1001 Places/Experiences to See or Savour #571 - Treehouse#1m The Gibbon Experience, Laos

1001 Places/Experiences to See or Savour After Remission #571

 

- Treehouse #1, The Gibbon Experience, Laos

 

(It is the biggest of the 9 treehouses here. Treehouse#1 can cater to 14 adults and is built over 3 levels. The tree is the Ficcus variety, the same huge trees that had been gobbling up ancient buildings in Angkor. With just 4 of us, we were spoilt for choice as to which "bedrooms" to choose from. The night was strangely quiet for us, but when dawn broke, the birds gave us a full orchestral display. What a dreamy, suspended way to wake up, to face the day. For sheer jawdropping surprise, this trip is quite unmatched - provided you can get over the physical side of the tough trek to get here. Watch the video below for the view from our ziplining experiences - right at the top of the jungle canopy)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1001 Places/Experiences to See or Savour #570 - Treehouse #4, #5 and #7, The Gibbon Experience, Laos

1001 Places/Experiences to See or Savour After Remission #570

 

- Treehouse #4, #5 and #7, The Gibbon Experience, Laos

 

(To say that we were gobsmacked by the sheer craziness of treehouses so high up in the trees, in the middle of a thick rainforest, would be an understatement. But sure enough, this Gibbon Experience gave us exactly what they say they would in their website. We stood in Treehouse after Treehouse admiring the beauty of each one of them. Remember - all treehouses can only be reached by zipline! How cool is that? From 25m to 48m high, each one is unique. We settled into Treehouse#4, 33m high, their newest which was built in January this year, and settled in for the night. After a quick shower with the greatest jungle view on Earth, we were given a 4-course warm dinner, delivered in a zipline, of course. What a most original eco-holiday idea indeed - made possible by the ingenuity of a Frenchman back in 2004)

 

 

 

1001 Places/Experiences to See or Savour #569 - Ziplining in Gibbon Experience, Bokeo Province, Laos

1001 Places/Experiences to See or Savour After Remission #569

 

- Ziplining in Gibbon Experience, Bokeo Province, Laos

 

(We signed up for "The Gibbon Experience" here in northwest Laos, some 90min away from Huoayxai town, heading into the Nam Kan National Forest Reserve. But our start of this trek began with a massive monsoon downpour, which caused the dirt road leading into the village to turn into a muddy roller-coaster ride in their 4x4 jeep, for all 9 of us. But 2hrs of tough uphill trekking later (in U$5 rubber boots), I got to experience my 1st zipline ride - and what a thrill it was too. The sensation of ziplining through the canopy of the tallest trees here is simply magical - just like a gibbon must be feeling when it swings its long hands from tree to tree. And it was one of 6 ziplining runs in one afternoon - woohoo!  see vdo's below)

 

 

 

 

1001 Places/Experiences to See or Savour #568 - VIP 'Sleeping' Bus, Luang Prabang, Laos

1001 Places/Experiences to See or Savour After Remission #568

 

- VIP 'Sleeping' Bus, Luang Prabang, Laos

 

(This has to be the most original transport experience that we have ever had, on land - a 'sleeping' bus? Yes, indeed - from Luang Prabang to Huoayxai in Laos. You are given a sleeping "tray" of less than 6ft by 4ft, with stiff cushion, 2 pillows and 2 blankets and off you go, on a 12hr journey from 6pm to 6am. By the way, it is meant for 2 persons. But because the bus was half full, we were able to get another tray, giving us the much needed space to stretch our legs. Did I say that there are actually no seats at all - no seating position, with legs down, is possible? Interestingly, we slept pretty well and felt good on arrival. Almost as good as a1st-class, flatbed airline seat)