Hello to all fellow travellers, whether real or virtual. Hello also to anyone who enjoys following my Blog. I’m back on the road again, a full twelve months after my last sortie. To Laos, SE Asia this time. Enough of Africa; it’s time to embrace the Buddhist culture and eat noodles. I’m here in Ban Keun, about 80km north from the capital Vientiane, volunteering at a wildlife rescue sanctuary and conservation centre. Think endangered species, such as the lovely Pangolin, still used in traditional Chinese medicine. Or cute Macaques and Sun Bears being trafficked for the tourist selfie trade. Sad, but true. My role is to spec out and implement a new accounting system for the wildlife centre. Mission impossible? Well, I have just under nine weeks (my return is scheduled two days before Christmas if all goes according to plan) and the clock is ticking …..

I’m living in a shared house for volunteers and ex-pat staff. Eating and socialising takes place in a common, open plan space. That means open to all including the bugs. We each have our own room (basic but clean) and access to simple, clean bathrooms. Luckily, I’m the only one sleeping on my floor, so no sharing for me. And yet, however basic the living conditions, having someone to share the ‘war stories’ makes it OK. Today, for example, Marta, one of the resident vets, was woken by a small rodent dropping from her ceiling. Too groggy to react, she left the eviction process until this evening. And then you should have heard her scream….!!! Or check out the lizard who popped in for breakfast.

We are quite isolated here, unless you care to take a motorbike ride to the nearest village (3 kms distant). If not, then the local market sells veggies and beer and not a lot else! Throw in some rice and that’s a balanced diet, surely? Your faithful correspondent, “Dora the Explorer”, will report back in due course.

I do like my daily ‘commute’ from staff house to front office, which is a walk through the sanctuary between the animals’ enclosures. I get to see gibbons, several species of macaque, assorted deer and even three different types of bears! These are so lazy, mostly chilling in the shade or immersed in water to their necks. Of course, one does have to look out for monster cobwebs at head height – don’t want to meet one their owners! – and snakes in the long grass. Trust me, my feet never leave that path. Click on the drop down arrow from the main menu for a quick introduction to some of my animal neighbours.

So yeah, so far so good. Lots of work to do, and places to explore. Hope you enjoy the photos. More blog news will follow in a few days.

26 Oct 2019