Jungle trek hang over!

Not quite sure I can remember when I have been this worn out from so much fun. We just finished our two night/three day elephant, hiking, kyaking tour out in the middle of BFE Lao. What a crazy experience that was - we are glad to be alive! Its really not as bad as it sounds, but trekking up into the freakin mountains in 90-92 degree heat with 100% humidity is truly not for the faint of heart. Rob has posted some great pictures that will give you the flavor for what we did out there, and I have been cranking away with my dorky camcorder looking like a total dweeb tourist. I think that we are both seriously sleep deprived and have the serious need for some grub and sleep. It was pretty hard to sleep last night after getting attacked by a spider the diameter of a flippin softball. I won the battle fortunately - although I have to admit that as I gazed down upon the crippled spider corpse, I did feel a slight sense of guilt............that soon left with a feeling of relief that that would be one less critter to ward off during the night. I watched a couple of village dudes butcher the duck that we eventually ate for supper. It was a weird and brutal process - on that I will spare the details. Lets just say that most of the ducks blood was extracted before the poor thing died. The village experience was a definate eye opener for me and I think for Rob as well. The folks up in those mountains live so very simply and they really work hard in extreme conditions. The past couple of days have been the most thought provoking for me to say the very least. We enjoy so much in our country and going to a place like we have been makes me grateful for the what I enjoy at home. There is too much to write and I am way too tired to even make a dent so I will end right now and pick up later. Hope all is well at home. Take care everyone.
Eric