Not too many people venture off the beaten path in Laos. It's very difficult to get around Laos because the transportation system is not well established. The most common way outside the capital of Vientiane...on the back of an old pick-up truck. Without much planning, or English speakers, I remarkably ended up in a tiny village of Ban Hatkai.

An hour-and a-half long walk into Laotian protected jungle led me to a place where life was simpler and happier than I had ever seen before. Here the people were so welcoming to a complete stranger, a man with pale skin. I later read that many children in this area have never seen a white man. With hand gestures, head nods and body language, these beautiful people related to me that I was welcome to stay in their home. All alone and no knowledge of this "other world," I was nervous. But upon reaching this untouched community, I realized why I had come here to begin with. Adventures, education, friendships and memories.

We shared no verbal communication, but we connected with a mutual trust and compassion. They showered me with native food, spices, games and music. And with them I shared a Frisbee, pictures of my other travels, and even Aviator sun glasses.

Perhaps the greatest gift of all was a guided hike provided by a villager. He led me deeper and higher into the jungle hills. At the end of our journey we stopped and gazed at an ethereal waterfall. Seven layers of crashing water pounded down this stair-like structure. We shared a lunch and swim full of laughter knowing that we didn't need words to appreciate what was in front of us. The best things in life really do come in the smallest packages. Don't ever overlook a country because of it small size and simplicity.