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July 21, 2006
Swimming the Mekong
LOCATION: Ban Thalat, Laos
SEE WHERE WE ARE!
Longitude: N: 18.45394°
Latitude: E: 102.49597°
Miles from Singapore: 2049
We really don't know what to make of today. We took the wrong turn while leaving Vientiane and wound up somewhere just before Phon Hong. It was way too hot and we called it a day in this really weird place. The speed today was not fantastic, averaging only 15.8km. No wonder Jason can joke about how I can leave my helmet alone lest “some cow dashes out” to disrupt my ride. Right.
There was unexpected stuff like lots of padi fields, buffaloes, little girls fishing in the fields, rice planting by Jason (who now is considering it as a 2nd career, since he did grow up as a farmer's boy after all) and this... We were at a river crossing unexpectedly and took a ferry ride across the Mekong. Not before Jason had devised a plan in his head – to make sure the human-powered aspect of this whole expedition is being covered.
When we arrived on the opposite shore, he parked his bike, took off his sandals and shirt. That was when I realised that he was going to SWIM! SWIM ACROSS THE MEKONG RIVER AH! It was around like 350m at most. But well, the flow of the river was a bit on the fast side. I tried to come up with some kind of a make-shift back-up plan.
There were the following options:
1. Fido – the rescue dog. There was this stray that was just right there at the ferry point. I swear that I can throw the darn dog and get it to doggy-paddle back with Jason if things screw up.
2. That gigantic water bottle. It was large and probably can float well. I was trying to look for a flotation device of sorts to toss to him.
3. Me. I actually hold a Bronze Medallion certificate. Newly minted, newly issued. I should be able to do it... IN A SWIMMING POOL LAH! Haiyah, cannot expect too much out of me. I did try to swim across a Brunei river when OB was there last year for its staff expedition, only to be nearly flushed down the river into some crocodile-infested zone.
So between my 3 options, I guess the best bet had to be Fido. I was eyeing the dog, right there.
Jason then started swimming from the opposite shore and I didn't even notice! Oh my god. It was a close one. I imagine what must be running through the local's heads all in Laotian - “What the * beep * , that crazy falang (Caucasian) is trying to swim the Mekong! No money to take boat?”
Fortunately, Jason survived the swim and lived to tell. I told him the next time round, my hands would be firmly on Fido and the eyes on him! And I promise to devise a better backup plan of sorts as well.
Melissa
Posted on July 21, 2006 3:18 PM