Tubing - now thats a way to travel in style

Trip Start Apr 16, 2008
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Trip End Apr 15, 2009


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Flag of Lao Peoples Dem Rep  ,
Wednesday, May 28, 2008

The journey down to VangVieng was rough to say the least. The bus wasn't too bad but there were so many turns and bumps that by the end of the trip about half of the passangers had gotten sick. Luckily I was able to use some meditation to hold back the chunks.
Spent 4 nights altogeher chilling out in Vang Vieng. Its a bit of a crazy town really. It is located in the middle of a range of spectacular karst mountains (the camera doesn't do it justice) and yet the town mainly caters for hundreds of young backpackers to get wasted and sit around watching Friends and Family Guy.
Went tubing on the second day. For any of you who are unfamiliar with this mode of transport it involves travelling down river in a tractor inner tube. Along the way down (which takes about 2 hrs without any stops) there are lots of bamboo bars. As you pass by they throw you a rope and pull you in. After a quick top up of beer or Lao Lao or whatever else you jump back onto your tube (well actually you grab the nearest tube you see) a float on down. Cracking way to spend 6hrs on a another scorching hot day First view of mountains around Vang Vieng
First view of mountains around Vang Vieng
 . Each bar also has either a giant swing or a zip line or something to help the drunken revellers to break themselves with. Should have some photos in a while.
Another day I rented a motorcycle and set off after some very basic tips from the dude in the bikeshop. As I stuttered and jerked off down the road I'm sure he was looking forward to charging me through the nose for all the damage I was going to cause the bike. Visited the most famous cave system in the area and after turning down the guide I went into the darkness. Left all daylight behind after about 50m and then struggled on by torchlight for another 40mins or so into the darkness. After a bit of a slip I realised  could be up shit creek if I fell properly and I decided to turn around and come back out. It was absolutely in there monstrous though. After a quick swim I began the ride back. Fortunately, I stayed on board all the way despite a torrential downpour.
One more evening of Friends and Family Guy was enough and I decided to head on to Vientiane.
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