A tough day floating down the Nam Xong

Trip Start Mar 11, 2008
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Trip End Ongoing


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Where I stayed
Orange Guesthouse
(Vang Vieng hotels)

Flag of Lao Peoples Dem Rep  ,
Tuesday, May 13, 2008

Another 6 hours on tortuous roads sliding round the back of a bus brought us to Vang Vieng, a traveller hangout on the banks of the Nam Xong river- a bit of a party haven for 20ish year old Brits and Aussies. The scene here is very laid back with backpacker cafes showing non-stop Friends re-runs, massage parlours, kayaking, river tubing etc. etc. 

Last night we hit the town with our new-found Aussie chums to suss out Vang Vieng's abundant nightlife and today, with just a slight hangover, have spent the day floating down the river in tractor inner-tubes, stopping off at riverside bars along the way to partake in some hair of the dog, and jumping off rope swings and zip-wires that some of the entrepreneurial bar owners have erected over the river to lure in fun-seeking tourists. It's a tough life ;)

Old gits that we are, we couldn't face another night on the tiles tonight, so have hunkered down for the evening in a cosy cafe to watch Sicko's (great film!) and get set for a daytrip out to some local caves tomorrow. Many of them are meant to extend several km's into the limestone karsts and some can only be entered by 'tube', pulling yourself in along ropes through the darkness, so it should be a fun day.. A good torch will be the order of the day methinks!

We're planning on heading south to the capital, Vientiane, the day after tomorrow and have booked ourselves onto a kayak trip to make a change from the buses. Next update in a few days..
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