Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Three major branches of the
Ho Chi Minh Trail
snaked through the jungle surrounding
Xekong, and consequently this area was one of the most heavily bombed in Laos. Animist
tribal peoples living in the adjacent hills, under constant threat of attack from the sky, erected
talismans above their huts to ward off falling bombs. Some of these tribes produce
hand-
woven textiles
that are highly sought-after by collectors. Decorative patterns feature tradi-
tional motifs such as animals and plants, alongside stylized fighter planes and bombs of ob-
vious inspiration.
Despite the dropping of bombs and defoliants, the area is host to a surprisingly large and
varied
wildlife
population, with bears, gibbons, tigers and elephants all said to be roaming
the forested hills. However, your chances of getting close to any wildlife are slim: the aston-
ishing amount of
UXO
that blankets this province makes exploration extremely dicey. Dis-
posal teams have concluded that Xekong will be losing people to UXO for decades to come.
Despite this, the average traveller has little to worry about if a few simple rules are followed
(see
Unexploded ordnance
)
. The number-one rule is to stay on well-worn paths, even when
passing through a village.
As if the danger of UXO weren't enough, there is a disturbing beasty lurking in Xekong's
waterways: the
pa pao
, an innocuous-looking blowfish with a piranha-like appetite and, ac-
cording to locals, a particular fondness for lopping off the tip of the male member.
