Another Planet

ETHIOPIA'S VOLCANIC VENTS (mentalfloss.com)

    I must admit that when I first read the location, I had to do a double take in startled surprise as the name Europa, a moon of Jupiter, leapt into my subconscious recalled from my Astronomy class. With it came a keen remembrance of the picture of Io’s strange volcanic surface; stinking with sulfur accompanied by alien intrigue.

    Once my eyes and and brain were reinformed correctly, Ethiopia, I grew amazed that such a place was not in fact on a different planet, but on our own; Earth. Further research undergone revealed only more intriguing facts.

Two hundred and sixty-nine feet below sea level, caught in the Danakil depression of Ethiopia (geology.com) lies this amazing location, “Dallol Hydrothermal Field [,...] look[ing] like something out of a Seussian nightmare”(mentalfloss.com).

    The whole area is drenched in heat, claiming the status as the hottest place on Earth. (volcanodiscovery.com)

Colors explode against the plain eye, bursting with vividity and vitality.

    Salt is the magic fairy dust in this enchanted land. It builds itself up in mounds, crusting steadily into odd shapes, and affecting strange colors in the strange pool mixtures. 

Cascading Alleviation

         There’s a place higher up, secluded from the valley… Simply hire a Tuk-Tuk to make your way there(TripAdvisor).

         On the way tourists might find themselves passing natives dressed in traditional garb hawking their wares. Genuine! they might yell from across the road. Handcrafted! the shout might prevail. Pushed right up in tourists’ faces old women with determined barks might wave their goods. Some people will eat it up with their eyes, swiveling heads to take it all in. Perhaps I’ll buy this, perhaps I’ll buy that. A hustle and bustle here and there, getting drawn in with the plea for their purchase. Others might try to shrink back from the grasping hands and insistive voices; Hurrying through the colors and knick-knacks with a determined shoulder past.

         The adventure has just begun though; this is after all, only the road to the sweet spot.

         Included in the entrance fee is the chance to visit the sanctuary on the way to the falls(TripAdvisor).

         Past the hullaballoo at last the ascent continues. Perhaps take a breath before taking in the sight, for it might just steal it right back.

         Carefully stepping across the slick rocks in sturdy shoes is likely something to be held in cherished memory for quite some time to come. Traipsing through the greenery offers rich air let into gasping lungs; filling both body and soul with its natural glory. Precision and excitement; tumbling over each other in a smile. It feels like a real adventure; yet carefree and unoppressive. There is just light all around and a desire to climb and reach the top to see a sight never to be forgotten.

         Water cascades down in a raw type of splendor. Spilling down in a magnificent terrace, like an elaborate ballroom staircase. In other spots, pools of water ripple enticingly, setting a tranquil, yet alive, ambiance. With trees all around, they are offering green shade, and waters beckon, lending the location is a quite enjoyable ambiance. It is also a lovely spot for a picnic; a place to unwind, ready for people to lose some time frittering away in relaxation or exploration. (Visit Laos)

    Feeling hot from the day? Perhaps a swim in the refreshing pools will get the sluggish blood flowing again. Swimming is not restricted, instead the waters wiggle excitedly, offering itself freely to those who make the effort to visit. Little wooden huts are even skirting the area for a changing place. Slip into bathing suits inside the small hut and jump into the water for a happy time.

    Though time seems as if it could be changeable as the waters, stretching into a blissful year, or merely a few sparse carefree moments, the sun will eventually set, and away from the gorgeous location one must go. Slipping downhill with gravity, hearing and feeling the echo of a delectable afternoon.

References:

"Well worth a Look - Review of Kuang Si Falls, Luang Prabang, Laos - TripAdvisor." Trip Advisor. Web. 10 Dec. 2015. <http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g295415-d555731-r331408955-Kuang_Si_Falls-Luang_Prabang_Luang_Prabang_Province.html#REVIEWS>.

"Kuang Si Falls - One of the Most Popular Sites in Luang Prabang Luang Prabang, Laos." Laos-Guide-999. Web. 10 Dec. 2015. <http://www.laos-guide-999.com/Kuang-si-falls.html>.

"Kuang Si Waterfall near Luang Prabang - Luang Prabang Attractions." Visit-laos.com. Web. 10 Dec. 2015. <http://www.visit-laos.com/luang-prabang/kuang-si-waterfall.htm>.