Probably the off season (rainy season arriving plus hot and sticky).

We watched the daily arrival of backpackers on buses from every which way. The hassle of sorting out suitable accommodation.

The Korean guest house was unusual. It had gutters.

No downpipe though. The hole where there would be one provided a shower for these two.

It was almost as if they hadn't seen rain before.

This is Kimche. All sorts of pickles, soup, rice, omelette, and dips.

I had to race back to the truck to get the camera.

There were three ladies in the kitchen who thought our antics with the camera somewhat amusing.

Went on a "four caves and a village" tour.

This is the elephant inside the elephant cave.

We think the drum is used to call people for food.

One from Hanoi, the other from Saigon. They'd met while traveling and teamed up.

The one nearest quit her job in Saigon, hasn't told her mother, but left itinerary with her boyfriend. She's headed towards India.

This is our guide Bun Su (spelling?) is tapping the curtains in Cave Hoi.

The curtains were flat. And we were horrified.

The formations are discoloured. Possibly from fires as people lived in the cave during the war.

We pulled ourselves about 400m upstream on a rope. Had our photo taken. Then pulled ourselves out again.

At this time of year the guides begin to worry about the effect of sudden downpours on water levels.

So did we as the entrance was rather low.

It starts from a weir at the entrance to the water cave.

Possibly before the weir was built exploring the cave was quite different.

The village is Hmong.

Planting rice.

It was raining as we left Veng Viang.

Villages occasionally run along the ridges.

The road reminded us of the Barry Way in Aus. A long steady climb with lots of corners.

Literally. Like a gun going off.

The guy nearest to us is armed. One of three people, one in possibly army uniform, who went for a look see.

This young lady was in her normal daily attire, walking through the village.

The road follows ridges.

Endless corners and hills. Very slow going.

None of the safety concerns we have about "stranger danger".

These two were quite a way away from the nearest village.

Usual story. Wait until the digger is out of the way and the driver waves us past.

Simple really.