into a series of three gently cascading pools flowing. From the bottom, appears each pool as a step on the way to a holy temple.

The legend says that a wise old man called the water by digging in the earth. Then a golden deer from his home under a rock will rise under the new waters. That's where the name comes from Kuang Si: Kuang means deer and si means dig

We started at the bottom pool and wandered towards the waterfall .. As you walk through and around each pool, you feel, as if you have found yourself in a fairy tale, with water over white limestone cliffs in aquamarine pool flows surrounded by tropical trees that are getting just the right amount of light. The closer you get to the waterfall, the more groups of people I saw, swim under the waterfalls, walking on the rocks and make endless shots.

Staring through the crowd and quietly hoping swearing that they would get from the photos I wanted to take, I could not help but marvel at how beautiful the scene. Everyone was right: The place was a must. staring at the blue-green waters as' edges fell over the rocks, throwing the light an ethereal glow on the scene, could not take away the crowds and noise of this place of beauty.

"We should go swimming or hiking some more?" I asked the girl.

"Let us see some more hiking."

We continued on until finally reach at each pool amazement the waterfall. As the water cascaded in a barrage of sound down, we saw with sank draws. What a beautiful place to see! This waterfall cut through the jungle like a razor. I could not believe how intense and beautiful it looked.

From the right side of the falls, we climbed a muddy, bedraggled, worn track that often require a little mountaineer skills. Our rate was the peak and its spectacular views of the valley. We hiked to the top of the fenced in waterfall, wading through pools and cross wobbly walkways. I was amazed at how few people there compared with below. Although the bottom pools were filled with people, barely a fraction of them came to enjoy the view.

At the edge we have in the far reaches of Laos. I pushed an audible "Wow." I had no idea how green Laos was. We stood there and stared at her.

As we were about to descend, was a friend of the girl and asked her if she had found the entrance to the secret pool.

"What secret pool?" We asked in unison.

He told us that further down, along the path that we had already climbed, was a hidden entrance to a mid-level pool which was almost empty. He had not been able to recognize it and wanted our help. The girls wanted to join, and although I and hawed lined (I was hungry), I agreed, and we backed down the path we came to this hidden entrance to search.

As we descended, we spied what looked like another small path in the forest, of board and blocks barbed wire fence. It was a place that we clearly did not belong, but there was also a hole that passed us. This must be it, we thought.

We went through the first barrier and then another along a path to go. Within a minute, we came to the secret pool. In front of me an aquamarine pool under a waterfall was lit by the setting sun of the day. Light beams eked through dense trees and created a more magical location than the bottom. Surrounded by jungle, it was like we had the world for us. No touts, no crowds, with no pictures - it was just us enjoy a few this gift of nature

But the secret pool was not quite a secret .. A handful of other intrepid backpackers swam around.

"No matter," I thought. I had to cool off after my long walk in the hot sun. After a long, hot day of hiking, the water was, though cold, refreshing, and after a few minutes to warm my body on it. The water was deep enough to swim, and we played in the pool and walked over to the edge, where found, we sit a small shelf, look down and spy on the tourists below, which is not aware of these seem arrived special place directly above them.

after playing what seemed like minutes but was really hours, we were on our way back with just enough time to eat at one of the stands that before our trip line. Street We feasted on BBQ chicken, sticky rice, and som tam (spicy papaya salad). The chicken was cooked to perfection, with the skin just the right amount of crispy, and the sticky rice that perfectly sweetened som tam soaked.

days later I returned with a new set of friends and it was the not-so secret pool, before returning to the chicken feast. Kuang Si was just as amazing the second time.

Logistics
Getting to Kunag Si is simple. Just take the tuk-tuks from the center of Luang Prabang. They differ, if you want to and costs about 30-40,000 kip. Make sure you plan your day for at least four hours at the falls itself to allow. Admission is 20,000 kip ($ 2.50 USD). To the secret waterfall, follow the instructions above.

The chicken does not have a proper name, but how to leave the waterfalls, it is the third restaurant on the left side with the fruit smoothie stall before. The chicken costs 15,000 kip

Photo Credit :. 1

Share this post