Introduction

In January 09  we are embarking on a paddling adventure down the mekong river. Starting at the Golden triangle where the lands of Laos, Burma and Thailand meet, we will paddle downstream to the Laotian capital Vientiane. 

Covering a distance of approximately 700km, we will paddle entirely by our own steam using 11 foot Airis inflatable kayaks. Basic food supplies will be carried with us on the kayaks, but the majority of fresh veg and water will be obtained from villages along the route. At night we will camp out along the route or seek shelter in local villages. 

So who are we? Well we are a father-son team from Sydney with a strong spirit of adventure and a passion for travel and interacting with other cultures. 

I'm Dave and I am a marine biologist working in fisheries management in Australia. For me this trip is a thrilling opportunity to explore new  places, extend my personal limits and engage with new and different cultures. Most of all I am excited by the prospect of exploring the aquatic and terrestrial biodiversity in the region.

The mekong river system holds an astounding level of biodiversity, much of which is yet to be fully studied. It is the third most biodiverse river system in the world after the Amazon and Nile, and a recent study released by WWF revealed that over 1000 new species have been discovered there in the past decade alone. 

In addition to its clear biological wealth, the mekong is literally the bread basket for millions of people who inhabit its vast length and many meandering tributaries. Rice and many other crops are grown in the rich lands made fertile through the depositional processes of the river.

During this trip I hope to document for myself how the people of the mekong make a living from the river and how, in the race to  'develop', the peoples are changing and what this means for the rich biodiversity and magnificent ecosystems that have sustained numerous civilisations for thousands of years. 

I am Duncan, heading off on some long service leave to forget about the rat race and being bumped by stressed Sydney commuters at North Sydney station. My work is managing a Not for profit intermediary that facilitates grants to many and varied community organisations. 

This includes educational scholarships and helping street kids in Laos and Cambodia from a variety of donors from Australia, Japan and Singapore.

I am keen to raise some funds from donations to assist the conservation of the Mekong and to help re-build one of the school building's that is falling down along the banks of the Mekong River.  My other ambition is to find myself again after 10 years non-stop outward pouring work establishing CAF in Australia. ... hopefully ... my inner self too ... not just pain thresholds from aching limbs.... it was bad enough getting the vaccination shots.