Bolaven Birthday

Jan 24.
It was my birthday and I wanted to be somewhere quiet. Pakse was not that place. The nearest option was Tad Fane resort,a slightly more expensive lodge perched beside the Tad Fan waterfalls on the Bolaven plateau. This area is about 1000m high and due to abundant rainfall, altitude and rich volcanic soil,is the coffee growing area of Laos. Many waterfalls are found on the plateau. Tad Fane resort is only one hour from Pakse and is the only thing around it. No town or village nearby. This sounded like my place. Even though it was more expensive, I was going to treat myself for my birthday. It was great news when Matt said he also wanted to go there. We would get a room with 2 beds and split the $30. It was no longer over my budget. Matt had some things to do in town, so he would meet me there. I arrived at the resort, which is 1km from the main road at 11am. The room was in a nice bungalow in a lushly forested and landscaped ground. I thought for the price the room would have been larger but I guess it's more about the atmosphere here.

I walked to a viewpoint to get a look at the waterfalls. The Tad fan waterfalls are actually a twin waterfall plunging 120m into dense forest around a steep cliff. There was a path leading down to a better viewpoint with the sign 'danerous' in front of it. I took this way! I went as far as I could and I could finally see the bottom of the falls. There was no way down further than here though. It was just too steep. As I was down here taking pictures, it started to rain so I quickly made my way back up the path. The sun came out later and the day was getting on. It was almost 4.30 and I thought Matt wasn't going to show and then he did. He had to wait for the bus from Pakse.

The resort had a great elevated dining area that had an obscured view of the falls. There is only 14 rooms here but I don't think they were full. There were about 15 other people in the dining room, mostly older French and German folks. I ate a tasty but different Thai green curry loaded with eggplant and swimming in oil. Matt and I chilled on our veranduh. It was a great place to spend my birthday. I always try to do something special for Christmas and my birthday. I can remember where I was for every single Christmas and birthday for almost the last decade. The sound of the falls lulled me into a restful sleep.