My solo jungle trek adventure supreme in Nong Khiaw

Wow. Who knew I had it in me. I had really only gone to Nong Khiaw because Shay (the Israeli guy) couldn't make it this trip. But it was well worth it. Not only was the town quietly tucked away in the mountains with not a soul in sight but there was a fantastic, at times a little trying, trek to the cave of Thames Pha Tok. It started with a 3.5k trek in the blistering sun up and down, round and round a dirt road. Finally I reached a sign "directing" me to the cave. This is where it starts. I entered through a broken gate into a rice paddy. I should have turned around just then. I continued along the rice paddy tracks as not to fall into the newly watered earth, passed water buffalo and farmers. AND continued through more farmers fields, climbing over fences, and through corn fields. All the while I was following arrowed signs (usually pointing up and hundreds of meters apart) back tracking I'm sure. Eventually I made my way through a tiny path that was heavily jungled, under trees, over trees, up a slippery clay incline, with bugs the size of timbits whizzing by my ears. I was terrified, exhausted, and looked like I just stepped out of the shower. It was amazing! The cave however was a little beyond me. I went down, as far as I trusted myself and the cave. It definitely didn't see much traffic up there or in the interior, there were loose rocks everywhere so I didn't make it far, maybe if I was with a tour.  Fun fact: the cave was where villagers hid during the Second Indochina War. I couldn't imagine doing that trek in that sort of a situation.