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BackpackingSouthEastAsia > BlakeMarc  > Other > The Gibbon Experience, Bokeo Province NW Laos (July 25- 27, 2005)
Very amazing experience but not at all what we were told we were getting into. "1hr hike" turned into 7hrs up and down mountains, through the mud, river crossings, etc. We were not given any warning that the tractor will not pick us up till we passed other pissed off people on their way out. We didn't even bring much water since it was supposed to only be 1hr. The 2 guides that met us 3 hours late didn't speak a word of english, just motioned us to follow them. One hour before reaching the treehouse things got worse! Pitchblack (nightime by now), rivercrossings, climbing steadily up muddy hills, through the jungle on narrow little paths, with lots of bugs! It was all totally worth it though. SO AMAZING!!! Keep in mind, our experience was during their first year and during their first rainy season. I am living in Chiang Mai, Thailand now so if you wanna come see me at my bamboo bar in the Old City, come to the Lost Hut.(Many Pics of the bar on this website also.) We can chat more about the Gibbon Experience. If you need directions to find the Lost Hut, gimme a call 087 184 5196 or email blakegeee@hotmail.com If you think you can find it, the bar is on the corner of Moon Muang Soi 1 and Moon Muang Soi 2. Moon Muang Soi 1 is a little lane running off of Moon Muang Rd just beside the big Mandalay disco. Finding the Lost Hut is always worth the search! All in all, I definately recommend the Gibbon Experience! Chiang Mai, Thailand now offers a couple copy-cat places known as "Flight of the Gibbon" and "Jungle Flight".
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BlakeMarc > Going across the line, this is directly below getting near the end.
BlakeMarc > This little stand is mid-point between two directions.  This was the most difficult to use.  To head towards treehouse, you had to reach under the incoming line, you could not line yourself up with it.  So you had to throw yourself off, and be pulled sideways a couple feet under the incoming line, while dropping about 2-3 feet swinging side to side.  Quite exciting!!!  When you tried to reach it to attach yourself, you felt like you were going to fall off the platform too.
BlakeMarc > Our friend Ben from England who we met on this "experience" with his girlfriend Amy.
BlakeMarc > The Gibbon Experience, Bokeo Province NW Laos (July 25- 27, 2005) photo
BlakeMarc > One of the shorter distance cables.
BlakeMarc > There are a couple cables that are not sloped quite enough so you have to pull yourself backwards the last few metres to the deck.  The rope closest to him with the pulley is the harness, and the further one is a "safety",most were worn 1/2 way through because you pull on it as a brake, if you are coming in too fast which you do on a few cables. The alternative would be smacking into the tree at the end of the cable.
BlakeMarc > Once you go across (down) one cable, you have to hike up through the jungle to get to the top for the next cable.  On one hike, I saw the biggest snake i have ever seen in the wild slither past about one step infront of me.  He was atleast 8 feet long, but he was going so fast my eyes couldn't catch up with his head.  He was black with about a 4 inch diametre.
BlakeMarc > On the line, heading back to the treehouse.  It was 3 stories, with running water.  The top level was just a big bedroom, you can see the bug-net up there.  The main level had the living area, and a small kitchen area.  And the lower level was quite large, with two rooms where you could sleep many people, and a large bathroom with sink, toilet, and shower.  This slept 13 people quite comfortably.  This is the main treehouse #1 of 3 currently built.  Below the treehouse there is a pigpen to clean up any scraps that you can just throw over the side.  This is all suspended in this massive Strangler Fig Tree at about 135ft high.  The trunk at treehouse level has to be atleast 7ft diametre.TO GET A SENSE OF HOW HUGE THIS IS-- LOOK AT THE CLOTHE  HANGING. AFTER EATING ,THE SCRAPS ARE THROWN OVER THE SIDE --TO THE DELIGHT OF THE PIGS 135 FT. BELOW.
BlakeMarc > Incoming to treehouse #1
Incoming to treehouse #1
 > Incoming to treehouse #1
Incoming to treehouse #1
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