Laos Tour Part Two: Unique Natural Scenery

*Laos Tour Part Two: Unique Natural Scenery* Laos' diverse geographical environment has created unique natural scenery. Although I only passed by in a hurry, several landscapes left a deep impression. ~~~~~ From Vientiane to Vang Vieng, about 60 kilometers by car, the road gradually becomes steep, the trees become dense, and a vast body of water suddenly appears under the roadside cliff. Surrounded by mountains and trees, the reservoir is like a sea; the boundless blue water is connected to the sky; there are three hundred green islands scattered like stars. This is a reservoir built downstream of the Nam Ngum River, named Nam Ngum Lake, also known as Thousand Island Lake. For the inland Laotians, Nam Ngum Lake is the sea in their eyes. ~~~~~ Vang Vieng is famous for its beautiful natural landscapes, which are as beautiful and charming as jade. The swimming pool of the hotel in the early morning reflects the mountains, and many Chinese people can't help but exclaim: "It's just like the landscape of Guilin!" The Nam Ngum River under the sunset, with boats shuttling and sparkling waves. The mountains are like silhouettes pasted on the horizon, showing more charm and grace. Vang Vieng has many caves, wide or narrow, bright or dark, with staggered layers of caves, strange stalactites, and intermittent streams. It's like an adventure to visit the caves in their original state. The water flowing out of the Tham Poukham Cave converges into a lake at the foot of the mountain; the lake water is rich in copper ions and appears blue, hence the name "Blue Lagoon". The water flows slowly, winding and bending, and the big trees on both sides are like giant umbrellas. On the grass, cool pavilions, stone banks, and small bridges, most of them are leisure tourists from Europe and South Korea. The sunset, tree shadows, and lake water reflect each other, mixing blue, green, and golden into indescribable gorgeous colors. Unable to resist the temptation of the beautiful water, some people tied swings on the tree trunks and swayed on the lake water; some people simply jumped into the lake to swim and play. A huge branch of a hundred-year-old banyan tree has become a natural diving platform. Under the cheers of the tourists, handsome men and beautiful women of various skin colors started to dive in different styles. Of course, I can't miss this good scenery and water, so I also jumped into the lake and played in the water. The lake water is cool, blue and clear, and the feet are deep and bottomless; the fish swim around, touching the skin, and scatter as soon as they touch. The landscapes of Vang Vieng gave me an unprecedented experience. ~~~~~ Kuang Si Falls is located in the mountains 29 kilometers south of Luang Prabang, the ancient capital of Laos. Here, the rainforest vegetation is lush, with towering trees, ground covered with weeds, and wild flowers dotted in between. The waterfall is about 200 meters high, triangular in shape, and the water splashes and falls between the rocks, like a white silk dancing vigorously. It is said that it is more spectacular to see it in the rainy season. I think the unique beauty of Kuang Si Falls is largely due to the layered and winding waterway. The bottom stone of the waterway is yellow and white and smooth, and the water flow is crystal clear and blue. The water flows together and apart, sometimes rushing like a waterfall, sometimes slowly accumulating into a pool. There are three places where the pool is wide and deep, becoming natural swimming pools. People splash and play in the water, adding some liveliness to this quiet deep mountain. The unique landscape is like Huanglong and Jiuzhaigou, but the scattered banyan trees and towering coconut trees remind me that this is a foreign country. Shoucheng