From Wikipedia - Lao-Lao (Lao: ເຫລົ້າລາວ) is a Laotian rice whisky produced in Laos. Along with Beer Lao, lao-Lao is a staple for the people of Laos
Oh god, a bottle of laolao 650ml costs 10,000 kip (almost 8000 for $1). This god awful rice whiskey was designed to kick ass and take names. Unfortunately, my stomach was a casualty at the midway point of Tad Lo along the waterfall loop. Backtracking a bit, I rented a scooter in Pakse and set off to explore some of the waterfalls in Southern Laos. A dime a dozen down there, Tad Lo offered a similar experience to that in Don Det. I met people who stayed there for days, weeks at a time. There was no reason to leave. Just find a rock by the waterfall, take a nap, and ponder life. Maybe the elephants will come out for a bath. Maybe there will be a campfire by the water at night. Whatever happens, life is good.
On my return to Pakse, I met up with an Israeli Sailor, Neal. From Pakse, we decided to try our luck at hitchhiking north. That didn't work out so well, so instead we were invited to dinner with some locals working the bus check station (I'm still not sure what they were doing). In any case, we found peace and solitude camping outside in a Chinese graveyard. Far from spooky, it was a night to remember under the starts. Speaking of which, from his nautical training, Neal could tell the time from the position of the stars in the sky, wow! A dying art for sure. The next morning, we headed up to Savannakhet, yet another sleepy town on the Mekong full of old French colonial buildings in various states of disrepair. The monks were exceptionally friendly, and the sunset spectacular again. We would part as we met, in the middle of the street. It was time for me to go play in Laotian caves.
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