Living in the trees

Sufferers of vertigo unite - you have a new enemy and its name is the Gibbon Experience in northern Laos.

Accommodation is (as you can see above) your standard jungle treehouse 60-70 metres above the jungle floor complete with running water and all necessary facilities.
Access is via a cable network that will take you on "zips" of up to 350 metres suspended up to 100 metres in the air. This is Michaela from above waiting for her zip ...
And with her curiosity more than satisfied ...
If for whatever reason (I must be losing weight) you don't make it all the way to the treehouse or platform with momentum alone then there is no other option but to haul yourself in commando style (to put this in context I am about 20 metres from the treehouse at top).
Of course to test your head for heights you first have to walk 6 hours along a dirt road in 30 degree plus heat then another 2 hours through the jungle where if you're lucky you'll encounter a few of the friendly inhabitants (Michaela is still learning to share).
While Michaela made friends with the locals I seemed to be attracting more than my fair share of insect life (I have a leech to thank for a lovely little hole on my left shin - healing nicely). I'm sure it had nothing to do with my particular perfume but the butterflies and moths were particularly interested in my shirt and hat.
We both managed to stay a respectful distance away from the local bears though.

Did I mention it was the rainy season?

We're now in China and have already been witness to the bust of a drug smuggler ....

S