There and back again: A travellers tale: Day 95 The secret caves from the secret war

07/06/13
At 07.00 my alarm went off, it wasn't long before I was on my way to the other bus station, 4km out of town. After just a couple of hundred metres a tuktuk pulled alongside me. At the bus station in I asked about buses to Vieng Xai, where I could get a tour around the caves that were used during the secret bombing war with the USA (during the Vietnamese war). I was told that it was a minibus and it would leave when there was enough people, if it left at all. Fortunately it left pretty much on schedule and half an hour later we were dropped off at the market in Vieng Xai. It was just 1km to the tour office and when I arrived, just after 09.00 I was clearly the first customer of the day. I was assigned my own private guide and driven around on the back of his motorbike. It was really eye opening, especially as AI had never heard of the US bombing Laos until I read about it in my guide book. Due to this secret war, which was hidden from media attention, Laos is the most bombed country in the world per capita, there are still thousands of tonnes of unexploded ordinance out there which still kills and maims the Lao people, especially children. The important political members had their own caves with circulation pumps, there was also a large cave that served as the barracks for 2000 soldiers, along with school rooms and a huge double ended cavern which was used for weddings, the cinema and theatre. My guide dropped me off at the market so I could catch a bus back to Sam Neua, but when I asked when the next one was going I was told tomorrow. Slightly taken aback I decided to get lunch and mull over my options, I also got a second opinion from the English speaking owner, he gave me the same answer. Not one to sit about and do nothing I started walking towards Sam Neua in the hope of picking up a lift on the way. I hadn't long been walking along the main road when I was listening to Miracle Maker by Delirious when I decided to look round at the road behind and believe it or not an empty minibus was heading my way. I doubted they would know the western thumbs up sign for wanting a lift so I began the internationally recognised arm flapping as slow down. Which they did. They were going all the way to Sam Neua and were happy to give me a ride. Proof miracles do happen