In a hole in
the ground, that's where most adventures start off due to Bilbo
Baggins, and so does this one. It didn't look much more then a hole
in the ground when we first saw it, but it grew with catastrophic
proportions as we slowly entered into The Paradise Cave of Dong
Thien Doung. The massive stalagmites created all sorts of monsters
and hellish beings as we traveled further in to the underworld of
highlighted grey. When someone accidentally took out the spotlights and
returned complete and utter darkness in to this deepest part of the
Vietnamese jungle, then we couldn't do much else then laugh.
We were fairly content as we drove back
from the big caves, childishly playing along the twirling roads on
our motorbikes, when we saw someone offering a paddling tour. In the
state of someone fairly content, we weren't exactly jumping on the
idea of setting out on another adventure, but as in the wise words of
those barely old enough to cutlery properly; “yolo” and off we
went. This time with lifewests and torches strapped to our heads, and
what luck we did.
As our guide, called “the Guide”,
“the Master”, “Mighty Pathfinder” and something in his own tongue, took us out on the river in a fairly leaky boat was I
laughing constantly. Partly because laughter is universal and often a
helpful way to establish contact with anyone, partly because the
inflatable boat was loosing air rapidly and lastly because the
speedos I'd been given to wear looked ridiculous. How sad it was that
the camera ran out of battery just before take off.
Giggles and playing is all very well,
but Mighty Pathfinder soon pointed us in the direction of a big
opening by the river, leading in to the mountain. We floated closer,
steering the sinking boat closer to the river bank and docked on a
minor wooden construction. Another cave laid before us, this time
enveloped in deeper and deeper layers of darkness. I've always been
afraid of the unknown, but I've always enjoyed a mystery, so it was
with a scared curiosity we carefully but proudly strode in and lit
our headlamps.
A vast nothingness went on for longer
then the torches could lighten so with open mouths the Master took
us further in, and down to the water. The height of the cave was
indeterminable, and depth of the water scared me to even imagine, but
we waded in on a smooth sandy bottom. Soon that disappeared and we had
to swim. My imagination ran wild, picturing all sort of creatures
lurking underneath, but looking forward in to a black nothingness
wasn't helping either. I childishly swam a few meters with my eyes
closed, letting all sort of mythical beings take place beneath and
above me, and when we shortly reached a bank within the cave was I
more then eager to hurry up from the water, but now the journey had
just begone.
We were to travel further and in to a
place of mud. Where all this mud came from is unclear but it covered
every wall, probably the roof and a thick layer on the ground, thick
enough that getting stuck became a great concern. Mighty Pathfinder
wasn't done yet, our screams and overall high-pitched complaints
seemed to urge him onward and show us the deepest parts of the cave.
Hills and slopes of mud continued for what felt like hours, and when
I was just about to surrender in this mud fight against the mountain
were we suddenly back by the water. The second swim awaited.
For another seven kilometers the cave
apparently continued, but a ten minutes swim was enough.
Floating on our backs, slowly drifting around in the water could we find some calm and properly appreciate what an astounding place it
was.
//Nisse
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